by Larry Eder
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field/X-Country-December 7
1996—Lynn Jennings (21:06/6.5k) had won a record 8 U.S. X-Country titles between 1985 and 1993, but she had finished 3rd in 1994 and 1995. Any speculation that the 36-year old legend had seen her last victory was put to rest at Stanford as she pulled away from challenger Amy Rudolph, who had beaten her at the New England Championships earlier in the season, to extend her win total to 9. That gave her sole possession of the record for most U.S. titles, breaking her tie with Pat Porter, who was an 8-time U.S. Men’s Champion.
Rudolph (21:21), who finished 9th, one place behind Jennings, in the 5000-meters at the Atlanta Olympics, faded to 3rd behind Olga Appell (21:13), the 1994 Champion.
Reuben Reina ( 29:08/10k) had won the Men’s title in 1994, but had been upset the following year by Brad Schlapak. He returned to the winner’s circle this year after breaking away from 2-time champion Todd Williams (29:15) late in the race.
Stanford’s Brent Hauser and Sally Glynn won the U.S. Junior titles. (From T&F News)
Other notable finishers
Women:4.Cheri Goddard-Kenah, 5.Elva Dryer, 6.Nnenna Lynch, 8.Melody Fairchild, 10.Carole Zajac, 12.Gwyn Coogan, 13.Cathy O’Brien, 14Jen Rhines, 20.Deena Drossin(Kastor)
Men:3.Joe LeMay (29:19), 4.Mark Coogan (29:20), 5.Rob Cook (29:21), 6.Keith Dowling (29:22), 9.Tim Hacker, 12.Brad Hauser, 15.Paul Vandegrift, 18.Richie Boulet, 19.Teddy Mitchell, 24.Alan Culpepper, 28.Ed Eyestone, 41.Mark Plaatjes, 42.David Honea, 43.Paul Pilkington
Results: https://www.runmichigan.com/view.php?id=390
1997—Lynn Jennings was favored to win her 10th title at the U.S. X-Country Championships in Portland, but she couldn’t overcome the wet, cold, and windy conditions, a fall (that she quickly recovered from), and the emergence of unheralded Deena Drossin (Kastor), who won her first national title on the 8k course (26:35). Jennings (27:10) finished 2nd, followed by Kathy Franey (27:22), who had been with the leaders in the early stages of the race. 1995 Champion Joan Nesbit, returning from maternity leave, finished 9th.
Competing in his 15th U.S. Championships, Wisconsin grad Tim Hacker (37:31), the 1985 NCAA Champion, finally won his first U.S. title, patiently working his way through the field before pulling away from Pete Julian (37:36) and 1992 U.S. Champion Bob Kennedy (37:34) in the last 400-meters.
Jennings was just one of many runners, including Mark Coogan in the Men’s race, who took a spill on the muddy course.
To match the distances that would be run at the World Championships, the men ran 12.2k and the women 8k, the longest distances ever contested at the U.S. Championships. (From T&F News)
Junior champions were Gabe Jennings and Jen Schindler.
Other notable finishers
Women:4.Gwyn Coogan (27:23), 5.Melody Fairchild (27:28), 6.Nnenna Lynch, 15.Elva Dryer, 24.Carole Zajac
Men:4.Robert Gary (37:38), 5.Rob Cook (37:47), 6.Adam Goucher (37:48), 7.Alan Culpepper (37:51), 8.Mark Coogan (37:58), 12.Dan Browne, 13.Mark Croghan, 22.Ryan Wilson, 23.Ed Eyestone, 28.Terrence Mahon
Results: https://www.runmichigan.com/view.php?id=502
2012—Ross Krempley’s RunnerSpace.com came to the rescue by assuming ownership of the popular and groundbreaking H.S. website DyeStat.com, which had ceased operations just a month earlier.
http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=74167
The End of Dyestat?—Not So Fast:
John Dye’s Memories: http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=76671
Steve U: http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=76673
Nepo: A Photog’s “Farewell”:
http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=76672
2019—North Rockland (NY) senior Katelyn Tuohy, considered by many to be the greatest female prep x-country runner in history, barely held on to win her 3rd Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) title on a muddy course in Portland.
