The USA Cross Country Championships is the annual national championships for cross country running in the United States . The championships is generally held in mid-February and it serves as a way of designating the country's national champion, as well as acting as the selection race for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships .[ 1]
The competition, currently run under the auspices of USA Track & Field , traces its history back to 1883. The competition was held sporadically until 1905 at which point it has been held every year since.[ 2] The National Championship has been sponsored by multiple organizations over the years, some of them holding competing championships. It has thus been known under a variety of names.
Women did not have a championship until 1964. Until 1979, women's championships were segregated from the men, on the same date in a different location.
Currently there are two major Cross Country Championship events, generally referred to as the "Fall Championships" and the "Winter Championships." The Fall Championships generally happen in late November or early December, which corresponds with the end of the broader cross country season from late-August into November. Since 1998, those have been known as the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships . The Winter Championships generally happen in late January or early February and since they are three months after the broader season, are geared towards selecting the international team for the World Championships which is generally held in late March. Since 2011, the World Championships are only held in odd numbered years but USA continues to hold Winter Championships every year.
There are currently several races held at the Fall Championships, the number of races depends on the number of entries. In addition to the open races for each gender, there are masters championships in each age division. Open and masters men run 10K up to age 60. 60 and above run 8K races. All women's divisions run 6K, but masters run at least one separate race. When there are a large number of entries, even the one division can be broken into an A section and a B section to make the number of runners on the course manageable.[ 3]
There are currently four races held at each Winter Championships: the men's 12 km open race, the women's 8 km open race, a junior men's race of 8 km and a junior women's race of 6 km.[ 1] All four serve as selection races for the IAAF World Championships in which the top six runners from each race gain qualification.[ 4] Each race awards medals on an individual basis and a team basis (where the performances by athletes belonging to a certain running club or sponsor are combined).[ 1] Between 1998 and 2006 the championships featured short course races of 4 km for both men and women – these races are now discontinued. Occasionally, masters races, determined by age group, are held as part of the championships.[ 5]
Lynn Jennings won the championship nine times between 1985 and 1996, when there was only the one championship for women. She is the only competitor to have won the USA Cross Country Championships and IAAF World Championships in the same year, having done so three times consecutively in 1990 , 1991 and 1992 . Prior to the existence of the World Championships, Doris Brown pulled the same feat four times, three consecutively with the "International Championships " in 1967 , 1969 , 1970 and 1971 . While Brown also won the 1968 International Championship , part of five in a row, she lost the November 1967 US Championship to Vicki Foltz . Pat Porter won eleven of the various men's championships over a seven-year period of time between 1982 and 1989, including eight Fall Championships in a row. In the 1930s, Don Lash won seven in a row (1934-1940).
One set of brothers; Bill Ashenfelter and Horace Ashenfelter have won championships. Two sets of spouses have won championships; Cathy Branta (Easker) (1984) and John Easker (1986); Shayne Culpepper and Alan Culpepper . The Culpeppers did it on the same day, February 16, 2003.
The competition has been televised in the past on ESPN2 .[ 5]
The first events claiming the National Championship moniker were the "Amateur Individual Cross Country Championship of America" hosted by the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) in Mott Haven, Bronx starting in 1883. In 1887, the National Cross Country Association (NCCA) began holding championships. Both organizations held championships in 1887. Coincidentally, both were won by Edward C. Carter. NCCA held their last championship in 1892 at the Morris Park Racecourse . NYAC revived the series in 1897 also at Morris Park. The Knickerbocker Athletic Club hosted in the same location in April 1898 but in November of the same year, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) held their first such event "The Cross-Country Individual and Team Championship of the A.A.U." AAU's second championship wasn't until 1903 but in between, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York hosted a race regarded as a national championship. AAU's third race was in 1905, called the “National Cross Country Championship of the A.A.U.” and the championship has been held continuously since, under that name until the demise of the AAU as the national governing body in 1979. The championship for some seasons has fallen on opposite sides of the new year occasionally. The first race in Van Cortlandt Park was held in 1912, that venue has been a frequent host of the championship ever since, 25 times, even as recently as 2006. The first championship not held in the state of New York was 1917, when it was held in Franklin Park in Boston . To date, a championship has been held in 31 different states.
In 1962, the U.S. Track & Field Federation (USTFF) began holding a competing “National Cross Country Championship of the U.S.T.F.F.” in the same week as the AAU. Most were in different venues, but the two 1964 championships were both held in Washington Park , Chicago two days apart. The same situation happened in 1968 at Van Cortlandt Park. In 1969, Jack Bacheler won both championships, USTFF at Penn State on November 26 and AAU at Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on November 29. The following year, his teammate Frank Shorter accomplished the same feat. Craig Virgin technically duplicated it in 1977, after winning USTFF, he finished second to British athlete Nick Rose at the AAU. By being the first American citizen to cross the finish line, Virgin was the AAU National Champion that year. Starting in 1975, the AAU added the “World Cross Country Championship Senior Men's Trials” in February at a more appropriate time to select an international team to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships . In 1979 the USTFF renamed itself Track and Field Association, USA using the acronym USTFA for two years. There is no evidence USTFF or USTFA ever held a championship for women.
