2014 USA XC Championships

Derrick, Van Alstine claim USA XC titles in Boulder, Colo.

Chris Derrick won his second consecutive U.S. cross country title on Feb. 15, running away from a strong field to win the 12K race at the Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder, Colo. Derrick, 23, of Portland, Ore., covered the 12K course in 36:13, well ahead of runner-up Luke Puskedra at 36:38. Bobby Mack was third in 36:42, while Joe Gray (36:57) and Sean Quigley (37:01) were fourth and fifth, respectively. In the women’s 8K race, Flagstaff-based Amy Van Alstine, 24, ran a breakthrough race, breaking away from the pack after the 4K mark and holding on for the win in 27:34. Two-time track Olympian and 2011 1500m world champion Jenny Simpson was second in 27:56. “I expected someone to go, but nobody went,” Van Alstine said. “I tried to pick it up a bit, and I could feel everyone breathing on me. I felt really good, and I was kind of surprised that I won, and that Jenny (Simpson) wasn’t in front of me. I’m really happy and amazed.” Mattie Suver finished third in 28:00, while Kellyn Johnson (28:12) and Alisha Williams (28:13) rounded out the top five. More than a dozen past Olympians and world championship competitors raced, spectated or played a part in organizing Saturday’s meet, including Simpson, Derrick, Mark Plaatjes, Steve Jones, Frank Shorter, Colleen De Reuck, Lee Troop, Benita Willis, Alan Culpepper and Arturo Barrios. The USA Cross Country Championships will return to the same venue in 2015 and will serve as a qualifier to the 2015 World Cross Country Championships in China.

Check out these race photos: