NW Runners Battle the Best at World Cross Country Championships

(3-30-09) Courtesy Running USA wire #25-03-09, From Jim Estes, USATF, and IAAF reports - The Team USA Junior men's, Junior women's and Senior women's cross country squads each finished fifth in the respective team standings on Saturday at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships held at the Al Bisharat Golf Course. The Team USA Senior men's team finished eighth as a team.

In the Junior women's 6K, Team USA was led by USA Junior Cross Country champion Neely Spence (Shippensburg, Pa.) who finished 19th in 21 minutes, 33 seconds. Ashley Brasovan (Wellington, Fla.) ran a strong race to finish 26th in 21:55, while Alex Dunne (San Clemente, Calif.) and Emily Pritt (North Canton, Ohio) rounded out the scoring positions, finishing 34th and 43rd in 22:15 and 22:31 respectively.

Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia defended her individual title in 20:14 to lead Ethiopia to the Junior team title.

Two-time USA Junior Cross Country champion German Fernandez (Stillwater, Okla.) led Team USA with an 11th place finish in the Junior men's 8K, running 24:13. Chris Derrick (Napierville, Ill.) finished seven seconds behind Fernandez to take 15th place as Luke Puskedra (Ogden, Utah) and Patrick DuPont (Fairport, N.Y.) wrapped up the team score, running 24:43 and 25:52, finishing 30th and 48th respectively.

Ayele Abshero ran 23:26 to capture the second individual title of the day for Ethiopia as Kenya took their first of three team titles.

Julie Culley (Arlington, Va.) led the Senior women of Team USA in the 8K, running 28:08 to take 21st place. Delilah DiCrescenzo (New York, N.Y.) ran 28:34 to finish 33rd, followed by Rebecca Donaghue (State College. Pa.) and Kathy Newberry (Williamsburg, Va.) running 28:37 and 28:50 respectively to finish 36th and 40th.

Florence Jebet Kiplagat took the overall win in 26:13 over teammate Linet Masai to lead Kenya to the team title (1-2-4-7 to score a low 14 points). Kiplagat was the first Kenyan Senior women's winner since Helen Chepngeno in 1994, and Kenya's team gold was its first since 2001 and broke a string of seven straight by Ethiopia.

In the final race of the day, Ryan Vail (Gresham, Ore.) was the top Team USA man in the Senior 12K with a 33rd place finish, running 36:54, while Bobby Curtis (Ardmore, Pa.) finished six seconds back to take 37th as Max King (Bend, Ore.) followed in 37:05 for 40th. Edwardo Torres (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the Team USA score, finishing 58th in 37:38.

The final 600 meters of the men's race saw six in contention for the gold medal with Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia pulling ahead in the final exciting stretch for a two second win over Uganda's Moses Kipsoro, 35:02 to 35:04. Kenya claimed the final team title of the day, edging Ethiopia in a tie-breaker. With both Kenya and Ethiopia scoring 28 points, the outcome was decided on the fourth and last scorer: Moses Mosop (11th) vs. Feyisa Lilesa (12th).

37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Amman, JOR, Saturday, March 28, 2009

MEN - 12K
1) Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (ETH), 35:02, $30,000
2) Moses Kipsiro (UGA), 35:04, $15,000
3) Zersenay Tadese (ERI), 35:04, $10,000
4) Leonard Komon (KEN), 35:05, $7000
5) Habtamu Fikadu (ETH), 35:06, $5000
6) Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio (KEN), 35:08, $3000

U.S.
33) Ryan Vail (USA / OR), 36:54
37) Bobby Curtis (USA / PA), 37:00
40) Max King (USA / OR), 37:05
58) Edwardo Torres (USA / CO), 37:38
60) Ed Moran (USA / VA), 37:42
75) Brett Gotcher (USA / AZ), 38:01

TEAM
1) Kenya, 28 points*, $20,000
2) Ethiopia, 28, $16,000
3) Eritrea, 50, $12,000
4) Uganda, 65, $10,000
5) Qatar, 79, $8000
6) Morocco, 107, $4000
8) Team USA, 168
*tie-breaker, better 4th place runner