As the new national governing body , The Athletics Congress (TAC) began administering the “National Cross Country Championship of T.A.C.” a month later. TAC changed its name to USATF in 1993, first holding "The U.S.A.T.F. National Cross Country Championship."[ 6]
A Women's national championship was added in 1964. The women's championship was held at a separate location on the same date until 1979. In the last season of the AAU administration it was finally combined to the same location and date as the men.
In 1998, the IAAF World Cross Country Championships began long course and short course championships, USATF commensurately held long and short course championships as qualifiers. 1998 was the first year women joined the men in holding a separate qualifier, at the same unified location. Prior to that, the women qualified to the World Championships based on their Championship about three months earlier. That same year, the Fall Championships were renamed the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships , with the USATF website redirecting the lineage of National Championship history to the February event..
While the championship has predominantly been held in the last two weeks of November, aligning with the close of the traditional fall season on the scholastic level, it has occurred in eight different months around the year. In 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003, the Fall Championship locations and dates were chosen to correspond with the location of the USATF Annual Meeting.
International qualifier
edit
While the International Cross Country Championships existed back to 1898 for men and 1931 for women, the United States did not send representatives to participate until 1966 (when Tracy Smith brought home a bronze medal) for men and 1967 for women (after the women's event had not been held for 10 years). Those representatives were selected from the National Championship race. Doris Brown won the 1967 Championship and the next four championships after that. By 1970, USA hosted the 1970 International Cross Country Championships for women in Frederick, Maryland but the event was segregated from the men's championship in Vichy, France the following day, though there was a women's race also held in Vichy resulting in two champions that year, one of them Brown.
In 1973, the International Championships gave way to the new IAAF World Cross Country Championships . In 1973 , US men did not participate but US women won the team bronze medal. US men again did not participate in the 1974 World Championships , though the US Junior Men did participate and won the team gold medal behind Rich Kimball 's individual win over future Olympic medalist John Treacy . US men decided to take the World Championships seriously in 1975, holding a separate qualifying event in February. US women did not hold a separate qualifying race, then combined with the men, until 1998.
Deena Kastor (Drossin) has won the long race on seven occasions.
Dathan Ritzenhein is a three-time USA Cross Country champion.
Key
NYAC sponsored
NCCA sponsored
Knickerbocker Athletic Club sponsored
AAU sponsored
Pan-American Exposition sponsored
USTFF sponsored
Season
Venue
Location
Winner
Time
Distance
Date
1883
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
Thomas Delaney
26:30
4.25 miles
November 6, 1883
1884
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
D.D. McTaggart
29:53
≈ 5 miles
November 4, 1884
1885
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
29:07
≈ 4.5 miles
November 5, 1885
1886
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
31:51
5 miles
November 2, 1886
1887
Highbridge Park
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
56:44
8 miles
April 30, 1887
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
34:52
5 miles
November 8, 1887
1888
Fleetwood Driving Park
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
41:35
≈ 8 miles
April 28, 1888
1889
Mott Haven
New York City, New York
Willie Day
45:31
≈ 8 miles
May 4, 1889
1890
Morris Park
New York City, New York
Willie Day
47:41
8 miles
April 26, 1890
1891
Morris Park
New York City, New York
M. Kennedy
46:30
8 miles
April 25, 1891
1892
Morris Park
New York City, New York
Edward Carter
43:54
8 miles
April 30, 1892
1893-6
Not held
1897
Morris Park
New York City, New York
George Orton Canada F.J. Hjertberg
35:58 36:25
6.25 miles
April 3, 1897
1898
Morris Park
New York City, New York
George Orton Canada J.F. Malloy
35:41 36:24
6.25 miles
April 2, 1898
Morris Park
New York City, New York
A.I. Wright
38:33
6.5 miles
November 26, 1898
1899-1900
Not held
1901
Pan-American Exposition
Buffalo, New York
Jerry Pierce
43:27
8miles
September 7, 1901
1902
Not held
1903
Travers Island
New York City, New York
John J. Joyce
32:23
≈ 6 miles
November 3, 1903
1904
Not held
1905
Travers Island
New York City, New York
W.J. Hail
32:59
6 miles
November 30, 1905
1906
Travers Island
New York City, New York
Frank Nebrich
34:29
6 miles
December 15, 1906
1907
Celtic Park
New York City, New York
Frank Bellars
33:12
6.25 miles
November 23, 1907
1908
Celtic Park
New York City, New York
Frank Bellars
34:15
6.25 miles
