
UNIVERSITY PLACE, WASHINGTON, December 14 — What they call “cross country weather” was the toughest opponent Paris steeple medalist Kenneth Rooks encountered at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships. In the open race on a golf course at Chambers Creek Regional Park, just west of Tacoma, the BYU alum stormed to the front early and battled strong winds and soft footing on his own, building an 8+-second lead at 3K (8:53.4) that grew to 24 seconds at 8K (24:52.2) and nearly 30 by the finish.
Rooks covered the 10K in 31:08.6, with Southern Utah alum Aiden Reed in 2nd at 31:37.0 and Brooks Beasts 1500 man Waleed Suliman 3rd in 31:43.2. Rooks ran unattached in the team configuration, with Reed leading the Roots Running Project to the win with a 66-point tally. Minnesota Distance Elite came home 2nd with 98 and the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project was 3rd with 124. An impressive 51 teams completed the race.
The women’s event was led at halfway by Minnesota alums Megan and Bethany Hasz, at the front of a solid pack that included steepler Kayley DeLay, Allie Buchalski, Emma Bates and Cailie Logue. Buchalski, who had placed 6th in the Trials 5K, was able to run toughest over the second half, crossing the 6K finish in 20:27.3. DeLay ran 2nd in 20:29.5, and Megan got the nod over Bethany as the twins crossed in 20:34.5, with Bates 5th in 20:37.5.
Minnesota Distance Elite took the women’s title with 42 points, led by Logue’s 20:43. Hansons-Brooks finished just 4 points back at 46, and the Brooks Beasts, led by Buchalski, were 3rd at 80 in the 35-team field.
USATF CLUB XC MEN RESULTS
Teams (51): 1. Roots Running Project 66; 2. Minnesota Distance Elite 98; 3. Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 124; 4. Club Northwest 153; 5. Brooklyn TC 200; 6. HOKA Aggie RC 214; 7. Bowerman TC 218; 8. Brooks Beasts TC 225; 9. GRC Tracksmith 273; 10. Central Park TC Tracksmith 333.
Individuals (10K; 407 finishers): 1. Kenneth Rooks (Nike) 31:09; 2. Aidan Reed (RootsRP) 31:37; 3. Waleed Suliman (BrkB) 31:44; 4. Jake Ritter (RailroadA) 31:55;
5. Austen Dalquist (RootsRP) 32; 6. Ares Reading (RootsRP) 32:02; 7. Reid Buchanan (KCTC) 32:05; 8. Henry Wynne (BrkB) 32:05; 9. Brendan Gregg (SRA) 32:06; 10. Shuaib Aljabaly (HansB) 32:12; 11. Alex Ostberg (BowTC) 32:14; 12. Tom Anderson (CNW) 32:18; 13. Turner Wiley (CNW) 32:20; 14. Dayton Brown (unat) 32:21; 15. Titus Winders (MnDE) 32:23.
USATF CLUB WOMEN
Teams (35): 1. Minnesota Distance Elite 42; 2. Hansons-Brooks Distance Project 46; 3. Brooks/Brooks Beasts TC 80; 4. Peninsula Distance 156; 5. Central Park TC Tracksmith 186; 6. GRC Tracksmith 225; 7. Club Northwest 266; 8. Brooklyn TC; 9. Bowerman TC 300; 10. SRA Elite 320.
Individuals (6K; 297 finishers): 1. Allie Buchalski (BrkB) 20:28; 2. Kayley DeLay (BrkB) 20:30; 3. Megan Hasz (BAA) 20:35; 4. Bethany Hasz (BAA) 20:35;
5. Emma Bates (Asics) 20:38; 6. Jessie Cardin (HansB) 20:41; 7. Cailie Logue Hughes (MnDE) 20:43; 8. Hannah Eagon (unat) 20:49; 9. MaKenna Thurston (MnDE) 21:07; 10. Amy Davis (HansB) 21:10; 11. Cailee Peterson (MnDE) 21:12; 12. Claire Green (PeninsulaDC) 21:12; 13. Rachel Anderson (MnDE) 21:15; 14. Makayla Perez (HansB) 21:15; 15. Anne-Marie Blaney (HansB) 21:18.