WOMEN - 8K
1) Florence Jebet Kiplagat (KEN), 26:13, $30,000
2) Linet Masai (KEN), 26:16, $15,000
3) Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 26:19, $10,000
4) Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), 26:23, $7000
5) Wude Ayalew (ETH), 26:23, $5000
6) Hilda Kibet (NED), 26:43, $3000

U.S.
21) Julie Culley (USA / VA), 28:08
33) Delilah DiCrescenzo (USA / NY), 28:34
36) Rebecca Donaghue (USA / PA), 28:37
40) Kathy Newberry (USA / VA), 28:50
69) Samia Akbar (USA / VA), 29:51
75) Lindsey Scherf (USA / OR), 30:27

Records, Benoit Samuelson Win Highlight Day 1 of USA Masters Indoor Champs

(3-20-09) From USATF Press Release - Four world records and two American records, including Joan Benoit Samuelson's W50 American record in the Bob Fine Memorial 3,000m, highlighted day one of competition at the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George's Sports and Learning Center in Landover, Md.

Despite not having raced on an indoor track since setting the W45 American record in the 3,000m in 2003, Joan Benoit Samuelson (Freeport, Maine) dominated the W50 3,000m and won in an age-division American record 10 minutes 22.69 seconds. Following Benoit Samuelson across the line was the W55 winner Kathryn Martin (Northport, N.Y.) in 10:59.36. It was Martin's American record of 10:23.84 from 2004 that Benoit Samuelson broke.

In the final race on the track for the day, Charlie Kern (Elmhurst, Ill.) set an age-division American record in winning the M35 3,000m in 8:37.90. Kern led the race wire-to-wire, easily outdistancing runner-up Kareem Lanier of TNT Racing, who finished in 9:23.08.

William Murray (Birmingham, Ala.) led the M55 pentathlon from start to finish, with individual wins in the first four events, to win with a world record 4,384 points. Murray began with a 9.41 in the 60m, leapt 5.28m/17-4 in the long jump, then tossed the shot put 12.21m/40-0.75 and cleared 1.68m/5-6 in the high jump. Heading into the final event with a 321 point lead, Murray finished third in the 1,000m in 3:24.98 to clinch the title and the world record. Runner-up David Ortman's (Seattle, Wash.) 4,126 points also bettered the previous record of 4,103 set by the Netherland's Glenn Gentle in 2007.

Emil Pawlik (Jackson, Miss.) set the M70 world record in the pentathlon, scoring 4,316 points after wins in every individual event. He ran 10.39 in the 60m, had a mark of 4.51m/14-9.75 in the long jump, threw 11.15m/36-7 in the shot put, cleared 1.39m4-6.75 in the high jump and ran 4:22.80 in the 1,000m. The previous record of 4,254 was set by Norway's Knut Skramstad in 2008.

In the M75 pentathlon, Robert Hewitt (Gresham, Ore.) set an age-division world record with 4,437 points after winning every individual event. The previous world record of 4,419 was set in 2008 by Pavel Tosnar of the Czech Republic.

George Matthews (Hayden Lakes, Idaho) broke the existing American record in the M65 weight throw with his heave of 19.11m/62-8.5. The previous record of 16.93m/55-6 was set in 2008 by Robert Cahners who finished as the runner-up today with 16.62m/54-6.5.

Bob Ward (Dallas, Texas) decimated the field in winning the M75 weight throw in a world record 16.85m/55-3.5. Runner-up Edgar Holmes finished nearly 10 feet back with 13.87m/45-6.5. The previous record of 16.84m/55-3 was set by Finland's Seppo Salanto in 2007.

Leland McPhie of So Cal Track won his first event of the competition, the M95 weight throw, with a toss of 6.57 meters/21 feet 6.75 inches.

A brief chat with 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson after hr win in the 3,000m:

"After the Olympic Trials I said I wouldn't do any more competitive marathons. So I set my sights on other shorter distances like the mile. I want to see what I can get my mile down to so I think a 3k is a good place to start. I think I can get pretty close to 5 (minutes).