November 14, 1908
1909
Celtic Park
New York City, New York
Willie Kramer
31:17
6.5 miles
November 20. 1909
1910
Celtic Park
New York City, New York
Frank Bellars
33:03
≈ 6 miles
November 26, 1910
1911
Celtic Park
New York City, New York
Willie Kramer
37:08
6.25 miles
November 18, 1911
1912
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Willie Kramer
34:32
6 miles
November 30, 1912
1913
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Abel Kiviat
33:52
6 miles
December 6, 1913
1914
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Hannes Kolehmainen Finland Arthur J. Fogel
33:36 33:49
6.12 miles
December 12, 1914
1915
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Nick Giannakopoulos
32:46
6 miles
January 8, 1916
1916
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ville Kyrönen Finland (3)John W. Overton
32:46 33:33
6 miles
December 9, 1916
1917
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
James Henigan
33:58
≈ 6 miles
November 24, 1917
1918
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Max Bohland
33:00
6 miles
November 30, 1918
1919
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Fred Faller
32:26
6 miles
November 29, 1919
1920
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Fred Faller
29:01
5.5 miles
November 20, 1920
1921
Schenley Park
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
R. Earl Johnson
24:23
5 miles
November 19, 1921
1922
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ville Ritola Finland R. Earl Johnson
34:37 35:41
6.5 miles
November 25, 1922
1923
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ville Ritola Finland
31:56
6.25 miles
November 24, 1923
1924
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Fred Wachsmuth
31:35
6 miles
November 29, 1924
1925
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ville Ritola Finland Fred Wachsmuth
29:27
6.25 miles
November 21, 1925
1926
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ville Ritola Finland
30:02
6.25 miles
November 21, 1926
1927
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ville Ritola Finland
29:27
6 miles
November 26, 1927
1928
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Gus Moore
31:18
6 miles
November 18, 1928
1929
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Gus Moore
31:10
6 miles
December 8, 1928
1930
Lincoln Park
Jersey City, New Jersey
William Zepp
29:43
6 miles
November 30, 1930
1931
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Clark Chamberlain
29:40
6 miles
November 28, 1931
1932
Kenwood Country Club
Cincinnati, Ohio
Joseph McCluskey
32:36
6 miles
December 3, 1932
1933
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Ray Sears
32:51
10K
October 28, 1933
1934
Finkbine Field
Iowa City, Iowa
Don Lash
32:17
10K
November 29, 1934
1935
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Don Lash
32:42
10K
November 23, 1935
1936
Branch Brook Park
Newark, New Jersey
Don Lash
32:37
10K
November 29, 1936
1937
Branch Brook Park
Newark, New Jersey
Don Lash
32:57
10K
November 28, 1937
1938
Branch Brook Park
Newark, New Jersey
Don Lash
34:33
10K
November 27, 1938
1939
Branch Brook Park
Newark, New Jersey
Don Lash
32:26
10K
November 20, 1939
1940
Meadowbrook Country Club
Northville, Michigan
Don Lash
30:25
10K
November 28, 1940
1941
Empire City Race Track
Yonkers, New York
Greg Rice
29:19
10K
November 9, 1941
1942
Weequahic Park
Newark, New Jersey
Frank Dixon
32:52
10K
November 29, 1942
1943
Clifton Park
Baltimore, Maryland
William Hulse
32:41
10K
November 25, 1943
1944
Clifton Park
Baltimore, Maryland
James Rafferty
31:38
10K
November 23, 1944
1945
Delaware Park
Buffalo, New York
Thomas Quinn
34:14
10K
November 25, 1945
1946
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Robert Black
32:46
10K
November 30, 1946
1947
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Curt Stone
32:28
10K
November 29, 1947
1948
Warren Valley Course
Detroit , Michigan
Robert Black
30:00
10K
November 27, 1948
1949
Warren Valley Course
Detroit , Michigan
Fred Wilt
30:31
10K
December 3, 1949
1950
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Browning Ross
31:24
6 miles
November 25, 1950
1951
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bill Ashenfelter
30:26
10K
December 16, 1951
1952
Delaware Park
Buffalo, New York
Fred Wilt
32:31
10K
November 30, 1952
1953
Delaware Park
Buffalo, New York
Fred Wilt
31:17
10K
November 29, 1953
1954
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gordon McKenzie
29:27
10K
November 29, 1954
1955
Delaware Park
Buffalo, New York
Horace Ashenfelter
31:39
10K
November 20, 1955
1956
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Horace Ashenfelter
30:08
10K
December 9, 1956
1957
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
John Macy
31:12
10K
December 7, 1957
1958
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
John Macy
29:47
10K
December 6, 1958
1959
Bellarmine College
Louisville, Kentucky
Al Lawrence Australia John Macy
32:22.4 32:27
6.75 miles
November 26, 1959
1960
Bellarmine College
Louisville, Kentucky
Al Lawrence Australia (3) John Gutknecht
31:20.8 31:41
10K
November 24, 1960
1961
Bellarmine College
