If the World XC Championships truly had the best of the best when it comes to distance runners, here is who I would have line up for Team USA.
The World Athletics Championships have 6 scoring athletes, unlike the usual 5 scoring that the United States uses.
Grant Fisher
- American Record Holder in the 5,000m (Also North-American record)
- American Record Holder in the 10,000m (Also North-American record)
- 2x Gatorade XC National Player of the Year while in HS
- 2018 Cross Country National Championships - Runner Up
- 12x All-American while at Stanford University
Sam Chelanga
- Top US Finisher at the 2023 World XC Championships
- NCAA Record Holder in the 10,000m
- 14x All-American while at Liberty University
- 2x NCAA D1 Cross Country National Champion
Yared Nuguse
- 2nd Place Finisher at the 2022 Sound Running XC Champs
- American Record Holder in the 1500m (Also North-American record)
- American Record Holder in the 1 Mile (Also North-American record)
- American Record Holder in the 3,000m Indoor (Also North-American record)
- Former NCAA 1500m National Record Holder
- Former NCAA Indoor 3000m National Record Holder
Joe Klecker
- #2 American Finisher at the 2022 Sound Running XC Champs
- 2019 Cross Country National Championships - Runner Up
- 9x All-American while at University of Colorado
- #4 US All-Time in the Indoor 3,000m
- Multiple Time World Championships Qualifier
Woody Kincaid
- American Record Holder in the 5,000m Indoor (Also North-American record)
- 2x All-American while at Portland University
- #4 World All-Time in the Indoor 5,000m
- Multiple Time World Championships Qualifier
Cooper Teare
- NCAA 4x1 Mile National Record Holder
- 2x NCAA Champion (5,000m and DMR Indoor)
- NCAA Record Holder in the 1 Mile Indoor
- Former NCAA Record Holder in the DMR