Runner's Gazette

10/16/2025

Feysa Hawi, Jacob Kiplimo Win Chicago Marathon; Mantz sets new American record, Rogers is first USA woman


By Clay Shaw

Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

10.12.25, Chicago, IL---Feysa Hawi of Ethiopia is now 5th on the all-time women’s marathon list, with a strong and convincing 2:14:57 victory. After going through halfway in 1:07:30 with Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania, Hawi ran a slight negative split of 1:07:27 for the second half of the marathon. Megertu Alemu, also from Ethiopia, finished second in 2:17:18. Shauri hung tough to place third in 2:18:03, a national record for Tanzania. In her marathon debut, Loice Chemnung of Kenya ran 2:18:24 to place fourth. 36-year-old Mary Ngugi-Cooper of Kenya ran a personal best of 2:19:26 to place fifth.

Natosha Rogers of Boulder, CO was the first USA runner and sixth overall in 2:23:28. Rogers set a PB by 23 seconds over her 2:23:51 time in Nagoya, Japan earlier in 2025. USA Olympian Dakotah Popehn of Minnesota was seventh with a 19 second personal best of 2:24:20, placing seventh. Argentina’s Florencia Borelli was eighth in 2:24:23, just missing her own national record by five seconds. Gabriella Rooker of Minneapolis was third USA in 2:26:32, placing ninth overall. Melody Julien of France was tenth in 2:27:08. Marta Galimany of Spain was top master and twelfth overall in 2:28:24.

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, running his second marathon, won in 2:02:23. Kiplimo is the world record holder in the half-marathon, running 56:42 in Barcelona earlier in 2025. Kiplimo has won gold in world cross country, in 2017 Kampala as a junior athlete and both 2023 Bathurst and 2024 Belgrade as a senior athlete. Kiplimo ran 2:03:37 in his debut marathon in London in April 2025.

Kiplimo and three others went through the halfway split in 1:00:16. Amos Kipruto of Kenya who was third in 2024, moved up to second with a 2:03:54. Alex Masai of Kenya, who ran with American Conner Mantz, outsprinted his rival to finish third in 2:04:37. Masai is based in the USA and ran a big personal best over his 2:08:03 set in Rotterdam earlier in 2025.

Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah is the new American record holder, running 2:04:43 and finishing fourth. Mantz had been "eyeing the American record for a long time." He said his coach, Ed Eyestone, stressed the four P’s: patience, pace, presence, and push. Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia was very close in fifth in 2:04:49. Seifu Turu of Ethiopia, the Chicago 2021 champion, was sixth in 2:05:17. Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya, another World Cross Country great was seventh in 2:05:31. Kamworor won the NYC Marathon in 2017 and 2019. Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya, who was in the lead group at halfway, hung on to place eighth in 2:06:14. Rory Linkletter of Canada was ninth in 2:06:49. Bashir Abdi of Belgium, who won silver in the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon, was tenth in 2:07:08. The first master was David Mansfield of Ireland who ran 2:18:29.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland powered away to a significant 4:06-minute victory; the “Silver Bullet" won in 1:23:20. Susannah Scaroni of Champaign, IL won the women’s race in 1:38:14. She was happy to win after suffering a flat tire in the 2024 marathon.

Heidi Peoples of Clark Summit, PA won the 45 - 49 age group in placed 29th overall in 2:30:30. While we don't have an extensive list of central Pennsylvania runners, what we do know is two solid performances: Samantha Snukis of Lititz ran 2:50:54 and Teal Liu of Hershey ran a PB of 3:04:45. Both women are 39; look out masters!

Our 50sub4 friend Gwen Jacobson of Minnesota ran 3:18:43 to win the 65-69 age group.

17 men broke 2:10 in the marathon and 43 men broke 2:20. 15 women broke 2:30; 5 women broke 2:20. Based on post-race reports, the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon had a record-breaking 54,351 runners cross the finish line.