Tuohy (17:18.4), who won by 41 and 17 seconds, respectively, in 2017 and 2018, appeared to be on her way to another dominating victory, but fellow senior Taylor Ewert (17:19.1/Beavercreek,OH) and junior Sydney Thorvaldson (17:19.4/Rawlins,WY) patiently ate into her lead and caught up to her on a hilly section near the homestretch. As steeplechase star Colleen Quigley said on the RunnerSpace webcast, “They’re making her work for (her 3rd title)”.
On a day when she would later admit she was feeling the pressure of being the 2-time defending champion, Tuohy held off her two challengers to get the win in the greatest finish in the 16-year history of NXN. All 3 were totally spent after the race, with Tuohy dropping to her knees after the finish. It was the 5th appearance at the event for Tuohy, who finished 49th as an 8th-grader in 2015 and 13th a freshman in 2016. Tuohy , the winner at the 2022 NCAA Div.I X-Country Chammpionships, helped North Carolina State win three team titles (2021-2023).
Ewert, 3rd in 2018, would become one of the best race-walkers in the U.S.
Winning their 2nd NXN team title (their first since winning at the inaugural meet in 2004!) was Saratoga Springs (NY/Kinetic).
The runaway winner in the boys’ race was senior Nico Young, who led Newbury Park (CA) to the team title. Young was a key member of Northern Arizona’s three NCAA X-Country team Champions from 2020-2022.
Race Replays: Girls Boys Results
Tuohy Interview: https://nxn.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=13&do=videos&video_id=287019
Lots of other pre- and post-race videos:
https://nxn.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=videos&year=2019&event_id=13
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a30155049/katelyn-tuohy-wins-third-nike-cross-national/
Past Winners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Cross_Nationals
Other Links
MileSplit Coverage: https://www.milesplit.com/meets/362558-team-cross-country-nationals-2019/coverage#.X81KLC9h1QI
2024(New)—And the beat goes on. Once again, the Sharon Colyear-Danville season opener at Boston University produced not one, but two Collegiate Records.
Up first was the Men’s 3000-meters, with North Carolina teammates Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe battling to the wire, with Strand coming from behind on the homestretch to capture the win in the dazzling time of 7:30.15, well under the previous CR of 7:36.42, set by Northern Arizona’s Drew Bosley in 2023. Wolfe was right behind in 7:30.23 and the two Tar Heels moved to #2 & #4 on the All-Time U.S. Indoor list! Also under Bosley’s mark in this greatest of all collegiate 3000s were Arkansas’ Yassen Abdalla (7:34.17) and Virginia’s Gary Martin (7:36.09)!
Strand’s father, Scott, was an All-American at Auburn, finishing 7th in the Steeplechase at the 1990 NCAA Championships.
Alabama’s Doris Lemngole, fresh off her win at the NCAA X-Country Championships, won the Women’s 5000-meters in 14:52.54 to break the previous CR of 14:52.79 that was set by Florida’s Parker Valby at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships. Close behind in 14:52.84, just over Valby’s mark, was Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi.
Arkansas’ Abdalla would come back a few hours later to finish 12th in the Men’s 5000-meters (13:22.29), a race won by Harvard’s Graham Blanks, the Men’s NCAA X-Country champion, in 12:59.89, the 2nd-fastest collegiate indoor time in history.
Results: http://live.lancertiming.com/meets/270/events
Family Affair (Strand): https://vestaviavoice.com/sports/top-tier-talent-vhhs-junior-ethan-strand-a-step-ahead-of-the-rest/
Post-Race Interview (Strand): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aca-SACjpWA
Race Videos (For FloTrack Subscribers): https://www.flotrack.org/events/12745249/videos
2024 (New)—16-year old sprint sensation Gout Gout (he would turn 17 on December 29) ran 20.04 for 200-meters at the Australian All-Schools Championships to break the 56-year old National Record of 20.06 that was set by Peter Norman while finishing 2nd at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He won the 100 the previous day in 10.17 after running a wind-aided 10.04 in his heat.
