2017 IAAF World XC ChampionshipsMar 27, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Team USA Earns Top 5 Team Finishes At World Cross Country Championships
Team USA Earns Top 5 Team Finishes At World Cross Country Championships
Team USA was well represented with two fifth-place team finishes in the senior men's and women's races on Sunday at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda.
Team USA was well represented with two fifth-place team finishes in the senior men's and women's races on Sunday at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. While battling 78-degree temperatures in 65 percent humidity, the American competitors notched several notable performances in Kampala, Uganda.
Five top 40 finishes from senior men
Led by an 11th-place individual finish from Sam Chelanga, the senior men's team notched a fifth-place team performance with all five competitors earning top 40 spots. Behind Chelanga were Olympians and U.S. Army runners Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirchir, who closed for 20th- and 21st-place finishes, respectively. Former Arkansas All-American Stanley Kebenei finished 26th and was followed by NAZ Elite's Scott Fauble, who was the 36th-place finisher. Fauble called the performance "one of the hardest races" he's ever run.
Unfortunately, Trevor Dunbar was unable to compete due to an illness. Prior to getting sick, Dunbar had a breakthrough performance at the USATF Cross Country Championships, where he finished sixth overall.
Despite missing a teammate, the United States' showing is an improvement on the last world cross country championship, where Team USA finished seventh.
Senior women finished four in the top 30
The women's team also displayed a tight group, as Aliphine Tuliamuk led four Americans to finish in the top 30. Tuliamuk was 15th overall and was followed by Stephanie Bruce (22nd), Natosha Rogers (23rd), and Sarah Pagano (30th). Elaina Balouris finished 48th, and Emily Pritt was 74th.
For Tuliamuk, the race marked her second world cross country championship and first international team for the United States. She competed in the U20 race in 2005 while competing for Kenya.
Paul Chelimo ran the fastest 2K split of the entire field
Although the United States didn't crack the top five in the mixed relay, the team had a ringer on the anchor leg: Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo. Not only did Chelimo deliver on the last loop, but he also split 4:56, which was the fastest split of the entire field on any leg. The only competitor to split anything close to Chelimo was Bernard Koros, who ran a third leg of 4:58 to contribute to Kenya's victory. However, it's important to note that Chelimo's leg was slightly shorter than the previous legs.
Team USA U20 teams finished ninth and 12th
The women's team got the action started with a 12th-place showing led by a 37th individual performance from Oklahoma State freshman Michelle Magnani. Prior to her world championship run, Magnani competed at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, where she finished 12th in the 5K and 13th in the 3K.
The men's U20 team finished ninth and was led by a 33rd placing from Paul Roberts, a CSU-Pueblo standout who finished 47th at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships last fall.
Five top 40 finishes from senior men
Led by an 11th-place individual finish from Sam Chelanga, the senior men's team notched a fifth-place team performance with all five competitors earning top 40 spots. Behind Chelanga were Olympians and U.S. Army runners Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirchir, who closed for 20th- and 21st-place finishes, respectively. Former Arkansas All-American Stanley Kebenei finished 26th and was followed by NAZ Elite's Scott Fauble, who was the 36th-place finisher. Fauble called the performance "one of the hardest races" he's ever run.
Unfortunately, Trevor Dunbar was unable to compete due to an illness. Prior to getting sick, Dunbar had a breakthrough performance at the USATF Cross Country Championships, where he finished sixth overall.
Despite missing a teammate, the United States' showing is an improvement on the last world cross country championship, where Team USA finished seventh.
Senior women finished four in the top 30
The women's team also displayed a tight group, as Aliphine Tuliamuk led four Americans to finish in the top 30. Tuliamuk was 15th overall and was followed by Stephanie Bruce (22nd), Natosha Rogers (23rd), and Sarah Pagano (30th). Elaina Balouris finished 48th, and Emily Pritt was 74th.
For Tuliamuk, the race marked her second world cross country championship and first international team for the United States. She competed in the U20 race in 2005 while competing for Kenya.
Paul Chelimo ran the fastest 2K split of the entire field
Although the United States didn't crack the top five in the mixed relay, the team had a ringer on the anchor leg: Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo. Not only did Chelimo deliver on the last loop, but he also split 4:56, which was the fastest split of the entire field on any leg. The only competitor to split anything close to Chelimo was Bernard Koros, who ran a third leg of 4:58 to contribute to Kenya's victory. However, it's important to note that Chelimo's leg was slightly shorter than the previous legs.
Also worth noting that the first leg was 23m longer than legs 2 & 3 (distances: 2023m, 2000m, 2000m, 1835m).https://t.co/S0PBjHP0qD
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) March 27, 2017
Paul Chelimo BLITZES final leg for team USA at #iaafkampala2017, fastest last lap in the field (1,600m?) pic.twitter.com/LynW704whq
— scott olberding (@isthatsol) March 26, 2017
Team USA U20 teams finished ninth and 12th
The women's team got the action started with a 12th-place showing led by a 37th individual performance from Oklahoma State freshman Michelle Magnani. Prior to her world championship run, Magnani competed at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, where she finished 12th in the 5K and 13th in the 3K.
The men's U20 team finished ninth and was led by a 33rd placing from Paul Roberts, a CSU-Pueblo standout who finished 47th at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships last fall.