New England runners earn Team USA spots at USATF Winter Cross Country Championships

Three New Englanders ran to spots on Team USA for international events at the USATF Winter Cross Country Championships / USA Team Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, on February 2. 
 
First year Boston College runners Nicole Clermont (Franklin MA) and Kayla Smith went 1-2 in the Junior (not turning 20 in 2019) race, earning starting line positions at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30. The pair finished in 21:14 and 21:19, respectively, over the 6km course, having an 8 second margin over third place. 
 
In the women's Senior/Open race, Katrina Spratford (NEDistance / Providence RI) placed 14th in the 8km race (34:19) and accepted an offer to don the USA uniform on February 16 at the NACAC (North American-Central American-Caribbean) Championships in Trinidad & Tobago. Molly Huddle (Providence) was overall race silver medalist but declined a world XC berth due to spring road race commitments.  Elaina Tabb (B.A.A. / Watertown MA) finished in 11th place. 
 
The USATF Masters 8km XC races were contested as part of the Trials meet, and Nat Larson (Greater Springfield Harriers / Amherst MA) continued the mastery of his age group.  With a 27:50 clocking, the 2018 USATF M55 Runner of the Year finished fourth overall, won his division, and topped the age graded scoring at 90.42%.   Teammate Kent Lemme placed second in M50 / 10 overall, and Norm Larson (Green Mt.AA) was 4th M60 as well as 4th age graded (88.27%). 
 
The complete scoreboard of New England partcipants 
 
NACAC Championships rosters and notes