Louisville, Kentucky
Bruce Kidd Canada John Gutknecht
32:02.6 32:08
10K
November 23, 1961
1962
Ohio State Golf Course
Columbus, Ohio
Leslie Hegedus
31:58
10K
November 22, 1962
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Pete McArdle
29:53
6.18 miles
November 24, 1962
1963
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Tom O'Hara
30:12
10K
November 28, 1963
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Bruce Kidd Canada Pete McArdle
30:47
10K
November 30, 1963
Split gender divisions
edit
AAU Men's division
AAU Women's division
AAU World Championship Trials
TAC Men's division
TAC Women's division
TAC World Championship Trials
USTFF sponsored
Season
Venue
Location
Winner
Time
Distance
Date
1964
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Dan Shaughnessy
30:57
10K
November 26, 1964
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Dave Ellis Canada William Morgan
30:49 31:10
10K
November 28, 1964
Seattle, Washington
Marie Mulder
6:51
2K
November 28, 1964
1965
Echo Hills Golf Course
Wichita, Kansas
John Lawson
28:50
6 miles
November 25, 1965
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ron Larrieu
31:11
10K
November 27, 1965
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sandra Knott
9:06
1.5 miles
November 27, 1965
1966
Echo Hills Golf Course
Wichita, Kansas
Tarry Harrison
29:57
6 miles
November 24, 1966
Pierce College
Woodland Hills, California
Ron Larrieu
31:23
10K
November 26, 1966
Doris Brown
1967
Fort Collins Country Club
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Arjan Gelling
31:58
10K
November 25, 1967
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Ken Moore
30:08
10K
November 25, 1967
Vicki Foltz
1968
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Tarry Harrison
30:05
10K
November 28, 1968
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
John Mason
30:34
10K
November 30, 1968
Doris Brown
1968
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Jack Bacheler
29:35
6 miles
November 26, 1969
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Jack Bacheler
30:49
10K
November 29, 1969
Doris Brown
1970
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Frank Shorter
29:01
6 miles
November 25, 1970
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Frank Shorter
30:15
10K
November 28, 1970
Saint Louis, Missouri
Doris Brown
10:39
2 miles
November 28, 1970
1971
Stone Mountain Golf Course
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Edward Leddy
29:56
6 miles
November 24, 1971
UC San Diego
La Jolla, California
Frank Shorter
29:19
10K
November 27, 1971
Wickliffe, Ohio
Doris Brown
14:29.4
4K
November 27, 1971
1972
North Texas State
Denton, Texas
John Halberstadt
29:01
6 miles
November 22, 1972
Washington Park
Chicago , Illinois
Frank Shorter
30:42
10K
November 25, 1972
El Dorado Regional Park
Long Beach, California
Francie Larrieu
13:27
4K
November 25, 1972
1973
Balboa Park
San Diego, California
Ed Mendoza
29:39
6 miles
November 24, 1973
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Frank Shorter
29:52
10K
November 24, 1973
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Francie Larrieu
17:17
3 miles
November 24, 1973
1974
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Pat Mandera
29:39
6 miles
November 27, 1974
Crystal Springs
Belmont, California
John Ngeno Kenya (3) Ted Castaneda
29:58.8 30:22.9
10K
November 30, 1974
Bellbrook, Ohio
Lynn Bjorklund
17:31
3 miles
November 30, 1974
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Frank Shorter
46:32
15K
February 9, 1975
1975
Coonskin Park
Charleston, West Virginia
Alex Kasich
32:04
6 miles
November 29, 1975
Eisenhower Golf Club
Annapolis, Maryland
Greg Fredericks
28:57
10K
November 30, 1975
Crystal Springs
Belmont, California
Lynn Bjorklund
16:32.6
3 miles
November 29, 1975
Crystal Springs
Belmont, California
Gary Tuttle
37:24
12K
January 31, 1976
1976
Yahara Hills
Madison, Wisconsin
Mike Slack
29:41
6 miles
October 23, 1976
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ric Rojas
30:23
10K
November 27, 1976
Miami, Florida
Jan Merrill
16:37
3 miles
November 27, 1976
Alameda Municipal Golf Course
Alameda, California
Mike Bordell
42:47
9 miles
February 19, 1977
1977
Yahara Hills
Madison, Wisconsin
Craig Virgin
28:31
6 miles
October 22, 1977
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
Nick Rose United Kingdom Craig Virgin
30:14.3 30:22
10K
November 26, 1977
San Bernardino, California
Jan Merrill
16:55
5K
November 26, 1977
Atlanta, Georgia
Dan Dillon
42:47
12K
January 28, 1978
1978
Yahara Hills
Madison, Wisconsin
Craig Virgin
28:42
6 miles
October 21, 1978
West Seattle Golf Course
Seattle, Washington
Greg Meyer
29:35
10K
November 25, 1978
Memphis, Tennessee
Julie Brown
16:32
5K
November 25, 1978
Atlanta, Georgia
Marc Hunter
36:27
12K
February 10, 1979
Combined gender divisions
edit
AAU Men's division
AAU Women's division
AAU World Championship Trials
TAC Men's division
TAC Women's division
TAC World Championship Trials
USTFA sponsored
Season
Venue
Location
Winner
Time
Distance
Date
1979
Wayne E. Dannehl Course University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Herb Lindsay
24:12
5 miles
