The top athletes and your intrepid correspondent experimented with methods for hurdling the hay bales in Belgrade. Plus hear how Anthony Rotich ran 27:08 while running less than 70 miles per week.

Kelati ran 66:25 at the Houston Half and 30:33 at The TEN and is looking to become the first US woman to finish in the top 10 at World XC since Shalane Flanagan in 2011. *MB: An American woman hasn't finished in the top 10 at World XC in 13 years, will Weini Kelati end that streak in 2024?

Young was sensational and DESTROYED the collegiate record but Alicia Monson's AR attempt went south really quickly and she dropped out.  Tsigie Gebreselama fan the first sub-30:00 women's 10,000 on US soild as Weini Kelati got the standard as did Britain's version of Parker Valby, Megan Keith.

The USA xc meet is in the books and we have 6 takeaways. Plus indoor track gets started this way with a big men's 5000 in Boston. How fast will Yared Nuguse run and might Nico Young become the first collegian to break 13:00?

Teare became the first man in 56 years to win US titles in the 1500 and XC while Kelati won by 37 seconds just six days after setting the half marathon AR.

Cole Hocker, Cooper Teare, & Drew Hunter are among the notable names challenging defending champ Emmanuel Bor and his ace steepler brother Hillary. *MB: 2024 USATF Cross Country Champs - Hocker, Teare, Kelati and more!!

It's the third straight year the women's AR has gone down in Houston. Ethiopians Jemal Yimer (60:42) and Sutume Kebede (64:37) won the overall titles.

How will Rupp and Sara Hall look with the Olympic Trials just 3 weeks away? Boston/NYC Marathon champ Hellen Obiri leads the women's field where Weini Kelati will make her debut. Coach Stephen Haas is pumped as he thinks Kelati will eventually be "world-class" in the marathon.

• Official 2024 Houston Half Discussion Thread: Galen Rupp Tunes Up & Weini Kelati Debuts
• Hall out of Houston?
• Aramco Houston Half Spectator Spots

In chronological order, we get you ready for this weekend's pro action which is taking place all over the globe. It includes $8,000 800s in NYC and world champ Fred Kerley running his first 100m of 2023 in Japan.

Kelati, Bor, the Youngs, NXN champ Irene Riggs, and FL champ Karrie Baloga will all be racing USA XC in Richmond this weekend. MB: 2023 USA XC is Saturday and it's LOADED (in the jr races). Official discussion thread

Abdihamid Nur (13:24) won the men's title despite a late wrong turn. Weini Kelati (15:16) won the women's race as both athletes broke the course record.

Elle Purrier St. Pierre ran like she had something to prove and Ajee' Wilson made another USA title look too easy.

Between Kelati, Monson, Seidel, Emily Infeld, and Natosha Rogers, the women's race should be spectacular. On the men's side, can ADP/WCAP extend its win streak to five years? *MB: Offiical 2021 USA XC Discussion Thread: Kelati vs Monson XVIII - Who you got? Does ADP continue to DOMINATE?

There is so much distance action going on this weekend it's wild. Get out your popcorn as we break it down for you here. Between the RunningLane Cross Country Championships, the Cross Champs at Mt. SAC, the first BU meet, the Valencia Marathon, and the US Half Champs, it's going to be a busy weekend of racing.

Shhh. We think we may have found America's next distance star.  The similarities between Weini Kelati and Molly Seidel are striking. *MB: Shhhh... Rojo thinks Weini Kelati may be the next great American distance runner + Is Sean Brosnan great or lucky?

Drew Hunter is back and Weini Kelati showed she's a level above everyone else.

After a long Covid-19 break, Rojo's weekly recap is back in full force.

We don't expect her to pull it off as we think Nia Akins will win her first NCAA title in the 800, but if Jones wins just 1 NCAA title she'll join Jenny Simpson and Adam Goucher for the most in CU history. Plus can Whittni Orton win her first in the 3000?