Born in Australia, he’s the son of South Sudanese parents. His protective manager is Australian James Templeton, who was Bernard Lagat’s manager throughout his career.
https://x.com/AthsAust/status/1865288461256921562
2024 (New)—The rain and mud in Portland, Oregon, didn’t deter senior Jane Hedengren (Timpview,UT) from running away with the Girls’ title at the Nike Cross Nationals on Saturday, winning by 40+ seconds and running 16:32.7 to break Katelyn Tuohy’s Course Record of 16:37.8! Mountain Vista (CO), competing as “Denver” (teams had to compete as clubs) won the team title. In the “rich-get-richer” department, Hedengren is headed for Brigham Young, which won the women’s NCAA X-Country title last month.
The footing was even more treacherous for the boys’ race, with some runners going down after losing traction as they tried to manuever around turns. Unheralded Charlie Vause (Sr/Rio Rancho,NM) broke away from 5 challengers late in race to win in 15:28.1. Winner of the team title was Niwot(CO).
Results: https://live.athletictiming.net/meets/42307
Reports: Boys Girls Race Videos: Boys Girls
More Videos: https://www.dyestat.com
Born On This Day*
Gabrielle “Gabby” Thomas 29 (1996) Triple gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics-200, 4×100, 4×400
4×100(41.78/Melissa Jefferson, TeeTee Terry, Gabby Thomas, Sha’Carri Richardson
4×400(3:15.27-American Record, #2 All-Time)
Shamier Little-49.48, Sydney McLaughlin-47.71, Gabby Thomas-49.30, Alexis Holmes-48.78)
2-time Olympic medalist-2021 (Bronze-200, Silver-4×100)
2023 World Champion-4×100, silver medalist in the 200
Finished 3rd in the 200 at the 2025 U.S. Championships, but an Achilles injury kept her out of the World
Championships in Tokyo. “I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but
I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s OK to be human and take care of myself,” the five-time Olympic
medalist said in a press release. “As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply
can’t outwork an injury. Sometimes it’s about patience and making the right decision for the long term.
3-time U.S. Champion-200 (2021-U.S. Trials, 2023, 2024-Trials)
8th in the 200 at the 2022 U.S. Championships (injured)
2018 NCAA Indoor Campion—200m/set a Collegiate Record of 22.38
2nd Outdoors(harvard); 3rd in the 200 at the 2017 NCAA Championships
Finalist in the 200 at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials (6th)
One of the most decorated athletes in Ivy league history…like another Harvard star, Meredith Rainey, she was a
workhorse for the Crimson—won 22 Conference titles in 6 different events (60i, 100, 200, 4×100, 4×400, Long
Jump).
Named USATF’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award winner in 2024….Also named to Forbes magazine’s annual 30 Under
30 list, which recognizes rising talent in fields like sports, Hollywood, social media and more.
https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/2024/12/04/gabby-thomas-forbes-30-under-30/76759397007/
Signed a professional contract with New Balance in October, 2018, giving up her final year of collegiate eligibiity.
Remained at harvard to finish her degree in neurobiology. She also has a secondary in global health and health
policy. Earned her Masters in 2023 at the University of Texas, where she studied epidemiology and healthcare
management….coached by Tonja Buford-Bailey
PBs: 7.25 (’18), 11.00 (’21), 21.60 (2021/#4 All-Time World, #2 U.S.), 22.38i (’18), 35.98i (’19), 49.68 (2023)
20-7 (6.27/’17); 2025 SBs: 11.02, 21.95
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Thomas
Turning Pro: www.gazettenet.com/Florence-s-Gabby-Thomas-signs-professional-deal-with-New-Balance-20660696
Feature:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPUXfaZnnaE
College Marks: https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/5588173/Harvard/Gabrielle_Thomas.html
2016 Interview: http://willistonblogs.com/athletics/2016/02/16/2437/
https://www.williston.com/news/gabby-thomas-15-captures-three-gold-medals-at-2024-paris-olympics/
Videos
2021 O.T.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI4-pCnqGAY
Post Trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjlKyCmeHrM
21.60: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ4Us58iAZU
2018 NCAAi Video:
…