October 20, 1979
North Carolina State
Raleigh, North Carolina
Alberto Salazar
30:27
10K
November 24, 1979
North Carolina State
Raleigh, North Carolina
Margaret Groos
16:53.9
5K
November 24, 1979
Lane Community College
Eugene, Oregon
Craig Virgin
36:43
12K
January 19, 1980
1980
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada
Jairo Correa
31:56
10K
October 25, 1980
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Jon Sinclair
31:46
10K
November 29, 1980
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Mary Shea
18:18.7
5K
November 29, 1980
E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
Louisville, Kentucky
Craig Virgin
36:09
12K
January 19, 1981
1981
DeBell Golf Course
Burbank, California
Adrian Royle United Kingdom Alberto Salazar
27:20 27:22
10K*[ 7] [ 8]
November 28, 1981
DeBell Golf Course
Burbank, California
Julie Brown
15:49
5K
November 28, 1981
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Alberto Salazar
36:09
12K
February 15, 1982
1982
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Pat Porter
28:50
10K
November 28, 1982
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Leslie Welch
15:52
5K
November 28, 1982
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, Illinois
Alberto Salazar
36:34
12K
February 20, 1983
1983
Penn State Blue Golf Course
State College, Pennsylvania
Pat Porter
29:18
10K
November 26, 1983
Penn State Blue Golf Course
State College, Pennsylvania
Betty Jo Geiger
16:31
5K
November 26, 1983
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Pat Porter
34:47
12K
February 19, 1984
1984
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Pat Porter
28:06
10K
November 24, 1984
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Cathy Branta
15:19
5K
November 24, 1984
Cottonwood Creek Golf Course
Waco, Texas
Ed Eyestone
36:09
12K
February 16, 1985
1985
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina
Pat Porter
30:33
10K
November 30, 1985
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina
Lynn Jennings
17:28
5K
November 30, 1985
Cottonwood Creek Golf Course
Waco, Texas
Pat Porter
35:07
12K
February 15, 1986
1986
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Pat Porter
30:36
10K
November 29, 1986
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Leslie Welch
16:51
5.2K
November 29, 1986
Trinity Park
Dallas, Texas
John Easker
36:54
12K
February 14, 1987
1987
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Pat Porter
29:58
10K
November 28, 1987
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Lynn Jennings
19:35
6K
November 28, 1987
Trinity Park
Dallas, Texas
George Nicolas
38:13
12K
February 13, 1988
1988
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina
Pat Porter
31:07
10K
November 26, 1988
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina
Lynn Jennings
19:32
6K
November 26, 1988
Tyee Valley Golf Course
SeaTac, Washington
Pat Porter
37:54
12K
February 4, 1989
1989
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Pat Porter
32:08
10K
November 25, 1989
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Lynn Jennings
21:11
6K
November 25, 1989
Tyee Valley Golf Course
SeaTac, Washington
Ed Eyestone
33:39
12K
February 10, 1990
1990
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Bob Kempainen
30:23
10K
November 25, 1990
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Lynn Jennings
19:07
6K
November 25, 1990
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Aaron Ramirez
34:48
12K
February 2, 1991
1991
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Todd Williams
29:18
10K
November 30, 1991
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Lynn Jennings
19:24
6K
November 30, 1991
Plough Park
Memphis, Tennessee
Shannon Butler
35:46
12K
February 8, 1992
1992
Wayne E. Dannehl Course University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Bob Kennedy
29:41
10K
November 28, 1992
Wayne E. Dannehl Course University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Lynn Jennings
20:26
6K
November 28, 1992
Sandy High School
Sandy, Oregon
Todd Williams
36:45
12K
February 6, 1993
Key
Women's Fall Championship
Women's Winter Short Course Championship (World Championship Trials)
Women's Winter Long Course Championship (World Championship Trials)
Men's Fall Championship
Men's Winter Short Course Championship (World Championship Trials)
Men's Winter Long Course Championship (World Championship Trials)
Season
Venue
Location
Winner
Time
Distance
Date
1993
University of Montana
Missoula, Montana
Todd Williams
26:55
10K
November 27, 1993
University of Montana
Missoula, Montana
Lynn Jennings
20:18
6K
November 27, 1993
Plough Park
Memphis, Tennessee
Bob Kennedy
36:25
12K
February 5, 1994
1994
Blue Lake Regional Park
Portland, Oregon
Reuben Reina
30:00
10K
December 4, 1994
Blue Lake Regional Park
Portland, Oregon
Olga Appell
18:15
5.9K
December 4, 1994
1995
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Brad Schlapak
28.41
9.9K
December 3, 1995
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Joan Nesbit
19:05
6K
December 3, 1995
1996
Stanford Golf Course
Palo Alto, California
Reuben Reina
29:06
10K
December 7, 1996
Stanford Golf Course
