Emily Sisson, Parkway Central MO, punched her ticket to Poland to represent the USA in the World Junior XC Championships with a patient race plan. (Photo by Margot Kelly)
Sisson hung out with the front pack, letting eventual winner Shelby Greany pull away from the pack with 2k to go. From there Sisson moved up gradually, taking over second place in the last 1k. She hung on to 2nd place at the line, and finished with a time of 20:32.
Greany won with a decisive move just over half-way into the race, finishing with a winning time of 20:27. Juliet Bottorff, Duke, was 3rd in 20:32, Emily Jones, Georgetown, was 4th in 20:33, Laura Tremblay was 5th in 20:46, and rounding out the world team was Sophia Ziemian, Duke, who finished 6th in 20:49.
These 6 athletes will be on their way to Poland for the March 28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Should one of them decide not to race Kayla Hale, Duke, could go as she is the alternate, having finished 7th in 20:57.
Emily Sisson made waves a few weeks ago when she won the 3000 meter run at the Jayhawk Classic with a time of 9:25.70. The time is US#3 All-Time for the 3000 meter distance.
This fall Sisson was also an impressive 3rd at the Foot Locker Nationals with a time of 17:18.80.