Bor, Buchanan and Rotich among entries in Virginia who helped U.S. men secure sixth last year at World Athletics Championships in Australia; Kelati and Izzo return from women’s fifth-place effort in Bathurst, all pursuing spots to race in March in Serbia, with Lund seeking Masters defense

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Reigning men’s 10-kilometer champion Emmanuel Bor and new American Half Marathon women’s record holder Weini Kelati highlight the expected entries in the open races for the USATF Cross Country Championships, which are scheduled for Saturday at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Va.

The top six competitors in both the men’s and women’s 10-kilometer races are eligible to qualify for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on March 30 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Anthony Rotich, Reid Buchanan and Bor are scheduled entries for Saturday’s race who are returning members of the United States men’s roster that placed sixth as a team at last year’s World cross country final in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.

Katie Izzo and Kelati are expected to compete Saturday, both athletes being part of the American women’s lineup that finished fifth in the team competition at last year’s global final.

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Kelati is looking to continue her momentum from running 66 minutes, 25 seconds Sunday in her debut at the Houston Half Marathon, which eclipsed the mark of 66:39 established in July by Keira D’Amato at the ASICS Half Marathon in Gold Coast, Australia.

Emmanuel Bor prevailed last year in 28:43.3 at Pole Green Park to capture his first national cross country title, with Rotich taking third in 28:48.2 and Buchanan securing seventh in 28:49.0. Emmanuel Bor is looking to become the first male athlete to capture back-to-back titles since Leonard Korir in 2017-18.

Hillary Bor, who was eighth last year in 28:56.5, along with Ryan Ford (12th, 29:10.4), Joey Berriatua (13th, 29:14.7), Aaron Templeton (15th, 29:27.7) and Benard Keter (17th, 29:28.8) – also fifth at the 2022 final in San Diego – are also expected to compete. Caleb Webb, who took eighth in 2022 and 10th-place finisher Theodrakis Medrano, are also among Saturday’s entries.

Kelati clocked 32:38.7 last year to finish fifth at Pole Green Park, with Izzo right behind, securing sixth in 32:39.6.

Susanna Sullivan, who earned eighth last year in 33:13.2 after placing 10th in 2022 in San Diego, in addition to Katrina Spratford-Sterling (11th, 33:35.5), Katie Camarena (12th, 33:42.0) and Sam Nadel (14th, 34:01.2) are also scheduled to race in Virginia.

The men’s 10-kilometer race is also expected to include Cooper Teare, Cole Hocker, Drew Hunter, Daniel Michalski, Ahmed Muhumed and Christian Allen.

The women’s 10-kilometer final is also scheduled to showcase Abby Nichols, Allie Ostrander, Amanda Vestri, Emily Venters, Cailie Logue, Kathryn Munks, Kassie Parker, Claire Green and Maggie Donahue.

In addition to the open 10-kilometer races, the Masters women’s 6-kilometer final and men’s 8-kilometer competition are also scheduled Saturday at Pole Green Park.

April Lund, the defending Masters women’s 6-kilometer champion last year in 22:02.7 competing in the 40-44 division, is expected to race. Brett Ely, who took third last year in 23:41.7 representing the 40-44 group, is also entered.

Renee Metivier, the 2022 Masters women’s 6-kilometer winner in San Diego in 21:50, is also expected to compete and is part of the 40-44 division, in addition to Carrie Dimoff, who won the Masters race Dec. 15 against Metivier at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla.

Neil McDonagh, runner-up last year in the Masters men’s 8-kilometer race in 25:25.7 representing the 40-44 group, is among the entries, along with fourth-place finisher Adam Otstot, who ran 26:33.4, also in the 40-44 division.