Heading out to the championships, the team hoped to achieve a podium place, from either the senior men’s, or the senior women’s team.

However, despite the strong efforts, a podium place was just to far out of reach, with Team USA achieving two fifth-place team finishes in the senior men’s and women’s races. Disappointing as it was, Team USA can hold their heads high, as all of the athletes showed great commitment and determination, in their respective races.

Here are some of the reactions from Team USA.

Mixed Relay

Cory Leslie, First Leg
“Even when we handed it off to Paul, we thought that he would give us a sliver of hope—he’s that special.

On if the heat had any effect…
“It’s a 2k, so the weather had no effect. I felt that all of our teams were ready.”

Paul Chelimo, Anchor Leg
“I was trying to cover that move like crazy but it is what it is. Everybody tried [their] own best.

On if there was anything he would have changed…
“Just the starting and the finish. That’s all I would have changed.”

On his performance…
For me, I just wanted to see how fast i could close the last 2k. It’s a training run. I want to get stronger. Everyone went out and did their best, nothing more you can do.”

U20 Women

Michelle Magnani
“It was an interesting start. I thought the race got recalled, so I was walking. I was like okay, I’m in last but it’s a long race. It was hot out. [I was] trying to catch as many people as I could [in the final lap].

Aubrey Roberts
“Michelle thought it was going to be a false start. We heard some whistles which aren’t typical of any U.S. races, but in the end, I don’t think it made a difference.”

Logan Morris
“That was a crazy race. We all thought we were going to get called back. It’s a good thing we came to Kampala early…I felt better running each day I was here.”

Megan Murray
“It was pretty tough for me. There are a lot of great athletes here, and happy to be here.”

Kristen Garcia
“I was not definitely feeling my best. Just making it was the goal. No matter the result, I’m happy to be here.”

Madison Fruchey
“It went out a lot faster than I expected. I got back into the race, but the logs were still kind of awkward. It was a fun race, and I really enjoyed the experience.”

U20 Men

Paul Roberts
“I just kept moving up for the first two laps. We talked about [how] we need to move up on the third lap. So I just tried to hook on… just one at a time, one at a time.

On the experience…
“The crowd was huge and the athletes were amazing. So coming out, knowing what it’s going to be like – they’re going to be screaming their heads off, the Ethiopians going out like crazy; they’re going to haul out at the start. Just getting the experience was awesome.”

Isaac Harding
“I might have gone out just a tad too fast. The whole time I was just trying to stay focused and strong. [I learned] to kind of stay relaxed on the first 2k. Just gives you perspective of the kind of competition out there.”

Aidan Reed
“It was challenging. I underestimated the heat. I kept reminding myself to fight, and I told myself to not let myself off the hook. I told myself to suffer for my teammates ‘cause they were suffering for me.”

Alec Haines
“It was hot and grueling, and I kept trying to push.”

On the difference between World XC and collegiate races…
“I feel that they go out slow in college races. My plan was to be conservative. My first 2k was around 5:40, and seemed everyone died out there. I just had to string my way through it.”

Senior Women

Aliphine Tuliamuk, 15th
“I was hoping for a top 10 finish, but a top 15 finish is still okay. Today didn’t go as planned. I think I have so much in me, but it didn’t quite work out today. I don’t think I’m close to the top 10 women, but I’ve been there before.”

On what’s next…
“I think I’m going to take a month off of racing and get in some solid training.”

Sarah Pagano, 30th
“My goal was to put myself in the top 30. I was struggling over the last 2 laps. I’m not sure how we ended up as a team, but we put ourselves in a good position. We really had a good team vibe overall with this group of ladies.”

Elaina Balouris, 48th
“[It was a] tough day, but I knew my job was to try and beat as many people as I could.”

Stephanie Bruce, 22nd
“[Today] was awesome! That was the most amazing, tough, and incredible race I’ve ever been a part of. The U.S. team came out as wild cards and surprised some people. I wanted to get out and establish good position. The heat was oppressive, but there was a lot of energy from the crowd.”

On what’s next…
“This may be a little crazy, but I’m running the 10,000m next week at Stanford.”

Natosha Rogers, 23rd
“[Today was] extremely challenging. I think we were well prepared, since we ran at Bend; just a different temperature.”