"Until Tuesday, I hadn't done a track workout since the 2003 Masters Indoor Championships (when she set the W45 3,000m AR). So after my 14 mile run, I went to my alma mater and did four 400s on their indoor track. I should have gotten onto the track a lot sooner. I wasn't expecting the turns here to be so tight, my left hip buckled off the start.

On todays race: "I felt strong today but I didn't feel fast. I feel better at 51, almost 52, than I did in my late 40s.

"I was thinking that 10:30 was a realistic goal. I wanted to get that record but it was a little to close for me. I had a lot left over but I do need to do some speed work. I knew after that first mile that I would need to negative split to get the record."

On why she is still running: (I run) to keep fit in my 50's and beyond, and because it's fun. It's a passion and a desire to stay fit. There is no finish line."

For more information and complete results from the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit www.usatf.org.

St. Patrick's Runs Host Large Fields Despite Inclement Weather

(3-19-09) Over 20,000 participants and volunteers came together on Sunday, March 15 in downtown Portland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (albeit early) at this year's Shamrock Run. This spring tradition provided rain, smiles, throngs of runners, beer and clam chowder - a true rite of passage in the Northwest marking the opening of the running season. A film crew was on hand at this year's event to capture the memories of rain and runners clad in green. Check it out - WATCH VIDEO HERE. Results - POSTED HERE.

Snow greeted the 15,000 participants of Henry Weinhard's 25th Annual St. Patrick's Day Dash in Seattle. Results for this event are now POSTED HERE.

Rupp Named Athlete of the Week for the Second Time This Year

(3-17-09) From USATF Press Release - Galen Rupp has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning two individual titles and anchoring the men's distance medley relay to victory at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

A 2008 Olympian, Rupp led the Oregon men to the their first indoor national team title and became the first person in NCAA history to win the 5,000 meters, 3,000m and the distance medley relay in the same championship. Rupp started with a win in the 5,000m in 13 minutes 41.45 seconds. Less than 90 minutes later, he anchored the DMR to victory, splitting 3:57.07 over the final 1,600m to cross the line in 9:29.59. On Saturday Rupp cruised to a title in the 3,000m, winning in 7:48.94, more than 5 seconds ahead of the field.

Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING MARCH 15

MEN
60 - 6.51 Jacoby Ford (Clemson) - College Station, TX 3/13
200 - 20.63 Trey Harts (Baylor) - College Station, TX 3/13 - World leader
400 - 45.71 Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) - College Station, TX 3/14 - U.S. leader
800 - 1:48.04 Jacob Hernandez (Texas) - College Station, TX 3/14
Mile - 4:01.34 Craig Miller (Wisconsin) - College Station, TX 3/14
3000 - 7:48.94 Galen Rupp (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/14
5000 - 13:41.45 Galen Rupp (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/13
60H - 7.63 Ronnie Ash (Bethune-Cookman) - College Station, TX 3/14
HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Scott Sellers (Kansas State) - College Station, TX 3/14
PV - 5.60/18-4.5 Jason Colwick (Rice) - College Station, TX 3/13
LJ - 8.01/26-3.5 Jeremy Hicks (LSU) - College Station, TX 3/13
TJ - 16.98/55-8.5 Christian Taylor (Florida) - College Station, TX
3/14 U.S. leader (best ever by a US Junior)
SP - 20.16/66-1.75 Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/13
WT - 22.88/75-0.75 Jason Lewis (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/14
Hept - 5988 Ashton Eaton (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/14

WOMEN
60 - 7.13 Kya Brookins (South Carolina) - College Station, TX 3/14
200 - 22.80 Murielle Ahoure (Miami) - College Station, TX 3/13 - World leader
400 - 51.55 Francena McCorory (Hampton) - College Station, TX 3/14 - U.S. leader
800 - 2:03.71 Phoebe Wright (Tennessee) - College Station, TX 3/13
Mile - 4:29.72 Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) - College Station, TX 3/14
3000 - 8:42.03 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - College Station, TX 3/14