Full Results

Top Women

2:14:57 Hawi Fesya, 26, Ethiopia
2:17:18 Megertu Alemu, 28, Ethiopia
2:18:03 Magdalena Shauri, 29, Tanzania
2:18:24 Loice Chemnung, 28, Kenya
2:19:26 Mary Ngugi-Cooper, 36, Kenya
2:23:28 Natosha Rogers, 34, USA
2:24:20 Dakotah Popehn, 30, USA
2:24:23 Florencia Borelli, 32, Argentina
2:26:32 Gabriella Rooker, 38, USA
2:27:08 Melody Julien, 26, France
2:27:51 Bedatu Hirpa, 26, Ethiopia
2:28:24 Marta Galimany, 40, Spain
2:28:56 Aubrey Frentheway, 26, USA
2:29:26 Makenna Myler, 35, USA
2:29:51 Maggie Montoyo, 30, USA
2:34:31 Rachel McCardell, 25, USA
2:34:59 Maria Lindberg, 40-44,USA
2:35:25 Anna Kenig-Ziesler, 25-29, USA
2:35:31 Christa Cain, 39, Great Britain
2:35:37 Maddie Myers, 30-34, USA

Top Men

2:02:23 Jacob Kiplimo, 24, Uganda
2:03:54 Amos Kipruto, 33, Kenya
2:04:37 Alex Masai, 28, Kenya
2:04:43 Conner Mantz, 28, USA
2:04:49 Mohamed Esa, 25, Ethiopia
2:05:17 Seifu Tura, 28, Ethiopia
2:05:31 Geoffrey Kamworor, 32, Kenya
2:06:14 Philemon Kiplimo, 27, Kenya
2:06:49 Rory Linkletter, 29, Canada
2:07:08 Bashir Abdi, 36, Belgium
2:07:27 Zouhair Talbi, 30, Morocco
2:07:42 Timothy Kiplagat, 32, Kenya
2:07:52 Daniel Ebenyo, 30, Kenya
2:09:02 Wesley Kiptoo, 26, USA
2:09:37 Ryan Ford, 27, USA
2:09:41 Galen Rupp, 39, USA
2:09:43 Andrew Colley, 34, USA
2:10:23 Aidan Troutner, USA
2:10:38 CJ Albertson, 32, USA
2:11:24 Colin Mickow, 35, USA

10/14/2025

Presenting RG poet George Hancock's October Poetry.
October 2025

October arrives on Wednesday
Long daylight has slipped away
Often, there’s a morning chill
Yet sights providing a thrill.

More colors along the road
Highlight autumn’s road mode
Sadly, our dry weather days
Crippled autumn’s color ways.

For weeks we had leaves drop
So dry the leaves couldn’t stop
Inch worms also attacked trees
Last spring many ran in unease.

However, October runs are great
Perfect road weather on our slate
Sure, it’s dark but the roadside light
Illuminates our road-running flight.

Autumn festivals and races abound
Autumn makes folks get around
October brings more apples to eat
Delighting this aging road athlete.

62 days remain at October’s end
Our year never seems to bend
Time does steadily move on
Soon it’s a new 2026 dawn.

George A. Hancock

Spooky Runs

October brings spooky runs
Since darkness covers our sun
Daylight hours are growing short
Be prepared is the best retort.

Staying visible is the main key
Safety first so many do agree
Reflective vests and good light
Aid our road-running flight.

The trees shed their leaves
And many road folk grieve
The bare trees stand stark
Chilling our morning lark.

I run outside every day
Enjoying this road play
Often, I miss spooky things
So quiet, no friendly rings.

These days there’s a chill
In the air, minus a thrill
It’s time for warm run gear
Thus, we can run without fear.

Bright light eases the run
Permitting some October fun
Spooky runs and Halloween
Are always kind of keen.

George A. Hancock

So Dry

Locally, our weather was dry
The skies just didn’t cry
Rainfall became sparse fast
We pondered will it last?

Sadly, as of this writing, YES!
And no one needs to guess
Drought conditions do prevail
Rainy days just skip and fail.

I run past a vast corn field
That before produced a yield
Now it’s brown and very dry
As folks see and ponder why?

Of course, running’s not bad
Cool weather makes me glad
But the ground is dry and hard
I seldom need to cut my yard.

I run near the Little Paint Creek
The low water makes one shriek
Our grass is brown and so dry
Clear skies remain up high.

I continue to run early on
Seeking a soaking rainy dawn
But here the drought is on
It’s become a dry marathon.

George A. Hancock

10/05/2025

Register, Datta Win 48th White Rose Run

By Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

9.27.25 York, PA—Nicole Register, 22, of Jacobus, PA who has placed well in previous editions of the York White Rose Run 5 Miler, took the women’s division in 31:25. The new course features middle miles in Prospect Hill Cemetery (yes, hills). It’s an historic cemetery with old and new, with a 9-11 tribute and a solemn monument to fallen firefighters and police officers. The course started on West Philadelphia St. over the Codorus Creek (why is this not a river?) and finished at it’s usual North Beaver and Philadelphia Street finish line.

