Posted: February 8, 2005

Athletics: Rupp & Chock Leading Juniors At U.S. XC Championships

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Galen Rupp and Caitlin Chock, arguably the two top junior distance runners in the U.S., plan to compete in the U.S. Cross Country Championships this weekend in Vancouver, Wash., meet organizers announced today.

Rupp (b. 1986) is the U.S. junior record holder for 5000m (13:37.91), a mark he set last summer in Heusden, Belgium. Chock (b. 1986) is the third-fastest U.S. junior ever over the same distance. She ran 15:52.88 when she placed fifth at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy, last July.

Both athletes decided to bypass the NCAA system when they finished high school last year, and are instead coached by Alberto Salazar under the Nike Oregon Project in Portland, Ore.

The U.S. Cross Country Championships will be held over two days, 12 and 13-Feb., featuring six team qualifying races for the IAAF World Cross Championships in St. Galmier, France, next month.