COLLEGIATE RECORD
5000 - 15:58.92 Frances Koons (Villanova) - College Station, TX 3/13
60H - 8.00 Tiffany Ofili (Michigan) - College Station, TX 3/14
HJ - 1.98/6-6 Destinee Hooker (Texas) - College Station, TX 3/13 - U.S. leader - COLLEGIATE RECORD
PV - 4.35/14-3.25 Kylie Hutson (Indiana State) - College Station, TX 3/14
LJ - 6.50/21-4 Jeomi Maduka (Cornell) - College Station, TX 3/13
TJ - 13.16/43-2.25 Jeomi Maduka (Cornell) - College Station, TX 3/14
SP - 17.74/58-2.5 Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/14
WT - 22.09/72-5.75 D'Ana McCarty (Louisville) - College Station, TX 3/13
Pent - 4365 Amy Menlove (BYU) - College Station, TX 3/13

Oregon Dominates Indoor Nationals, Rupp Dominates

(3-16-09) Galen Rupp's unprecedented triple at this weekends NCAA Indoor National Championships propelled Oregon to its first indoor national title in the school's history. Rupp won the 5,000, ran a leg on a winning distance medley relay team and also won the 3,000 meters. Ashton Eaton won the heptathlon, which further aided the Ducks as they dominated the meet.

The Oregon women's team placed 9th, which is the first time they have cracked the top ten at indoor nationals.

More coverage + photo gallery: www.oregonlive.com and video highlights at www.flotrack.com.

Team USA Set for World Cross Country Championships

(3-16-09) From USATF Press Release - Members of the Team USA World Cross Country squad are making final preparations for competition at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships at Bisharat Golf Course in Amman, Jordan on March 28.

The U.S. junior men's squad will feature a trio of college freshmen that could lead Team USA to a team medal. Leading the junior men will be two-time USA Junior Cross Country Champion German Fernandez (Stilwater, Okla.), a freshman at Oklahoma State University.

While Fernandez is considered by many to be a medal contender in Amman, Stanford University freshman Chris Derrick (Naperville, Ill.), the runner-up at the recent USA Cross Country Championships, and University of Oregon freshman Luke Puskedra (Eugene, Ore.), third at the championships, could see potential top-15 finishes as well.

Ryan Hill (Hickory, N.C.), this year's North American Central American Caribbean Cross Country junior champion, and Syracuse University athletes Patrick DuPont (Fairport, N.Y.) and Francisco Medrano (Lafayette, Ind.) will round out a solid U.S. squad.

Team USA's junior women will be led by USA Junior Cross Country champion Neely Spence (Shippensburg, Pa.), the Shippensburg freshman and 2008 NCAA Division II cross country runner-up.

Joining Spence in Amman will be Ashley Brasovan (Wellington, Fla.), the runner-up to Spence at the 2009 USA Championships and 2007 Foot Locker Cross Country champion. Alexandra Dunne (San Clemente, Calif.), Allison McLaughlin (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Sara Vaughn (Tulsa, Okla.), and Emily Pritt (North Canton, Ohio) round out the roster.

The senior women of Team USA will be led by five-time World Cross Country team member Katy Newberry (Williamsburg, Va.) and will also feature Julie Culley (Arlington, Va.), the runner-up at the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships in Derwood, Md.; Samia Akbar (Herndon, Va.), the most decorated female runner in school history at American University; Rebecca Donaghue (State College, Pa.), the fall national XC champion; and Delilah DiCrescenzo (New York, N.Y.), the 2007 fall national XC champion.

The third-place finisher from the 2009 USA championships, Bobby Curtis (Ardmore, Pa.), leads the senior men into Amman as a member of his first U.S. team. Curtis will benefit from the experience of his five teammates; the trio of Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.) and Ed Torres (Boulder, Colo.), and Max King (Bend, Ore.), competed at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships, while Ryan Vail (Gresham, Ore.) and Bret Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) have represented Team USA as juniors. Vail raced in St. Galmier in 2005 and Gotcher in Lausanne in 2003.