Frontrunner AC runners dominated the elite field as the first four athletes who broke away from the rest of the field run for the same group. Joey Datta of Edison, NJ won the White Rose Run in 24:28. Michael McCann of Moscow, PA was second for the second year in a row, in 25:18. Cole Stanchina of Easton, PA was third in 25:25. Dan Forry of Columbia, PA, the 2024 champion, was fourth in 25:52. Alex Pearson of Hummelstown was fifth and top master in 27:49.

Kelly Rose of York was second in 32:58. Kristin Snyder of Camp Hill was third in 33:27. Katie Fuller of Mechanicsburg was fourth in 33:41. Amanda Cario of York was fifth in 34:09. Allison Lawruk of Camp Hill was top master and eighth overall in 34:51.

230 runners finished the 2025 race, which has been held annually since 1977. The race was held with precautions in 2020, much to the delight of the runners themselves and the downtown merchants. The only missing year was 2017, which caused the York Road Runners to gain ownership of the event. Kudos to race director Karen Lam-Duckett and her many volunteers, and to the Bell Socialization as a strong partner.

Full Results

Top Women

31:25 Nicole Register, 22, Jacobus
32:58 Kelly Rose, 37, York
33:27 Kristin Snyder, 39, Camp Hill
33:41 Katie Fuller, 33, Mechanicsburg
34:09 Amanda Cario, 38, York
34:18 Laura Brenner, 34, Mt Wolf
34:44 Rebecca Doner, 36, York
34:51 Allison Lawruk, 44, Camp Hill
36:01 Paden Tennant, 32, Mechanicsburg
36:24 Hayley Green, 19, York
37:01 Monea Abdul-Majeed, 43, York
38:00 Marissa Venneri, 31, York

Top Men

24:28 Joey Datta, 22, Edison, NJ
25:18 Michael McCann, 22, Moscow
25:25 Cole Stanchina, 22, Easton
25:52 Dan Forry, 26, Columbia
27:49 Alex Pearson, 40, Hummelstown
28:24 David Levy, 29, York
28:51 Fred Joslyn, 41, Boiling Springs
30:09 Josiah Schendel, 30, Lancaster
30:18 Jim Lawruk, 45, Camp Hill
30:41 David Rizzuto, 59, York
31:52 William Rummel, 40, York
32:28 Joshua Losito, 50, Lancaster

09/27/2025

Buchalski, Kioko Win Philadelphia Distance Classic

By Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

9.21.25, Philadelphia, PA—Allie Buchalski of Seattle, WA made her pro half-marathon debut at the distance a good one. Buchalski won in 1:09:59. Atsede Tesema of Ethiopia was second in 1:11:02. Anna Benedettini of Virginia Beach, VA was third in 1:12:12. Caroline Bennett of Rochester Hills, MI was fourth in 1:14:51. Lucy Dobbs of Indianapolis was fifth in 1:15:07. Allison Emmons of Hockessin, DE was top master in 1:21:46.

Athanas Kioko of Kenya was second in 2024; he was not to be denied in 2025 as he took the victory in 1:01:01. Kioko did not have it easy, and it was a back-and-forth race with fellow Kenyan athlete Peter Mwaniki, who was second in 1:01:08. Galen Rupp of Portland, OR, gearing up for Chicago, was third in 1:02:42. Rupp a 4-time Olympian, and twice an Olympic medalist, won this event in 2017. Rupp went on to win the Chicago Marathon, three weeks later.

JP Flavin of Rochester Hills, MI was fourth in 1:03:44. Afewerki Zeru of Flagstaff, AZ was fifth in 1:04:07. The top master was Tyler Mayforth of New Orleans, LA in 1:11:05.

Avery Prizzi of West Hartford, CT won the non-binary race in 1:08:24. Galo Vasquez of Kingston, NY was second in 1:09:55. 2024 champ Winter Parts of State College, PA was third in 1:11:21. Aaryn Edge of Silver Spring, MD was fourth in 1:17:42. Josh Fernandez of Philadelphia was fifth in 1:18:07.

Herman Garic of Utica, NY was first wheelchair athlete in 49:36. Jeyna Senbeta of Chicago was second overall and top non-binary, they finished in 50:38. Tony Nogeira of Glen Ridge, NJ was third to cross in 57:08. Hannah Babalola of Chicago was the top woman, finishing in 58:37.

