Nico Young to run USA Cross Country Championships, eyes dream team for Worlds

Good news for American distance fans: reigning US 10,000m champion Nico Young will run the USATF Cross Country Championships in Portland on December 6, where the US will select its team for the World Cross Country Championships to be held on January 10, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida.

When the fields for the Kalakaua Merrie Mile on December 13 in Honolulu, featuring Young, Yared Nuguse, Donavan Brazier, Josh Hoey, and others,  were announced this week, the LetsRun.com message boards quickly lit up with speculation that this meant Young would skip the USA cross country champs the week before in Portland.

Young’s coach, Mike Smith, confirmed to LetsRun.com that is not the case and that Young will race both USA Cross and the Merrie Mile in Hawaii.

That sets up the possibility of a U.S. dream team in Tallahassee with Young, double Olympic medalist Grant Fisher, and two-time NCAA cross-country champions Graham Blanks and Conner Mantz, a squad capable of contending for gold on home soil.

Discussion: Nico Young NOT skipping USA XC to race Donovan Brazier! Hawaii Kalakua Merrie Mile