A total prize purse of $140,000 will go to individuals placing in the top-six in both the men's and women's senior races with $30,000 going to the champions, while another $140,000 is on the line for the top-six teams in the senior divisions with the top men's and women's teams receiving $20,000.

For more information on the 2009 World Cross Country Championships, visit www.usatf.org.

Portland Becomes Newest XTERRA AMERICA Tour Event Site

(3-9-09) From Press Release - Athletes kick off the first XTERRA Portland Off-Road triathlon, Aug. 15, at Hagg Lake near Forest Grove, Ore.

The Northwest is exploding with triathlons and XTERRA's spin on the traditional swim/bike/run competition is no exception. XTERRAs' Black Diamond, Solstice, Vashon Island, HammerMan and Wild Ride, continue to offer unique race experiences in sundry landscapes of the Northwest. This year, in epic style, XTERRA Portland's inaugural race hits Hagg Lake in mid August. With the increasing number of roadies, mountainbikers, cyclocross, runners and road triathletes living in the area, XTERRA Portland embodies fitness, competition, community and nature.

According to Justin Barnhart, assistant race director for XTERRA Portland, age-groupers to professional competitors will swim a 1000 meter two-buoy course clockwise in calm placid mid 70-degree waters. Swimmers will make their first transition to the 25 kilometer bike course charging over rolling single and double track then shift gears for a second transition sending runners on 4.25 miles of trails surrounding the lake. "The bike leg is relatively flat, but technical with sharp turns requiring quick and reactive decision-making as well as bursts of speed on short and steep climbs that will force the rider out of the saddle and get the legs burning," said Barnhart. "There are also several rocky or root-filled sections that will challenge the rider's agility, control and balance."

Also an XTERRA triathlete, Barnhart says the run course has its surprises, "The runner hurdles logs, traverses steep ravines and creek crossings and bush-whacks through the typical lush Northwest forest."

After five years of XTERRA races, Brandyn Roark Gray, of Aztec, N.M., is a top-ranked female age-grouper on the cusp of turning pro. "[Last year] I competed in XTERRA Solstice then I moved to the Southwest," said the former Northwest resident. "XTERRA in Portland will enable people to experience the best race series around."

Kevin Tucker, of Bend, Ore., enjoys the challenge of an XTERRA event and says he's looking forward to XTERRA Portland. "I think Hagg Lake is an excellent venue for an XTERRA race; a great transition area, great riding and quality trail-running with good mix of open terrain and twisty, root-hopping, branch-ducking fun," said Tucker.

XTERRA Portland is the triathlete's next vacation destination. According to Barnhart, XTERRA and the Portland terrain are a great match for one another. "We feel Portlanders embody the 'work hard/play hard' life philosophy. Anyone who has raced a few XTERRA races knows this defines the XTERRA athletes," emphasizes Barnhart. "And finally, the attitude and culture that makes Portland and XTERRA so great, seem to be cut from the same cloth, and a perfect fit for this community."

Roark Gray adds, "Portland is an awesome community and super active and supportive of the sport. I love Portland and any [excuse for] exercise I can have to visit is great. It's gorgeous and has an incredibly active town, is super progressive and has awesome food," she exclaims. "I think it's about time."

Register for XTERRA Portland now at www.XTERRAPortland.com.

Bend Skiers Shine In Worldwide Ski Marathons

(3-9-09) From Press Release - Sarah Max (33) of Bend finished second at the Yellowstone Rendezvous 50km freestyle ski marathon in West Yellowstone, Montana on Saturday. Max, who skis for the Bend-based XC Oregon elite ski team, finished in a time of 2:40:32, 5:58 behind two-time Olympian Laura McCabe of Winthrop, Washington.

The Yellowstone Rendezvous is one of thirteen elite U.S. ski marathons that annually comprise the American Ski Marathon Series.

On Sunday, XC Oregon skiers Evelyn Dong, Brayton Osgood, and Marshall Greene competed in the 11,000 skier Engadin Ski Marathon in Engadin, Switzerland.