The PDR started in 1978 and had a 10-year run as Rock N’ Roll-Philadelphia, back again 2021 as the Philadelphia Distance Run. A long, fantastic history. 3,753 finished the half-marathon, with another 1267 finishing the 5k, which was won by Philadelphia Runner athletes. Gavin Campbell won the men’s race in 15:57, and Zarah Kayhan won the women’s race in 19:03.

Top Women Half Marathon

1:09:59 Allie Buchalski, 30, Seattle, WA
1:11:12 Atsede Tesema, 38, Ethiopia
1:12:12 Anna Benedettini, 27, Virginia Beach, VA
1:14:51 Caroline Garrett, 24, Rochester Hills, MI
1:15:07 Lucy Dobbs, 29, Indianapolis, IN
1:16:48 Linnaea Kavulich, 25, Washington, DC
1L17:24 McCarty Hudson, 22, Durango, CO
1:17:26 Elizabeth Laseter, 37, Charlotte, NC
1:17:28 Kir Selert, 38, New Orleans, LA
1:17:40 Erica Green, 35, Collingswood, NJ
1:18:08 Anna Wiseman, 30, Kansas City, MO
1:18:11 Margaret5 Drazba, 30, Denver, CO
1:19:08 Bree Gaster, 31, Cambridge, MA
1:19:08 Lauren Kelly, 35, Philadelphia, PA
1:19:11 Nicole Fenske, 25, Dayton, NJ

Top Men Half Marathon

1:01:01 Athanas Kioko, 30, Kenya
1:01:08 Peter Mwaniki, 27, Kenya
1:02:42 Galen Rupp, 39, Portland, OR
1:03:44 JP Flavin, 27, Rochester Hills, MI
1:04:07 Afewerki Zeru, 27, Flagstaff, AZ
1:04:40 Peter Borger, 26, Malvern, PA
1:04:44 Sydney Gidabuday, 29, Lafayette, CO
1:06:54 Ben Fleischer, 25, Scotch Plains, NJ
1:07:26 Christian Schaaf, 25, Phoenixville, PA
1:07:59 Theo Kahler, 27, Easton, PA
1:08:11 Tom Cooke, 31, West Deptford, NJ
1:08:11 Alex Carideo, 27, Morrisville, NJ
1:08:54 Steve Jordan, 32, West Chester, PA
1:08:57 Ben Sadowyj, 39, Morris Plains, NJ
1:09:03 Conner Sexton, Brooklyn, NY

Top Men Half Marathon

1:01:01 Athanas Kioko, 30, Kenya
1:01:08 Peter Mwaniki, 27, Kenya
1:02:42 Galen Rupp, 39, Portland, OR
1:03:44 JP Flavin, 27, Rochester Hills, MI
1:04:07 Afewerki Zeru, 27, Flagstaff, AZ
1:04:40 Peter Borger, 26, Malvern, PA
1:04:44 Sydney Gidabuday, 29, Lafayette, CO
1:06:54 Ben Fleischer, 25, Scotch Plains, NJ
1:07:26 Christian Schaaf, 25, Phoenixville, PA
1:07:59 Theo Kahler, 27, Easton, PA
1:08:11 Tom Cooke, 31, West Deptford, NJ
1:08:11 Alex Carideo, 27, Morrisville, NJ
1:08:54 Steve Jordan, 32, West Chester, PA
1:08:57 Ben Sadowyj, 39, Morris Plains, NJ
1:09:03 Conner Sexton, Brooklyn, NY

Non Binary Half Marathon

1:08:24 Avery Prizzi, 32, West Hartford, CT
1:09:55 Galo Vasquez, 30, Kingston, NY
1:11:21 Winter Parts, 27, State College, PA
1:17:42 Aaryn Edge, 31, Silver Spring, MD
1:18:07 Josh Fernandez, 37, Philadelphia, PA

Top Women 5K

19:03 Zarah Kayhan, 24, Philadelphia, PA
19:05 Emily Ray, 27, Philadelphia, PA
19:10 Jordyn Duby, 21, San Diego, CA

Top Men 5K

15:57 Gavin Campbell, 23, Chalfont, PA
16:19 Souhail Kandil, 32, Philadelphia, PA
16:26 Phil Celona, 34, Philadelphia, PA

09/18/2025

Poet’s Corner for September 2025


by George Hancock
Photos by Bob Hancock

September 2025

Monday begins September fun
And for me another darker run
Labor Day is early, the first date
And we prepare for our fall gait.

