Kelati and Shea lead US team for WXC Belgrade 24

National cross-country champion Weini Kelati and Pan-American U20 champion Ellie Shea headline USA’s 28-strong team for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on 30 March.

Kelati secured her place on the team after her convincing victory at the US Cross Country Championships earlier this year, where she won the senior women’s race by 37 seconds. The 27-year-old competed at last year’s World Cross in Bathurst, where she placed 21st in the senior women’s race. She went on to finish seventh over 5km at the World Road Running Championships in Riga.

Earlier this year, just six days before winning the US cross-country title, Kelati set a North American half marathon record of 1:06:25 in Houston.

She’ll be joined on the senior women’s team by three-time NCAA steeplechase champion Allie Ostrander.

Anthony Rotich, also a three-time NCAA steeplechase champion, leads the US senior men’s team. Emmanuel Bor and Reid Buchanan – who, like Rotich, both competed in Bathurst – also feature on the team.

One year after leading USA to a historic team bronze medal in the U20 women’s race, Ellie Shea will don the US vest once again in Belgrade. Zariel Macchia and Allie Zealand, both of whom shared team bronze in Bathurst, are also on the team.

Kole Mathison, another team bronze medallist in Bathurst last year, is part of the U20 men’s team once again for Belgrade.

Meanwhile, Pan-American 5000m champion Kasey Knevelbaard leads the mixed relay team.

US team for Belgrade

Senior women: Katie Camarena, Emma Grace Hurley, Weini Kelati, Cailie Logue, Abby Nichols, Allie Ostrander
Senior men: Christian Allen, Emmanuel Bor, Reid Buchanan, Anthony Camerieri, Ahmed Muhumed, Anthony Rotich

U20 women: Mary Bonner Dalton, Maddie Gardiner, Zariel Macchia, Jolena Quarzo, Ellie Shea, Allie Zealand
U20 men: Noah Breker, Birhanu Harriman, Aidan Jones, Kole Mathison, Berkley Nance, Kevin Sanchez

Mixed relay: Ella Donaghu, Katie Izzo, Kasey Knevelbaard, John Reniewicki