World Cross memories-Deena Kastor, by Steve Landells for IAAF.org

Deena Drossin (Kastor) at World XC 2003, photo by PhotoRun.net

US marathon record holder Deena Kastor may well be best remembered for her feats on the road, but the seeds for her success were unquestionably honed in the white-hot competitive furnace of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

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‘LOVE’ FOR CROSS COUNTRY EARLY ON

Immersed in athletics from a young age, Kastor “loved” cross country in her formative years and won her maiden national cross country title aged just 12.

Later while attending Agoura High School in Los Angeles County she earned a spot on successive US U20 teams to compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where she went on to place 72nd and 40th, respectively, in Aix-les-Bains in France in 1990 and the following year in Antwerp.

Both U20 races were thrilling for the teenager. She recalls her pride at wearing the US uniform and although she has vague recollections of the specific races, she says: “I couldn’t believe that runners surged into hills, on top of hills and again down the hill. I couldn’t believe that mud, obstacles and weather had no hindrance on a blistering pace.”

For complete story, please go to: https://www.iaaf.org/news/series/world-cross-country-deena-kastorusa

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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