Meteorological autumn is now on
As witnessed by this darker dawn
A new season to run the roads
Pursuing early autumn episodes.

School traffic is on the move
Students back in that groove
Local football also moves on
As several games are spawned.

Lately September stays warm
So, folks are out in a swarm
Fall races and festivals are here
Welcomed with a hearty cheer.

My early September runs are cool
Soon the foliage glows like a jewel
Autumn runs every day are nice
Get outside, enjoy is my advice.

Summer’s warmth slips away
Replaced by a cooler fall day
Yet, we gain a roadside scene
That deserves the big screen.

Early Autumn

Early autumn runs are here
Although some folks may leer
Early autumn’s a late summer day
With many fun things on the way.

September has many warm days
Although touched by dwindling rays
September’s sun has an earlier set
Leading many folks to vocally fret.

Yet, a September road run is fun
Our warm weather is not done
Running early in shorts and Tees
Is really an early autumn breeze.

Occasionally, the temps will drop
But daily running need not stop
Our clothing and safety gear
Eases that darker running fear.

Near September’s final days
Colors appear on the roadways
The tree foliage dons a new hue
And we bid green a sad adieu.

Early autumn is a nice phase
A transition without the haze
Soon October’s road will explode
Creating a delightful road mode.

Get Ready

It’s time to get ready
To insure you run steady
September is the fall season
Be prepared, a good reason.

Check your cold weather gear
Good quality insures no fear
When running out on a day
That turns every which way.

I recommend snow spikes
These ease those icy yikes!
Look snow spikes up online
These make your run shine.

Soon we need running pants
Since the cold creates rants
I run in shorts till 32 degrees
Below that is cold many agree.

Running jackets or good fleece
Requires very little expertise
A good weather resistant fit
Allows one to run a good bit.

Gloves, a hat, or a warm beanie
Thwarts weather gone meanie
Having cold weather gear ready
Keeps our road run going steady.

93 More Days

September ends our 3rd part
Or quarter with a season start
That soon will offer a road view
Filled with a breathtaking hue.

We have only 93 more days
As September exits the byways
September 30 is the 273rd day
Year 2025 is steadily giving way.

Wasting time is a daily crime
It’s impossible to gain time
Time flows at a steady pace
Often making some a sad face.

Running is our daily road play
Getting outside is really OK
Viewing each growing season
Is relaxing and truly pleasing.

It’s easy to run outside
Even a brief run earns pride
Making time is right to do
So, tie your running shoes.

93 days is enough time
Autumn’s season is prime
To renew a daily road trip
Despite any weather flip.
Comment

09/16/2025

'To stay involved and give back to the sport I love and grew up with'


Andy Carr Interview by George Banker

I am starting this interview with the phrase, “everyone has a story.” There is no one answer, and I took a short cut and decided to use AI for a definition to provide a mental picture of Andy Carr. Most of the readers will be asking, “Who is Andy Carr?” At the conclusion of this article, you will understand the service that Carr provides to the sport and athletes.

AI provides the following, “Every individual's life is a complex, unique narrative shaped by their experiences, challenges, and perspectives. It encourages compassion and empathy by reminding us that everyone has a hidden history that influences who they are.”

Carr has been the USATF Long Distance Running Record Keeper since 2006 and a USATF-certified official since 1987.

He graduated from Northwood HS (Rockville, MD) in 1981 and ran for Coach Dan Reeks who is currently at Sherwood HS and just celebrated his 50th year of HS coaching. Carr lived in West Berlin Germany from 1965-1970 with his father and later moved back to Maryland. Carr attended and ran for Roanoke College, Salem, VA (Division 3 school) 1981-85. He ran in two NCAA D3 XC Champs meets, graduated in 1985 with a BA in History/minor in Secondary Education, and he taught and coached at Salem HS.

From 1986-87 Carr coached at Einstein HS (XC and distance track) and worked at Fairfax Running Center and Racquet & Jog). He attended graduate school at the University of Oregon 1987-89 and studied Educational Administration & Sports Management but did not finish. Carr moved back to Gaithersburg, MD in 1989-92 then moved to Atlanta to work for the Olympics.

