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Alemayo dominant, defends U20 Title

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By Clay Shaw
Photos by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

1.10.26 Tallahassee, FL—Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia defended her U20 title successfully with a convincing 26 second victory in 18:52. Alemayo won World XC in Belgrade 2024. Wosane Asefa of Ethiopia had to outkick two other athletes running with her nearly the entire 6k distance. Asefa earned the silver in 19:18. Just one second behind her was Charity Cherop of Uganda, who ran 19:19. Cynthia Chepkirui of Kenya was fourth in 19:22. Yenenesh Shimket of Ethiopia was fifth in 19:35. In the past 25 years all individual medals were won by athletes from Ethiopia or Kenya.

Ethiopia’s streak of U20 wins came to end sadly due to several athletes not getting visas. While Ethiopia had 1st, 2nd, and 5th place runners, they did not have a fourth athlete in order to score as a team. Uganda won the team title, in a virtual dead heat with Kenya. Japan earned the bronze, and USA was fourth, a respectful showing. Australia was fifth, Canada was sixth, and China was seventh.

Blair Bartlett, a 16-year-old from Lawrenceville, NJ ran a determined and solid race to lead Team USA. Bartlett was sixteenth in 20:36. USA teammate Daniela Scheffler was 20th in 20:53. Other USA finishers were Abigail Sewell in 33rd in 21:23, Caroline Barton in 39th in 21:35, Norah Hushagen in 53rd in 22:33, and Avery Marasco-Johnson in 58th in 23:01.

Top finishers

  1. 18:52 Marta Alemayo, Ethiopia
  2. 19:18 Wosane Asefa, Ethiopia
  3. 19:19 Charity Cherop, Uganda
  4. 19:22 Cynthia Chepkirui, Kenya
  5. 19:35 Yenenesh Shimket, Ethiopia
  6. 19:43 Joan Chepkurui, Kenya
  7. 19:50 Bentalin Yeko, Uganda
  8. 19:52 Mercy Chepngeno, Kenya
  9. 19:53 Felister Chekwemoi, Uganda
  10. 19:54 Peace Chebet, Uganda
  11. 20:00 Miriam Kibet, Kenya
  12. 20:12 Nancy Chepkwurui, Uganda
  13. 20:20 Lonah Cherono, Kenya
  14. 20:25 Yui Ontotora, Japan
  15. 20:35 Caren Chepngeno, Kenya
  16. 20:36 Blair Bartlett, United States
  17. 20:38 Jinhua Hu, China
  18. 20:45 Adrianna Buitleaar, Canada
  19. 20:50 Isabella Valinoti, Australia
  20. 20:53 Daniela Scheffler, United States
  21. 20:56 Fanny Szalkai, Sweden
  22. 20:56 Wakana Fukuyama, Japan
  23. 21:00 Helena Butler, