BATHURST, AUSTRALIA, February 18 — The Kenyan men and Ethiopian women dominated the U20 (Junior) competitions at the World XC, but it was also a brilliant outing for Team USA.
In the women’s 6K race, Senayet Getachew used a monster kick to win in 20:53 and pace her Ethiopian team to a 15–22 win over Kenya. She beat her teammate Medina Eisa by 7 seconds, with Pamela Kosgei another seconds back.
The U.S. foursome — led by led by Ellie Shea’s 21:48 in 10th — placed a strong 3rd with a 10-12-13-19 grouping, scoring 54 to beat Uganda’s 75. It’s the first medal by U.S. Junior women in meet history.
The men’s race featured a sprint finish won by Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui in 24:29, trailed by countryman Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (24:30) and Ethiopia’s Boki Diriba (24:31).
The team race was just as close, Kenya edging Ethiopia 22–23, and the U.S. men duplicated the women’s 3rd-place finish, scoring 81. It’s the first U.S. medal since a bronze in ’82. Leo Young’s 16th-place clocking of 26:03 was the highest from an American since German Fernandez’ 11th in ’09.
WORLD XC U20 MEN’S RESULTS
Teams
1. Kenya 22; 2. Ethiopia 23; 3. United States 81; 4. South Africa 115; 5. Great Britain 120; 6. Australia 122; 7. Morocco 151; 8. Spain 163; 9. Japan 163; 10. New Zealand 188; 11. Canada 199.
Individuals
(8K) 1. Ismael Kirui (Ken) 24:29; 2. Raynold Kipkorir (Ken) 24:30; 3. Boki Diribi (Eth) 24:31; 4. Dan Kibet (Uga) 24:36; 5. Bereket Zeleke (Eth) 24:51; 6. Kenneth Kiprop (Uga) 24:52; 7. Abel Bekele (Eth) 24:52; 8. Bereket Nega (Eth) 25:10; 9. Dennis Mutuku (Ken) 25:13; 10. Daniel Kinyanjui (Ken) 25:17;
11. Hosea Chemutai (Uga) 25:24; 12. Charles Rotich (Ken) 25:24; 13. Kuma Girma (Eth) 25:24; 14. Dennis Kipkirui (Ken) 25:38; 15. Yismaw Dilu (Eth) 25:46; 16. Emilio Young (US) 26:03; 17. Archie Noakes (Aus) 26:06; 18. Edward Bird (GB) 26:10; 19. Marco Langon (US) 26:16; 20. Jayde Rosslee (SA) 26:22;
21. Max Sannes (US) 26:24; 22. Dino Nako (SA) 26:35; 23. Jaouad Khchina (Mor) 26:35; 24. Daichi Shibata (Jpn) 26:39; 25. Kole Mathison (US) 26:42; 26. Jacob Deacon (GB) 26:44; 27. Micah Wilson (US) 26:50; 28. Luke Birdseye (GB) 26:52; 29. Sergio Del_Barrio (Spa) 26:54; 30. Zouhair Redouane (Mor) 26:55;
31. Bailey Habler (Aus) 26:59; 32. Heath McAllister (Can) 27:02; 33. Pedro Alejandro Marin (Col) 27:02; 34. Cael Mulholland (Aus) 27:03; 35. Kaisei Okada (Jpn) 27:05; 36. Sbusiso Msibi (SA) 27:07; 37. Musawenkosi Mnisi (SA) 27:09; 38. Matt Hill (NZ) 27:09; 39. Elliott Pugh (NZ) 27:14; 40. Ciaran Rushton (Aus) 27:19;
41. Siyabonga Xowana (SA) 27:24; 42. Kaisei Yasuhara (Jpn) 27:28; 43. Aleix Vives (Spa) 27:30; 44. Rubén Leonardo (Spa) 27:32; 45. Roberto Castro (Mex) 27:33; 46. Moheddine Benchahyd (Mor) 27:33; 47. Aitor Garcia (Spa) 27:38; 48. Sam Mills (GB) 27:46; 49. Jack Coomber (Aus) 27:49; 50. Mark Lopez (Mex) 27:50;
51. Ronan Codyre (NZ) 27:51; 52. Hitrane El_Houssaine (Mor) 27:51; 53. Evan Jenkins (US) 28:00; 54. Jack Lehto (Can) 28:08; 55. Ricardo Amador (Mex) 28:36; 56. Gaetano Pocchi (Can) 28:37; 57. Tristan Coles (Can) 28:55; 58. Jaxon Kuchar (Can) 29:01; 59. Tanner Hueglin (Can) 29:30; 60. Angus Monro (NZ) 29:44;
61. Hugh Kent (Gum) 29:50; 62. Taiga Tosen (Jpn) 30:21; 63. Reatlegile Mosweu (SA) 31:20; 64. Koszta Deszecsar (NIs) 40:12;… dnf. Hiroto Yoshioka (Jpn), Jamie Mora (NZ), Sonata Nagashima (Jpn), Christian De Vaal (NZ), Logan Janetzki (Aus).