Coach Carr was the Runner of the Year, Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MD)-1986 and Long Distance Running Man of the Year, 2011-12 by USA Track & Field & USATFGA

The Judo Brown Dedication Award, presented by the Atlanta Track Club, recognizes outstanding dedication to the sport of track and field by a boys' coach in the state of Georgia. The award honors individuals who have a long history of involvement with track and field, contributing to their community and athletes. The award is named after Judo Brown, a dedicated Georgia track and field coach, and is given to coaches who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the sport, their community, and their athletes. Carr received the award in 2015.

In 2024 Carr was awarded the Ted Corbitt Award by the Road Running Technical Committee of USA Track & Field for his support of U.S. road racing.

Can you imagine a young Andy Carr in grade school staring out the window and dreaming about being the USATF Long Distance Running Record Keeper? Well, his dream did come true. This is a unique position within the sport, and it serves a vital purpose for the athletes.

To provide some background into record keeping, the name Ken Young (November 9, 1941 – February 3, 2018) is the starting point. Young was the founder and director of the National Running Data Center (NRDC). The NRDC was devoted to the collection, analysis, and publication of long-distance running information. The NRDC developed road racing records in the U.S. In 1979 The Athletic Congress (TAC) recognized the record keeping by the NRDC as official records. In 1986, the official record-keeping for TAC was assumed by TACStats, later known as the Road Information Center.

Today Carr works behind the scenes dealing with the administration in collection of documents to ensure that the certification guidelines are followed to ratify road racing performance. An athlete can run a fast time, but it must meet the criteria for ratification. The two key items are a certified racecourse and a USATF sanction.

A USATF certified course is a road racecourse whose distance has been measured and verified to USATF standards using a precise, calibrated method, ensuring accuracy for official records and national rankings.

A USATF sanctioned event is a track & field, long distance running, or race-walking competition officially approved by USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for these sports. Performances in sanctioned events are eligible for National and World Records. Sanctioning ensures events are safe, fair, and follow established rules and standards.

For athletes, a USATF-sanctioned event provides a reliable and fair competitive environment where their achievements can be officially recognized and ranked. For organizers, it offers official approval and essential liability coverage.

The above covers a piece of the “Carr Story.” What you read below adds another dimension.

What was your WHY for getting involved with USA Track & Field? - To stay involved and give back to the sport I love and grew up with.

How long have you been involved with the sport? I started running when I was 11 yrs old, so 51 years. I got motivated as I watched Frank Shorter win the 1972 Olympic Marathon and I was into maps and geography so got inspired to put on my own “mini-Olympics” in my back yard with my friends where I grew up in Four Corners/Silver Spring, MD. But the only event I was any good at was the “marathon” which was a lap around my neighborhood block off Dennis Ave & University Blvd.

What was the motivation to lace up your shoes to get involved in the sport? After my mini-Olympics I decided to try out for my elementary school relay team in which I had to run a match-race against a fellow classmate. I beat him and made the team. I knew to be better I had to run more often and longer, so that is how it started for me. Wanting to compete for my school was an inspiration to train.

How long have you been with the Atlanta Track Club? I started volunteering for the Club when I moved to Atlanta in 1992 and then became a staff member in 1999 and eventually a contractor for the club in 2018, 33 years in total.

How important is record keeping for the performance of the athletes? For some and for the age-groupers, it is a part of their motivation (or even in their contract for the professionals). Distance running has always been a numbers-thing to the athletes, fans and coaches, records, in any form, are a root part of the sport.

What is the value of events which have a USA Track & Field-certified course and sanction? Well, you cannot have an American record without either, either an Open or US Age-Group record, so probably the most important. It is good to know the course distance is accurate and that the event will follow the rules of the sport, so course certification and sanction are important.

Do you feel that event organizers are concerned when it comes to their events? They should! Not having those items really “lessens” their event status and will always come into question the results or if the rules were followed and the correct people won and nobody cheated. Yes, road racing is a sport and it has rules!

Where can event, organizers go to get information about the process for certification and sanctions? Both the USA Track & Field web site and my USA long distance running records website have that information available for anyone.http://usatfldrrecords.org/forms/roadraceapp.pdf https://www.usatf.org/resources/event-directors

Have you seen a trend in the performances for both males and females improving? Yes, especially lately with the advent of super-shoes, better coaches and coaching, and better training facilities and places to train.

