More than 100 clubs and 1,000 runners are expected Saturday at Masterson Station Park for the 12th annual USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships.
The meet features the nation’s top post-collegiate club teams. The total prize purse of $30,000 includes $25,000 going to the top teams. Men will race a 10,000-meter course, while the women will cover 6,000 meters.
Thomas Morgan
Racing begins at 9:30 a.m. with a 6,000-meter community run. Then: Women’s masters 6K, 10:30 a.m.; men’s masters 10K, 11:30 a.m.; women’s open 6K, 12:45 p.m.; men’s open 10K, 1:30 p.m.
Defending club champions in the open divisions are ZAP Fitness (Blowing Rock, N.C.) in the men’s division, Boulder (Colo.) Running Company/adidas in the women’s race.
The ZAP roster includes former Lexington Catholic and University of Kentucky standout Thomas Morgan. Teammate David Jankowski leads a ZAP team that is gunning for its third title.
Other leading contenders for individual honors include Sergio Reyes and Phil Reid of Asics Aggie Running Club (Martinez, Calif.), plus Lucas Meyer of the Boston Athletic Association.
Aggies, Club Northwest (Seattle) and 2000 champion (Madison) Wisconsin Runner Racing Team are expected to be top threats to ZAP.
As for the women, World Championships marathoner Tera Moody leads Boulder’s effort to repeat as team champ. The Boston Athletic Association will try to win its fourth title, and McMillan Elite (Flagstaff, Ariz.) also should contend.
Top individual threats to Moody include Kasie Enman of Boston and Lindsay Allen of McMillan.
Leading teams in the men’s masters (age 40 and up) include Front Line Racing Team (Allen Park, Mich.), Dirigo R.C. (Falmouth, Maine), Genessee Valley Harriers (Rochester, N.Y.) and Fleet Feet Boulder (Colo.) Racing Team.
Top women’s teams include Impala Racing Team (San Francisco), See Jane Run (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Club Northwest (Seattle).
Entrants in the men’s 60-64 age group include Amby Burfoot, Runner’s World editor and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon.
