First Champions Set to be Crowned in 2020 at the USATF Cross Country Championships

USATF Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Tight-knit fields come together in the men’s and women’s senior races at the USATF Cross Country Championships Saturday, as a number of top distance runners look to kick off their campaigns by challenging for victory in San Diego, the first stop on the 2020 USATF Running Circuit.

The USATF Cross Country Championships are the first stop on the 2020 USATF Running Circuit. Fans can tune-in for the live broadcast beginning at 11:45am ET on USATF.TV with a +PLUS subscription. Senior races begin at 4:00pm ET.

As expected, the men’s race has a number of individuals fully capable of taking home top prize. 

At the top of the list is Hillary Bor. Bor placed fourth in last year’s race, which was a jumping off point to having a career year on the track, one that saw him win a national title in the 3000m steeplechase at the USATF Outdoor Championships, only to follow that up with an eighth place finish at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, while running a PR of 8:08.41.

Bor will be challenged up front by the trio of Emmanuel Bor, Connor McMillan and Lawi Lalang. 

Emmanuel Bor is the top returnee, having placed second at the 2019 USATF Cross Country Championships. A veteran of the USATF Running Circuit, Bor looks to get his season off on the right foot and challenge for the win. 

McMillan, the former BYU All-American, enters his first full season as a pro. He’s coming off a 2019 campaign which saw him place third in the 10,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, fourth in the 10,000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and third at the USATF 10 Mile Championships. 

Lalang, a former multi-time NCAA champion, will look to show he’s still a title contender. After placing tenth at the USATF Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m, Lalang has a lot to prove and will look to challenge Saturday in San Diego.

Anthony Rotich and Frankline Tonui are two others full capable of winning. Rotich is coming off a 2019 in which he won his first national title, winning the USATF 5 km Championships. 

Meanwhile, Tonui finished seventh in the 3000m steeplechase at the USATF Outdoor Championships, while placing fifth at the USATF 15 km Championships and 11th at the USATF Cross Country Championships.

Veterans like Michael Jordan, who placed ninth in the 3000m steeplechase at the USATF Outdoor Championships, Connor Winter, who placed 12th in the 5000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships, along with Kyle King and Joe Moore, both using Saturday’s contest as a tune-up for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon next month, should all have their eyes set on a top five finish.

In the women’s field, no clear cut favorite has yet to emerge, which should create a thrilling race to the finish in San Diego.

The quartet of Natosha Rogers, Alia Gray, Danielle Shanahan and Paige Stoner lead the way. Rogers, who had a quiet 2019 season, enters with much to prove in this Olympic year. If fully healthy, expect her to challenge for the win and look to regain the top form that led her to the 2017 USATF Half Marathon title.

Shanahan and Stoner each had strong seasons on the track in 2019. Shanahan, who trains with HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite, finished 14th in the 10,000m and 15th in the 5000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships, while Stoner placed seventh in the 3000m steeplechase. Each has shown both strength and speed over the past year and it would not be surprising if either comes away victorious in San Diego.

Gray also has plenty of success behind her name and looks to jump start her 2020 campaign in a big way. Gray placed 18th at the TCS New York City Marathon in November and hopes to carry that momentum into Saturday’s race.

Susan Tanui is another runner to watch. With three USATF Running Circuit top eight finishes to her name, including a sixth place finish at the 2018 USATF Cross Country Championships, Tanui could certainly run to a top three finish.

Similar to the men’s race, a number of veterans will be entered and eyeing top five finishes Saturday, including Carrie Verdon, Katherine Ward and Anna Weber, who will be using Saturday’s race as a tune-up to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon.

Race videos, results, post-race interviews and photos will be available shortly after the race in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #USARC.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $13,200 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF Cross Country Championships

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF Cross Country Championships, scoring is set as 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7 ,6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush