USATF XC Champs: McGregor, Brown and Yoder-Begley Lead Women's Field

Katie McGregor looks make her seventh U.S. Cross Country team for the World Championships (Kirby Lee)

by Scott Bush, Trackshark.com

The 2009 USATF Cross Country Championships get underway Saturday at Agricultural Farm Park, just outside of Washington D.C. in Maryland.  In years past many of the top talents in the sport took part in the women's championship race, however, many of the top stars are skipping the event this year.  However, many talented individuals still remain on the start list, most notably Amy Yoder-Begley.

Yoder-Begley had an amazing 2008 track season.  She entered the Olympic Trials 10k needing to run the Olympic 10k standard in order to make the team (while also finishing in the top three) and she did just that, placing third overall and getting the standard needed.  Yoder-Begley took her talents to Beijing and had a solid effort at the Olympic Games and is considered to be the pre-race favorite heading into Saturday's race.  However, earlier this week Yoder-Begley came down with an illness, thus leaving her status uncertain at this time.  If she races it remains to be seen just how the illness will affect her.

The strongest contingent of runners is traveling to Deerwood, Maryland from Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The trio of Katie McGregor, Emily Brown and Meghan Armstrong, all training with the Team USA Minnesota group, should each nab a top ten finish.  McGregor and Brown will challenge Yoder-Begley for the victory, especially considering how much success both have had over hill-n-dale. 

McGregor is a six-time U.S. Cross Country Team member and seems poised to push the pace early on Saturday.  Brown, who was the top Team USA finisher at last year's IAAF World Cross Country Championships, has raced three times already this season (twice in cross country) and seems ready for yet another strong performance. 

One of the most exceptional cross country runners in the country that tends to get overlooked is Kathy Newberry.  Newberry is a four time qualifier to Team USA in cross country and should once again be in the mix for a top ten finish.  Team USA member Julia Lucas also finished in the top ten last year, placing ninth overall and should look to once again repeat with a top ten finish.  New Balance athlete Maureen McCandless finished just outside of the top ten last year (11th place) and is a favorite to move inside the top ten this year.

A few other athletes to keep a close eye on are Samia Akbar, who's always in the mix of things at national championship events, Rebecca Donaghue, Zoila Gomez, Julie Culley, Tera Moody and Jill Steffens.  All of these athletes have the talent and past results to make a solid run at a Team USA qualifying spot, especially considering they are all heading to Maryland healthy. 

Competition will be intense this year for a World Championship qualifying spot.  The field is set, the athletes have arrived and now all what's left to do is race.  A new women's champion will be crowned this year and a new team set in place to compete in Jordan, but who will win and who will qualify?  The excitement continues to build.

Athletes to Watch: Amy Yoder-Begley, Katie McGregor, Emily Brown, Meghan Armstrong, Delilah DiCrescenzo, Zoila Gomez, Tera Moody, Kathy Newberry, Jill Steffens, Samia Akbar, Julie Culley, Rebecca Donaghue, Julia Lucas, Maureen McCandless.