Kelati follows American Half Marathon record 66:25 in Houston with dominant 32:58.6 effort to secure 10-kilometer crown in Virginia; Teare triumphs in 29:06.2 in impressive return to cross country, with Dimoff and Braden achieving Masters victories 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. – Either performance by itself for Weini Kelati would be considered a career highlight.

Achieving both in the span of a week was nothing less than remarkable.

Following her American record 66 minutes, 25 seconds in her debut Jan. 14 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Kelati returned Saturday to Virginia where her prep career began after she left Eritrea to compete in the United States, and celebrated by delivering one of the most dominant performances in USATF Cross Country Championships history.

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Kelati, a Heritage High graduate now representing Under Armour Dark Sky Distance, won the women’s 10-kilometer title in 32:58.6 at Pole Green Park, becoming the first female athlete to capture a Foot Locker national crown in high school, along with an NCAA Division 1 championship at New Mexico, in addition to prevailing in the USATF cross country final.

Cooper Teare, a Nike professional athlete, made his return to cross country a memorable one for more uplifting reasons, securing the men’s 10-kilometer championship in 29:06.2.

Both athletes, along with the top six competitors in each gender, are eligible to compete March 30 for the U.S. at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Teare, who also won the U.S. men’s 1,500-meter title at Hayward Field in 2022, surged in the final kilometer Saturday to prevail against Anthony Rotich of the U.S. Army (29:11.3), Ahmed Muhumed from HOKA Northern Arizona Elite (29:12.3) and professional triathlete Morgan Pearson (29:15.5), who held the lead at the 8-kilometer mark.

It was a meaningful victory for Teare, who has reconnected in Virginia with former coach Ben Thomas, and was competing in a 10-kilometer cross country race for the first time since struggling to a 247th-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division 1 final at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla.

Teare said Saturday he was evaluating his options regarding the chance to race in Serbia or pursuing a spot on the American roster to compete at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, with his qualifying opportunity Feb. 16-17 at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Emmanuel Bor, last year’s winner representing the U.S. Army, finished fifth in 29:26.5 to earn a spot on his third career roster for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Bor and Rotich were both members of the U.S. lineup that secured sixth last year in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.

Christian Allen, a collegiate standout at Brigham Young and Weber State, secured sixth in 29:27.0, just ahead of Reid Buchanan, who was seventh in 29:28.1. Buchanan also competed for the Americans last year in Australia and could later be added to the U.S. lineup ahead of the race in Serbia.

Although Kelati is the lone returning member from last year’s American women’s roster that finished fifth in Australia, she is surrounded by a group of athletes who all excelled at the collegiate level and are making their first senior-level cross country roster to represent the U.S. internationally.

Emma Grace Hurley, a former Furman competitor who now trains in Indianapolis, placed second in 33:35.9, with Katie Camarena of Tinman Elite – a standout at UC Santa Barbara and Portland State – taking third in 33:40.3.

Allie Ostrander, a three-time NCAA Division 1 steeplechase champion at Boise State, dove at the finish line to earn fourth in 33:52.5 to edge Iowa State graduate student Cailie Logue achieving fifth in 33:52.7.

Abby Nichols of HOKA Northern Arizona Elite secured sixth in 34:09.4, with Katrina Spratford-Sterling capturing seventh in 34:31.7 after placing 11th last year at Pole Green Park. Spratford-Sterling could be a late addition to the U.S. roster ahead of the competition in Serbia.

Following a 23-second victory Dec. 15 at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships, 40-year-old Carrie Dimoff of Bowerman Track Club prevailed again in her rematch with 2022 winner Renee Metivier representing Team Red Lizard by a 21:15.5 to 21:46.5 in the Masters women’s 6-kilometer final.

April Lund, last year’s champion competing for the North Dakota-based GYS Track Club, took third in 21:56.9.

Forest Braden, the 40-year-old coach at William and Mary representing the Colonial Road Runners, triumphed in the Masters men’s 8-kilometer race in 22:30.2, with Brian Flynn from Garden State Track Club placing second in 22:44.0.

Adam Otstot, who finished fourth last year for the Colonial Road Runners, improved to third Saturday in 23:04.1.