Dong finished eighth in the women's event with five of the seven women ahead of her fresh of competition at the Nordic World Championships in Liberec, Czech. Dong had a time of 1:49:07, 5:35 behind Swizerland's Seraina Mischol who won the women's race by a stunning three minutes.

For the men, Osgood finished 26th and Greene 35th in the star-studded and tightly-packed field. Osgood was just 1:02 behind winner Fabio Santus (Italy) who posted a winning time of 1:38:37 for the 42km distance. Greene was similarly impressive finishing 2:21 behind Santus.

The Engadin Ski Marathon is annually considered to be the strongest field in the world for a freestyle ski marathon comparable to the Boston or New York road running marathons.

Portland Running Retailer Foot Traffic Doubles Size of Downtown Store

(3-9-09) From Press Release - Portland area specialty running store Foot Traffic has recently expanded their downtown location. The size of the store along with the selection of shoes and apparel have doubled. Foot Traffic has also added more group runs and a massage therapy room as well. The store's proximity to the Waterfront Esplanade (only 2 blocks away) give the store great access to scenic group run/walk courses. Two of the most popular group workouts available are Wednesdays at noon (lunchtime group) and Thursdays at 5:30pm (same as the Niketown RunClub on Mondays and Wednesdays, but group meets at the DT Foot Traffic).

Come check out the DT store and receive a FREE Foot Traffic shirt by mentioning this announcement.

More info and directions: www.foottraffic.us

Team USA Wins Three Out of Four Team Titles at NACAC Cross Country Championships

(3-7-09) From USATF Press Release - Clara Grandt (Morgantown, W.V.), Ryan Hill (Hickory, N.C.) and Stephen Pifer (Eugene, Ore.) won their respective races to lead Team USA to three team titles Saturday at the 2009 North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships. Nearly 100 athletes representing nine national federations competed in the fifth annual event at the Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville, Fla.

The day of racing began with the junior women's 4 km as Emily Pritt (North Canton, Ohio), ran 13:18 to finish third, leading Team USA to a second-place finish behind Team Canada. Genevieve Lalonde led Canada to the team win, in 13:00, to finish 17 seconds ahead of Natoya Goule of Jamaica.

Molly Grabill (Poway, Calif.), Colin Ellis (Dallas, Texas), and Rolonda Jumbo (Santa Fe, N.M.), finished in ninth, tenth and 11th running 13:35, 13:40 and 13:47 respectively to complete the team score for Team USA. Canada scored 16 points for a 14 point win over the U.S., Jamaica finished third with 74 points.

In the junior men's 6 km Team USA was grouped together at the front of the pack after the first 2 km loop and gradually separated themselves from all but Canada's Mohammed Ahmed. Over the middle and final laps, Hill and Ahmed began to duel for the lead with Ryan Prentice (Normandy Park, Wash.), Griffith Graves (Abingdon, Va.), and Eric Fernandez (Ballwin, Mo.), close behind.

With about 800 meters remaining, Ahmed took the lead once again before Hill made a move that couldn't be answered, pulling away for a six second win in 17:55. Prentice caught Ahmed in the final stretch to claim the runner-up position in 18:01, with Ahmed finishing less than a second back for third. Graves and Fernandez rounded out the team scoring in fourth and fifth, running 18:03 and 18:08 respectively. Team USA scored 12 points over Canada's 24 points. Jamaica finished third with 54 points.

The senior women's race saw Grandt jump to an early lead during the first lap with her teammates leading the chase pack. Over the remaining two laps, Team USA was in position for a perfect score but Canada's Catherine Cormier and Chantell Widney ran a strong final lap to break-up the U.S. pack, finishing second and fifth.

Grandt was timed in 20:11 for the 6 km, Cormier finished ten seconds back, while Team USA's Kasie Enman (Huntington, Vt.), Erin Nehus (Indianapolis, Ind.), and Hanna Grinaker (Madison, Wis.) finished in third, fourth and sixth, running 20:23, 20:38 and 20:46 respectively to round out the team scoring. The Team USA women scored 14 points to win by eight points over Canada, while Jamaica finished third with 54 points.

