Korir looks to rebound from fourth-place finish last year, as five of top six return from San Diego men’s final, including runner-up Maggard; Hasz tries to follow USATF National Club crown in San Francisco, as Kelati chases first championship

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Leonard Korir is pursuing a third career men’s cross country national championship.

Bethany Hasz, a first-year professional athlete with the Boston Athletic Association, is looking to follow her USATF National Club Cross Country title with another victory.

And last year’s runner-up finishers, Weini Kelati and Dillon Maggard, are motivated to not only secure the individual crowns but represent the United States on an international level next month.

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The USATF Cross Country Championships are being showcased Saturday for the first time in Virginia, with the women’s 10-kilometer race scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and the men’s 10-kilometer competition at 2:50 p.m. EST at Pole Green Park in Richmond.

The top six athletes in each gender are eligible to compete Feb. 18 at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, the first time the country has hosted the event. The United States will also have the opportunity to field a mixed 4x2-kilometer relay at the meet.

Korir, representing the U.S. Army, won men’s individual titles in 2017 in Oregon and 2018 in Florida. He finished fourth last year in San Diego.

Maggard, who competed last year in the 3,000 meters at the World Indoor final in Serbia, finished second behind Shadrack Kipchirchir at the 2022 cross country final.

Sam Chelanga, who took third last year, is also returning, along with fifth-place finisher Benard Keter and sixth-place competitor Benjamin Eidenschink.

Anthony Rotich, the 2020 individual winner in San Diego, is also entered, along with Emmanuel Bor, Hillary Bor, Biya Simbassa, Kirubel Erassa, Eric Jenkins, Jared Ward, Zach Panning and Alec Sandusky.

Isai Rodriguez of Oklahoma State, who placed eighth Nov. 19 at the NCAA Division 1 Championships in Stillwater, also has the potential to challenge the elite professionals to secure a berth on the U.S. men’s roster, which is being led by Cowboys head coach Dave Smith.

Hasz captured the women’s individual crown Dec. 10 at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in rainy, cold conditions in San Francisco.

A former Minnesota All-American, Hasz is looking to become the first American female athlete since Laura Thweatt in 2014-15 to win both cross country championships in national finals to end one year and begin another. Thweatt, representing Saucony, is also scheduled to compete Saturday.

Kelati, who became a U.S. citizen in 2021 after previously representing Eritrea, placed second behind Alicia Monson last year in San Diego.

Kelati, representing Under Armour and the Dark Sky Distance team, will be joined in the race by former New Mexico teammate Ednah Kurgat, representing the U.S. Army.

Emily Durgin, an adidas athlete, was fourth last year and HOKA Northern Arizona Elite standout Stephanie Bruce placed fifth, with Susanna Sullivan returning following a 10th-place effort in San Diego.

Allie Buchalski, Katie Camarena, Katrina Coogan, Jessa Hanson, Katie Izzo, Emily Lipari, Makena Morley, Allie Ostrander, Millie Paladino and Carrie Verdon are also expected to compete.

Katie McGregor, a three-time NCAA Division 1 champion at Michigan who guided the U.S. women’s U20 team at the World Cross Country Championships in 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark, has been named the head coach for the American senior women’s roster in Australia.