Posted: February 12, 2005

Athletics: Wet & Windy U.S. Cross Country Championships Open Today

From David Monti

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

VANCOUVER, WASH. (12-Feb) -- Two days of competition at the USA National Cross Country Championships begin here today, and athletes can expect conditions to be cold, wet and muddy.

As athletes surveyed the all-grass course at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site yesterday afternoon. they witnessed the conditions they wish they were to have today: dry and lush turf, under a partly sunny sky, accompanied by only a moderate wind and pleasant temperatures. But it began raining last night, the temperature dropped, and weather forecasts are for rain on and off all day. The wind is whipping the flags outside of the meet headquarters hotel this morning.

The order of competition will also play into the conditions experienced by the best athletes today and tomorrow. Today's action starts with a 4 km community run followed by the over-40 men's 8 km. That means that hundreds of athletes will have run the 2 km loop six times before the first world team qualifying race begins: the junior women's 6 km at 11:45 a.m. The open men's 4 km follows at 12:15 p.m., then the open women's 8 km at 12:45 p.m. and the master women's 8 km at 1:30 p.m., the last race of the day. By the time all of today's races are concluded, the turf should be well-rutted and muddy.

The top-6 finishers in the men's and women's open 4 km, men's and women's junior races, open women's 8 km and open men's 12 km will be nominated for the U.S. team which will travel to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in St. Galmier, France, next month. The team is expected to be solidified by next Wednesday.

Tim Broe and Charlie Gruber are the favorites to win today's open 4 km race, with Adam Goucher and Dan Lincoln also expected to contend for the podium. In the open women's 8 km, 40 year-old Colleen De Reuck cannot be counted out for the win, probably battling with Lauren Fleshman, Katie McGregor and Blake Russell for the title. Caitlin Chock is the favorite to win the junior women's race.