Shea qualifies for World XC Championships

Ellie Shea (Belmont MA / Emerging Elites) ran to a Team USA berth at the USATF Winter Cross Country Championships / World Championship Selection on Saturday, January 21, in Richmond, Virginia.  The top 6 in each of four races earned a place on the USA Open and U20 (under age 20) teams for the World Athletics Championships to run in Bathurst, Australia, on February 18.
The meet also included masters championship races.

Shea, a junior at Belmont High School who placed second at December's Champs Scholastic XC Championship, was always among the six runner lead pack in the 6km race..  The competition broke down to a two runner duel betweeen 4km and 5km, and Shea chased winner Irene Riggs, Nike XC Nationals winner, to the finish in 19:47.5, 3 seconds back at the tape. The duo was a comfortable 17 seconds clear of third place.

In the Masters Championships over 8km, three USATF-NE runners won their age divisions . Following record setting track races this indoor season, Nat Larson (Amherst MA/Gr.Springfield Harriers / (M60-64) and David Westenberg (Wellesley MA / Gr.Lowell Road Runners) led the M60-64 and M65-69 Divisions, respectively (28:32.6, 31:26.7), Michael Nahom (Greater Springfield) gave USATF-NE a triple crown, winning M55-59 in 28:28.1.
Making the podium in the Women's 6km race as bronze medalist was Brett Ely (Notch Brewing Runners), placing third overall and third W40 in 23:41.7.

Top New Englanders in the Senior Championship race were Jordan Mann (Providence RI/Ocean State TC) in 19th, and Katrina Coogan (Brighton MA/New Balance Boston) in 20th.
Meet Results.   Race Stories
(Shea photo courtesy of Emerging Elites)

M65 champ Dave Westenberg on the podium (Facebook profile photo)