On what was the most challenging…
“The last 4k, just staying focused and not letting people pass…I knew we were in contention for the podium.”

Senior Men

Leonard Korir, 20th
“It was tough today. Compared to the races I have run, that was the toughest one. I said, you know it’s tough, but let me give everything I’ve got so I can go forward, knowing where is my strength and where my weakness [is].

On what’s next…
“I don’t know for now…go rest a little.” [laughs]

Sam Chelanga, 11th
“I just told myself, ‘let me just try and do my best’. We tried to stay together, but the pace got hot. I was pretty happy with my performance, I came here wanting to represent the USA. Once the pace got out and I couldn’t see anyone from the USA ahead of me, I just wanted to go and try and get anyone ahead of me. It was one of those races where you just have to fight, and I did.”

Stanley Kebenei, 26th
“I think we waited well, so we’re just going to go back motivated next year and try and win.”

Scott Fauble
“It was a pretty tough race. Anytime you run a 10k, 80 degrees, 80 percent humidity, 4000ft, it’s going to be really hard. And then if you add a 60 second quarter at the start, it was just a combination of hard stuff.”

The post Reactions from Team USA after World Cross Country Championships, in Kampala appeared first on Fast Running.

The Keynan team ran most of the race tightly together, before Cheptai broke to the front in final 1K to claim the gold, crossing the line in 31:57. Teammates Alice Aprot followed to claim silver in 32:01, and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk claimed the bronze in a time of 32:11.
Cheptai crossed the line in 31:57 four seconds clear of Aprot, and 52 second before the first woman not wearing a Kenyan team kit.

USA athletes
Three USA athletes finished in the top 30, helping the US claim 5th place in the team standings.

The first to cross the line, was Aliphine Tuliamuk, in 15th place, followed by Stephanie Bruce in 21st, and Natosha Rogers finished close behind in 22nd.

The remaining women of Sarah Pagano finished in 29th place, Elaina Balouris followed in 47th, and Emily Pritt finished 74th.

Great Britian Athletes
GB’s Louise Small worked hard to move from 81st after the first 2K to finish in a very respectable 38th. Next to finish for the Great Britian team was Rebecca Murray in 42nd place. Unfortunately Emily Hosker Thornhill and team captain Claire Duck failed to finish the race.

U20 Round up

The men’s U20 race produced a bit of history, with Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo putting in a stunning performance to win gold. The young athlete covered the 8km course in 22:40, and his victory was Uganda’s first ever gold medal at a World Cross Country Championships.

Silver place went to Ethiopia’s Amdework Walelegn, and Kenya’s Richard Yator Kimunyan claimed bronze.

In the women’s U20 race Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey claimed gold for a second consecutive year. The 19-year-old becomes only the fourth female, in World Cross Country Championship history to win back-to-back U20 titles; joining fellow Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba, and Kenyan’s Viola Kibiwot and Faith Kipyego, on the list.

With no great success on the track to date, the 5000m runner Gidey, will now hope this victory will help launch a successful track senior career.

Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa claimed the silver medal, and bronze went to Celliphine Chepteek Chespol of Kenya.

The post Irene Chepet Cheptai, leads Kenya to unprecedented top six sweep in World Cross Championships appeared first on Fast Running.

Taking place in in Kampala, Uganda, the Kenya team, that included 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop led from the start. The world champion, who ran the first leg, impressively established an ever increasing gap over his fellow athletes.

Winfred Nzisa Mbithe, and Bernard Kipkorir Koros maintained that gap in the second and third relay legs respectively.

Going into the final leg, the Kenyan team handed off to Beatrice Chepkoech, who had the task to charge home over the final 2K.

However she was up against Ethiopia’s 1500m world champion Genzebe Dibaba, and as anticipated, Dibaba chased Chepkoech down, but the Kenyan anchor kept her cool to bring home the win for a delighted Kenyan team.

Podium places:
1st place: Kenya – time: 22:22
2nd Ethiopia – time: 22:30
3rd Turkey – 22:37.

Other notable final placing:
USA’s team of Cory Leslie, Marisa Howard, Paul Chelimo, and Eleanor Fulton, finished in 7th place with a time of 24:08.

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