Palo Alto, California
Lynn Jennings
21:06
6.5K
December 7, 1996
1997
Blue Lake Regional Park
Portland, Oregon
Tim Hacker
27:31
10K
December 7, 1997
Blue Lake Regional Park
Portland, Oregon
Deena Drossin
26:35
8K
December 7, 1997
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Dan Browne
11:08
4K
January 31, 1998
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Amy Rudolph
12:38[ 9]
4K
January 31, 1998
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Nnenna Lynch
26:45[ 10]
8K
January 31, 1998
1998
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Andre Williams
28:59
10K
December 6, 1998
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Blake Phillips-Russell
20:06
6K
December 6, 1998
Lake Spanaway Golf Course
Tacoma, Washington
Adam Goucher
10:29
4K
February 13, 1999
Lake Spanaway Golf Course
Tacoma, Washington
Deena Drossin
25:15[ 11]
8K
February 13, 1999
Lake Spanaway Golf Course
Tacoma, Washington
Alan Culpepper
34:24
12K
February 14, 1999
Lake Spanaway Golf Course
Tacoma, Washington
Amy Rudolph
11:59[ 9]
4K
February 14, 1999
1999
El Dorado Regional Park
Long Beach, California
Ray Appenheimer
28:59
10K
December 5, 1999
El Dorado Regional Park
Long Beach, California
Collette Liss [ 12]
20:28
6K
December 5, 1999
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Adam Goucher
11:56
4K
February 12, 2000
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Deena Drossin
27:48
8K
February 12, 2000
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Adam Goucher
37:17
12K
February 13, 2000
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Deena Drossin
13:30[ 13]
4K
February 13, 2000
2000
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Matt Downin
29:01
10K
November 25, 2000
Franklin Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Kim Fitchen [ 14]
20:04
6K
November 25, 2000
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Tim Broe
11:32
4K
February 17, 2001
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Deena Drossin
26:14
8K
February 17, 2001
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Meb Keflezighi
34:54
12K
February 18, 2001
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Regina Jacobs
12:37
4K
February 18, 2001
2001
Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile, Alabama
Jared Cordes
30:39
10K
December 1, 2001
Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile, Alabama
Priscilla Hein [ 15]
20:21
6K
December 1, 2001
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Tim Broe
11:58
4K
February 9, 2002
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Deena Drossin
26:31
8K
February 9, 2002
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Meb Keflezighi
35:45
12K
February 10, 2002
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Regina Jacobs
12:55
4K
February 10, 2002
2002
Sierra College Course
Rocklin, California
Jared Cordes
31:26
10K
December 14, 2002
Sierra College Course
Rocklin, California
Shayne Culpepper [ 16]
21:47
6K
December 14, 2002
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
Robert Gary
13:53
4K
February 15, 2003
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
Deena Drossin
29:06
8K
February 15, 2003
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
Alan Culpepper
38:22
12K
February 16, 2003
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
Shayne Culpepper
15:10
4K
February 16, 2003
2003
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Alan Webb
30:13
10K
December 7, 2003
Bryan Park
Greensboro, North Carolina
Melissa Buttry [ 17]
19:59.9
6K
December 7, 2003
Fall Creek and 16th Street Park
Indianapolis, Indiana
Charlie Gruber
11:14
4K
February 7, 2004
Fall Creek and 16th Street Park
Indianapolis, Indiana
Colleen De Reuck
26:16
8K
February 7, 2004
Fall Creek and 16th Street Park
Indianapolis, Indiana
Bob Kennedy
35:03
12K
February 8, 2004
Fall Creek and 16th Street Park
Indianapolis, Indiana
Shalane Flanagan
12:26
4K
February 8, 2004
2004
Portland Meadows
Portland, Oregon
Jorge Torres
32:43.91[ 18]
10K
December 5, 2004
Portland Meadows
Portland, Oregon
Melissa Buttry [ 18]
23:07.85
6K
December 5, 2004
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Tim Broe
11:37.8
4K
February 12, 2005
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Colleen De Reuck
27:24
8K
February 12, 2005
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Dathan Ritzenhein
36:59.9
12K
February 13, 2005
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Vancouver, Washington
Shalane Flanagan
13:24.3
4K
February 13, 2005
2005
Genesee Valley Park
Rochester, New York
Matt Tegenkamp
29:49
10K
November 19, 2005
Genesee Valley Park
Rochester, New York
Elizabeth Woodworth [ 19]
20:29
6K
November 19, 2005
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Adam Goucher
10:50
3.9K
February 18, 2006
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Blake Phillips-Russell
26:47
7.9K
February 18, 2006
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Ryan Hall
34:38
11.9K
February 19, 2006
Van Cortlandt Park
New York City, New York
Carrie Tollefson
12:32
3.9K
February 19, 2006
2006
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Matt Downin
