Weini Kelati Frezghi wins at the US Cross Country Championships (© Kirby Lee)
Weini Kelati Frezghi and Parker Wolfe were convincing winners of the senior titles at the US Cross Country Championships in Portland on Saturday (6) as the host nation selected its team for the upcoming World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26.
The first six athletes to finish in both the men’s and women’s 10km races at Glendoveer Golf Course booked their spot on the US team for the global event on 10 January 2026.
It was a race of redemption for both of the winners. When Kelati Frezghi last competed in a trial to make a national team, she placed fourth in both the 5000m and 10,000m at this year’s US Championships, narrowly missing out on making the team for the World Championships in Tokyo. Wolfe, meanwhile, placed third in the 5000m at last year’s US Olympic Trials, but was a few seconds shy of the qualifying mark and so was unable to earn his place on the team.
Today in Portland, however, both Kelati Frezghi and Wolfe guaranteed their selection in emphatic style.
Emma Grace Hurley and Parker Valby were among the early leaders of a large lead pack in the women’s race as 2km was reached in 6:29. The pack had been whittled down to nine women at 4km (13:25) with Kelati Frezghi leading. Just one kilometre later, the pack had been reduced to a trio – Katie Izzo, Kelati Frezghi and Ednah Kurgat – as the half-way point was reached in 16:44.
Kurgat dropped behind a few minutes later, then Izzo was next to fade, leaving Kelati Frezghi out in front for the final three kilometres. She extended her lead with each lap, eventually crossing the finish line in 33:46. Izzo finished second in 34:01, comfortably ahead of Kurgat (34:10).
“I thought that last year was going to be my last cross-country race, but when I heard that the World Cross Country Championships were going to be in the US, I thought ‘why not try to make the team and represent USA and show the world we can be competitive’,” said Kelati Frezghi, who finished 14th at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships. “I came here to make the team and I’m so happy I did that.”
The men’s race played out in similar fashion. Having gone through 3km in 8:35, the large early lead group was down to six men at the half-way point, reached in 14:28 with the likes of Wolfe, US 5000m record-holder Nico Young and world and Olympic finalist Graham Blanks still in contention.
By 8km, reached in 23:25, Rocky Hansen led from Wolfe with Wesley Kiptoo a few strides further behind in third. Wolfe closed the gap on Hansen over the next kilometre as Kiptoo faded slightly. With 27:15 on the clock, Wolfe overtook Hansen. About 50 seconds later, Wolfe increased his tempo and started to open up a gap on the long-time leader.
By the finish line, Wolfe’s lead had grown to eight seconds as he won in 29:17. Hansen held on for second (29:25) with Kiptoo claiming third (29:28).
“After missing out on the Paris Olympics, I’ve been looking to make a US team,” said Wolfe. “This was a fun experience and I’m excited to represent USA.”
In other events, Ethan Strand won the men’s 2km race from Wes Porter, 5:26 to 5:27, while Gracie Morris was a clear winner of the women’s 2km (6:20), finishing three seconds clear of Sage Hurta-Klecker.
Aidan Torres won the U20 men’s 8km (25:11) and Victoria Garces took the U20 women’s race by 14 seconds in 21:07.
Leading results
Women (10km)
1 Weini Kelati Frezghi 33:46
2 Katie Izzo 34:01
3 Ednah Kurgat 34:10
4 Karissa Schweizer 34:17
5 Emily Venters 34:21
6 Grace Hartman 34:26
Men (10km)
1 Parker Wolfe 29:17
2 Rocky Hansen 29:25
3 Wesley Kiptoo 29:28
4 Ahmed Muhumed 29:34
5 Nico Young 29:42
6 Graham Blanks 29:45