U20 WOMEN’S RESULTS
Teams
1. Ethiopia 15; 2. Kenya 22; 3. United States 54; 4. Uganda 75; 5. Japan 76; 6. Great Britain 120; 7. Spain 122; 8. South Africa 173.
Individuals
(6K) 1. Senayet Getachew (Eth) 20:53; 2. Medina Eisa (Eth) 21:00; 3. Pamela Kosgei (Ken) 21:01; 4. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 21:10; 5. Lemlem Nibret (Eth) 21:16; 6. Joyline Chepkemoi (Ken) 21:17; 7. Mesret Yeshanew (Eth) 21:27; 8. Tinebeb Asres (Eth) 21:32; 9. Diana Chepkemoi (Ken) 21:46; 10. Ellie Shea (US) 21:48;
11. Melknat Wedu (Eth) 21:57; 12. Irene Riggs (US) 22:03; 13. Karrie Baloga (US) 22:12; 14. Bentalin Yeko (Uga) 22:24; 15. Charity Cherop (Uga) 22:36; 16. Felista Chekwemoi (Uga) 22:36; 17. Kana Mizogami (Jpn) 22:37; 18. Aya Kotazima (Jpn) 22:46; 19. Zariel Macchia (US) 23:05; 20. Miku Muraoka (Jpn) 23:07;
21. Mariya Noda (Jpn) 23:11; 22. Xela Martinez (Spa) 23:11; 23. Rebecca Flaherty (GB) 23:11; 24. Hannah Ryding (GB) 23:18; 25. Yuya Sawada (Jpn) 23:20; 26. María Viciosa (Spa) 23:22; 27. Catherine Lund (NZ) 23:24; 28. Nanaka Yonezawa (Jpn) 23:29; 29. Eva Klingbeil (US) 23:29; 30. Peace Chebet (Uga) 23:46;
31. Maríam Benkert (Spa) 23:51; 32. Li-Mari Dekker (SA) 23:51; 33. Zoe Gilbody (GB) 23:51; 34. Allie Zealand (US) 24:00; 35. Aspen Anderson (Aus) 24:03; 36. Bella Earl (NZ) 24:11; 37. Risper Cherop (Uga) 24:14; 38. Marika Couture (Can) 24:15; 39. Charli-Rose Carlyon (Aus) 24:28; 40. Megan Harris (GB) 24:32;
41. Boh Ritchie (NZ) 24:38; 42. Gabrielle Schmidt (Aus) 24:54; 43. Jimena Blanco (Spa) 24:57; 44. Muriel Lovshin (Can) 25:05; 45. Wiepke Schoeman (SA) 25:14; 46. Emily Cescon (Can) 25:19; 47. Phemelo Matshaba (SA) 25:54; 48. Laura Cristina Rojas (Col) 26:56; 49. Omaatla Dikao (SA) 26:58; 50. Shahd Mohamed_Abdou (Egy) 27:05; 51. Maya Postrzygacz (COK) 31:11;
… dnf—Amy Bunnage (Aus), Claudia Meaker (Aus), Gabrielle Vincent (Aus), Ella Ballard (Can), Erin Vringer (Can), Mackenzie Morgan (NZ), Naledi Makgatha (SA), Akeneta Lutu (Fij).