30:13
10K
December 9, 2006
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Amy Rudolph [ 20]
19:59
6K
December 9, 2006
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Deena Drossin
26:47
8K
February 10, 2007
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Alan Culpepper
37:09
12K
February 10, 2007
2007
Voice of America Park
West Chester, Ohio
Ryan Warrenburg [ 21]
31:46.9
10K
December 8, 2007
Voice of America Park
West Chester, Ohio
Delilah DiCrescenzo [ 22]
20:30.7
6K
December 8, 2007
Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Shalane Flanagan
25:26
8K
February 16, 2008
Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Dathan Ritzenhein
35:03
12K
February 16, 2008
2008
Plantes Ferry Recreation Park
Spokane, Washington
Scott Bauhs
30:47
10K
December 13, 2008
Plantes Ferry Recreation Park
Spokane, Washington
Rebecca Donaghue [ 23]
19:59
6K
December 13, 2008
Agricultural History Farm Park
Derwood, Maryland
Emily Brown
26:58
8K
February 7, 2009
Agricultural History Farm Park
Derwood, Maryland
Meb Keflezighi
36:06
12K
February 7, 2009
2009
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky
David Jankowski
29:18
10K
December 9, 2009
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky
Serena Burla [ 24]
20:23
6K
December 9, 2009
Plantes Ferry Recreation Park
Spokane, Washington
Shalane Flanagan
26:47
8K
February 13, 2010
Plantes Ferry Recreation Park
Spokane, Washington
Dathan Ritzenhein
34:34
12K
February 13, 2010
2010
McAlpine Park
Charlotte, North Carolina
Aaron Braun
29:35.3
10K
December 11, 2010
McAlpine Park
Charlotte, North Carolina
Renee Metivier Baillie [ 25]
19:50.5
6K
December 11, 2010
Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Shalane Flanagan
25:47
8K
February 5, 2011
Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Brent Vaughn
35:46
12K
February 5, 2011
2011
Jefferson Park Golf Course
Seattle, Washington
Jonathan Grey
29:38
10K
December 10, 2011
Jefferson Park Golf Course
Seattle, Washington
Brie Felnagle [ 26]
19:54
6K
December 10, 2011
Forest Park
St. Louis, Missouri
Sara Hall
26:50.1
8K
February 11, 2012
Forest Park
St. Louis, Missouri
Bobby Mack
35:41.4
12K
February 11, 2012
2012
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky
Jacob Riley
29:58
10K
December 8, 2012
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky
Mattie Suver [ 27]
20:01
6K
December 8, 2012
Forest Park
St. Louis, Missouri
Shalane Flanagan
25:49.0
8K
February 8, 2013
Forest Park
St. Louis, Missouri
Chris Derrick
35:38.6
12K
February 8, 2013
2013
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Joseph Gray [ 28]
31:05
10K
December 14, 2013
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Laura Thweatt [ 29]
21:43
6K
December 14, 2013
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Amy VanAlstine
27:35
8K
February 15, 2014
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Chris Derrick
36:14
12K
February 15, 2014
2014
Lehigh Goodman Campus Course
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Ryan Hill [ 30]
29:07.03
10K
December 13, 2014
Lehigh Goodman Campus Course
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Laura Thweatt [ 31]
19:15
6K
December 13, 2014
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Laura Thweatt
27:42
8K
February 7, 2015
Flatirons Golf Course
Boulder, Colorado
Chris Derrick
36:18
12K
February 7, 2015
2015
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Garrett Heath [ 32]
29:06
10K
December 12, 2015
Golden Gate Park Polo Fields
San Francisco, California
Amy Van Alstine [ 33]
19:51
6K
December 12, 2015
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Mattie Suver
36:38
10K
February 6, 2016
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Craig Lutz
31:40
10K
February 6, 2016
2016
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Samuel Chelanga [ 34]
28:55
10K
December 10, 2016
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Colleen Quigley [ 35]
19:31
6K
December 10, 2016
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton
34:24
10K
February 4, 2017
Rivers Edge Golf Course
Bend, Oregon
Leonard Korir
30:12
10K
February 4, 2017
2017
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky [ 36]
Ian La Mere
29:10
10K
December 9, 2017
Masterson Park
Lexington, Kentucky
Sarah Pagano
19:40
6K
December 9, 2017
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Emily Infeld
33:19
10K
February 3, 2018
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Leonard Korir
29:17
10K
February 3, 2018
2018
Plantes Ferry Sports Complex
Spokane, Washington
Ben Blankenship
29:21
10K
December 8, 2018
Plantes Ferry Sports Complex
Spokane, Washington
Katie Mackey
19:35
6K
December 8, 2018
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Shelby Houlihan
32:46.8
10K
February 2, 2019
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Shadrack Kipchirchir
28:52.5
10K [ 37]
February 2, 2019
2019
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Morgan Pearson
29:54
10K
December 14, 2019
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Aisling Cuffe
20:07
6K
December 14, 2019
Mission Bay Park
San Diego, California
Natosha Rogers
35:44.3
10K
January 18, 2020