Are there any changes you would like to see to take place within the sport? As much as I understand why there are restrictions on entries for Olympics and World Championships, I’d like to see most countries use a trials system to pick athletes for those events or a descending order list for off-years or events and if there is a time standard, then enforce it and go with having the standard and being top-3 in your event at the trials selection event.

The governing body should cover ALL-EXPENSES (which the World Athletics/IOC must not be able to do) for our athletes to compete at Worlds/Olympics and scrap this points/ranking system that World Athletics has. I'd like to see Cross Country be a winter Olympic sport with a world championship in the non-Winter Olympic years in-between.

I'm excited that Atlanta Track Club is going to build an indoor track in Georgia as no indoor tracks exist in the state! I would like to see NCAA D1 cross country be limited to one non-US citizen per team and limit foreign athletes on track teams to some arbitrary number. If foreign athletes win prize money in the two years after graduating, they must pay money back to their school as a thank you for getting them to that level.

You have been coaching at Milton High School in Milton, GA since 2004. What is your philosophy when it comes to coaching? Do your best, Have Fun! That is inscribed in our first state cross-country championship ring and that is my feeling towards why. My goal is to make my athletes runners for life, embrace the sport, and continue to run as they grow up and enter society.

How do you motivate young athletes? Engagement at all levels. Everyone is treated the same no matter the level of the athlete. Being supportive of the runner that breaks 35 for a 5k race or goes sub-15 should not matter. They are all working to do their best over the course on the same day and deserve equal coaching and mentorship.

What are the qualities of what you consider a well-rounded athlete? Good time management, respect for their teammates and competitors, and dedication to their education, their training, and personal well-being.

What do you look for in an athlete that wants to join the team? Recruitment for the Milton team has not been an issue, as we have had as many as 200 on the team some given years. Our numbers are smaller now as our school has gone down in enrollment, but our program welcomes anyone, and we are a no-cut sport as you may never know who might be your next state champion!

How do you have an athlete to process the results when they fall short of expectations? First, it is a one-on-one at the meet to get initial reactions and thoughts about their race. Those initial reactions are so important and can be highly emotional, but that is what you need to see as a coach regarding the level of commitment and how they manage their own stress and pressure. Then the following day or when we finish a workout 2-3 days later a short but to-the-point inquiry and a check-in on how they are doing or how they feel, and just getting that feedback is good for both coach and athlete on where they are and if they have moved on.

To date, what has been that high school team performance that stands out? Winning the Georgia Boys 7A state title in 2017. It was the first ever for Milton (school is over 100-yrs-old) and being ranked fifth in the US going into regionals. Having two boys run at the 2017 Nike National Cross Country meet that same season ranks right up there. For track my first state championship athlete I got to coach in 2016 winning both the 800m and 1600m and then getting to see her race for Furman Univ in two NCAA Cross Country Championships is a standout memory for me.

Is the effort in a race or winning that has greater value? By far, the effort as every race has a reason and is working towards that larger goal, even in a state championship race. I like it in cross country where you can have no one finish near the front and still win a meet or state title. I often say in championship-style racing, just finish as you never know what your effort or place may help/change/offset or improve the results for the team.

What do you want the reader to know about Coach Carr? Very happy and lucky to be able to have a career in my hobby, so work does not feel like a job. I am excited about these next few years with the US hosting World Cross Country in January (Tallahassee) and the Olympics in 2028 (where I hope to be selected to officiate).

There is nothing like going to watch a big meet/race. Go to a college meet, track or cross country, large high school invitational or national/world-class road race and be a fan of the sport! I try and do this multiple times a year and even though I work/coach/officiate a lot of meets and competitions, it is nice to go and cheer for people competing, taking in the atmosphere, and seeing all the emotions at play. I enjoy following up on my Milton alums who continue to compete and see them race as best I can. Besides running I enjoy sports car racing, 80’s music and concerts, sci-fi movies, burgers/wings, unique beers, cherry coke, Cheerwine and the Oregon Ducks.

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"The record-keeping work that Andy does is invaluable, especially how everything is available to the public on USATF LDR Record Lookup at usatfldrrecords.org. This is an incredible resource for journalists, fans, athletes and statisticians alike. I don't know what we would do without it,” stated David Monti, Race Results Weekly.

Organizing an event is no small task, but you are never on your own. Whether you are putting on your first meet or submitting a bid for a national championship, we have numerous resources to help you along the way. During the planning stages of your event, check out our information on sanctions (to....