January 16, 2025

Ellwood, Keter, King, Katz Win Titles at USA XC Championships

Boulder Road Runners win two masters team titles

photo: Kierra Eyiuche-Imagn Images

Results

On Saturday (11-Jan) 19 athletes from Colorado competed in the USATF Cross Country Championships in Lubbock, TX.

Six races were conducted - Open Men (10 km), Open Women (10 km), U20 Men (8 km), U20 Women (6 km), Masters Men 8 km, and Masters Women (6 km).

The highlights for the Coloradans in Lubbock were the four individual titles and two team titles claimed. Winning individual titles were Bernard Keter (open men), Carrie Ellwood (open women), Daniel King (masters 65-69), and Richard Katz (masters 75-79). The two team titles were won by the Boulder Road Runners in the M60+ and M70+ divisions.

OPEN MEN - 10 km
Tokyo Olympian, Benard Keter, of Colorado Springs came to Lubbock with a national title as the goal. He was able to acheive that goal as he led a Colorado sweep of the top four places. His winning time of 29:43 was nine seconds clear of runner-up Brian Berriatua of Longmont with Anthony Camerieri, of Boulder, crossing the line in 29:59 for bronze. Andew Wacker of Boulder nabbed fourth place, running 30:14, to make it a 1-4 sweep for the Coloradians. Also earning a top ten finish was Ares Reading (Roots Running Project) as his 30:55 saw him finishing in seventh place.

I had a really good fall coming in and I've been training with a teammate, Hillary [Bor] who’s training for the Houston Marathon” said Keter. “A few weeks ago I thought I was fit to come here and I made the right decision becoming the champion for the first time.

OPEN WOMEN - 10 km
In the open women's race, Carrie Ellwood of Boulder ran a dominant race in the women’s 10 km, claiming her first career USATF title. Ellwood stopped the clock at 34:22 to win by 23 seconds. She defeated Callie Logue (34:45) of Minnesota and fellow Coloradian Katie Camarena (35:13).

It was a great course, but pretty windy. My race plan was to feel it out and be tucked in. Halfway through the first lap I found myself in the lead and had to commit and send it,” said Ellwood. “I’ve been top three at this event before but it feels great to have my first national title.

MASTERS MEN - 8 km

In the masters competition, Daniel King (Athletics Boulder) of Boulder and Richard Katz (Boulder Road Runners) of Boulder ran to national titles in their age divisions. King led a 1-2-3 Colorado sweep in the men's 65-69 division. His winning time on the 8 km course was 31:30. Roger Sayre (Boulder Road Runners) of Golden was just 15 second back claiming the silver medal. Rouding out the sweep was Dale Spale (Boulder Road Runners) who earned the bronze medal running 35:48.

In the men's 75-79 division Richard Katz ran 40:29 to capture the gold medal.

Team titles were won by the Boulder Road Runners M60+ and M70+ squads. Sayre was the top scorer for the M60+ team with Mark Tatum (2nd 60-64, 33:08) and Adam Feerst (3rd 60-64, 34:32) rounding out the scoring for the team. The M70+ team won the title for the third straight year. The team scorers were Jack Pottle (2nd 70-74, 35:24), Doug Bell (3rd 70-74, 37:43), and Douglas Chesnut (5th 70-74, 38:30).