Mission Bay Park
San Diego, California
Anthony Rotich
30:35.8
10K
January 18, 2020
2021
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Frankline Tonui
30:14.6[ 38]
10K
December 11, 2021
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Natosha Rogers
19:42.0[ 39]
6K
December 11, 2021
Mission Bay Park
San Diego, California
Alicia Monson
34:01[ 40]
10K
January 8, 2022
Mission Bay Park
San Diego, California
Shadrack Kipchirchir
30:32[ 41]
10K
January 8, 2022
2022
Golden Gate Park [ 42]
San Francisco, California
Cole Hocker
26:28
~9.6K
December 10, 2022
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Bethany Hasz
17:54
~5.6K
December 10, 2022
Pole Green Park
Richmond, Virginia
Ednah Kurgat
32:07
10K
January 21, 2023
Pole Green Park
Richmond, Virginia
Emmanuel Bor
28:44
10K
January 21, 2023
2023
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Tai Dinger
30:48.0
10K
December 9, 2023
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Florida
Amanda Vestri
20:06.3
6K
December 9, 2023
Pole Green Park
Richmond, Virginia
Weini Kelati
32:58.6
10K
January 20, 2024
Pole Green Park
Richmond, Virginia
Cooper Teare
29:06.2
10K
January 20, 2024
^ a b c Keflezighi, Brown take open titles at USA Cross Country Championships . USATF (2009-02-07). Retrieved 2010-02-19.
^ USA Cross Country Champions - Men . USATF . Retrieved on 2010-02-19.
^ "UAS Track & Field - Results" . Archived from the original on 2022-08-26.
^ Estes, Jim (2010-02-14). Ritzenhein and Flanagan cruise to US XC titles . IAAF . Retrieved on 2010-02-19.
^ a b Culpepper, Kastor dominate at USA Cross Country Championships . USATF (2007-02-10). Retrieved on 2010-02-20.
^ "The United States National Cross-Country Champions" (PDF) . www.therealxc.com . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-07-06.
^ Note:The course length was reported to be 10K. Royle, on a rain soaked golf course with steep hills , beat the track 10,000 metres world record and Alberto Salazar by 2 seconds. Salazar tied the world record. The world record holder Henry Rono was in the race, finishing 37th.
^ "The battle went to Royle" . Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com .
^ a b "1999 USA Winter Cross Country National Championships Women's 4k Results" .
^ "Unknown" .[permanent dead link ]
^ "1999 USA Winter Cross Country National Championships Women's 8k Results" .
^ "USATF - Events - 1999 USA Fall Cross Country Championships" .
^ "Goucher, Drossin Take Double Titles\ A Greensboro Runner Qualifies for Next Month's World Cross Country Championships in Portugal" . 13 February 2000.
^ "USATF - Events - 2000 USA Fall Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2001 USA Fall Cross Country Championships - Results" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2002 USA Fall Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2003 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ a b "USATF - Events - 2004 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2005 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2006 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2007 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "USATF - Events - 2007 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "2008 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships Final Results" (PDF) . 2008-12-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-19.
^ "USATF - Events - 2009 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" .
^ "Open Women Results - Women 6 km" . Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "Open Women Results - Individual Results" . Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "USA Track & Field - Women's Open" . Legacy.usatf.org. Retrieved 2022-09-08 .
^ "USA Track & Field - Open Men Overall" . Legacy.usatf.org. 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2022-09-08 .
^ "USA Track & Field - Open Women Overall" . Legacy.usatf.org. 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2022-09-08 .
^ "2014 USATF National Club XC Championships - Men 10k Run CC Open" . 2014-12-13. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "2014 USATF National Club XC Championships - Overall Open Women" . 2014-12-13. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "USATF National Club XC" . rtspt.com .
^ "USATF National Club XC" .
^ "OPEN MEN'S 10K OVERALL" . Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "OPEN WOMEN'S 6K OVERALL" . Archived from the original on 2019-12-19.
^ "USA Track & Field - USATF National Club Cross Country Championships" . Legacy.usatf.org. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2022-09-08 .
^ 2019 USATF Cross Country Championships USATF
^ 2021 USATF Club Cross Country Championships - Apalachee Regional Park - Tallahassee, FL SAT 9:45 AM Men's Open 10k
^ 2021 USATF Club Cross Country Championships - Apalachee Regional Park - Tallahassee, FL SAT 9:00 AM Women's Open 6k
^ 2022 USATF Cross Country Championship
^ 2022 USATF Cross Country Championship
^ USATF Club Cross Country Championships December 10, 2022 -Polo Fields -Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA Schedule/Results Record Timing