The final race of the day saw the U.S. men take immediate control of the lead pack in senior men's 8 km, with only Canada's Dylan Wykes running with Pifer, Antonio Vega (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Giliat Ghebray (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Team USA's Lucas Meyer (Eugene, Ore.) following the lead pack by about 20 meters.

Going into the third lap, Wykes began to push to the front but Pifer tucked in and waited to make his move, opening small gap at the beginning of the final lap that would grow to a 15 second win over Wykes. Ghebray, Vega and Meyer took the next three spots, running 23:35, 23:39 and 23:50 respectively to give Team USA 13 points for a ten-point win over Canada. Jamaica was third once again with 50 points.

For more information on the NACAC Cross Country Championships visit www.usatf.org.

Oregon's Semick Wins USA 50k Championships

(3-5-09) From USATF Press Release - Michael Wardian (Arlington, Va.), won his second consecutive USA 50 km championships on Sunday, running 2 hours 56 minutes 36 seconds at the Caumsett State Park 50K in Huntington N.Y.

Kami Semick (Bend, Ore.) won both the overall and masters women's titles in 3:29:20, while Dan Verington (Bradford, Mass.) won his second straight masters title in 3:25:22.

This year's event was hosted by USATF Long Island and was held for the fourth consecutive year in Caumsett State Historic Park, the fourth largest of Long Island's 25 state parks. The park boasts 1,500 acres and is located 35 miles from New York City. The USA 50 km Championship will be held at Caumsett for the next three years.

For more information on the 2009 MUT circuit visit www.usatf.org.

Nike Prefontaine Classic Added to IAAF "Diamond League" in 2010

(3-5-09) From Press Release - The IAAF announced on Monday that the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., and Reebok Grand Prix in New York City will be part of a prestigious new circuit of elite track meets known as the "IAAF Diamond League", starting in 2010.

Replacing the current AF Golden League of six meets, the Diamond League will feature at least 12 globally televised meets on four continents, giving the IAAF a series that extends beyond the European confines of the current Golden League, into the United States, Asia and the Middle East.

The Diamond League also will expand the number of events contested in the IAAF's showcase series, featuring 32 different event disciplines. All 32 events will have equal prize money, with each meet doling out $416,000. Top stars will be signed to contracts to compete in the series.

Long part of USATF's Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic and Reebok Grand Prix already were recognized as two of the world's top meets and had IAAF Grand Prix I status. Many of the world's biggest stars have competed recently in Eugene and/or New York, from American sprinters, hurdlers and shot putters to African distance runners; Jamaican sprinters to Chinese hurdlers.

"We applaud the IAAF for expanding the reach of its showcase series," said USATF CEO Doug Logan. "Bringing the Diamond League to our shores clearly demonstrates the IAAF's commitment to growing the sport in the United States. It is an exciting development for all track fans that the members of the World's #1 Team will be featured in top-flight international competition in this country's two most celebrated meets. We look forward to welcoming even more of the world's finest track athletes to our domestic competitions."

Athletes will score points in their events at each meet in the series. The overall top point-winning athlete in each event will win the "IAAF Diamond Race" and be awarded a 4-carat diamond, worth approximately $80,000.

Meets currently planned for the 2010 Diamond League are the Aviva London Grand Prix; Aviva British Grand Prix; Athletissima Lausanne; Bislett Games Oslo; DN Galan Stockholm; Herculis Monaco; Meeting Areva Paris St-Denis; Memorial Van Damme Brussels; Prefontaine Classic Eugene; Reebok Grand Prix New York; China Golden Grand Prix; Weltklasse Zurich; DKB ISTAF Berlin; Golden Gala Rome, Qatar Athletics Super Grand Prix in Doha. The IAAF noted that contracts with Berlin, Rome and Doha have yet to be signed.

For more information on the IAAF Diamond League, visit www.iaaf.org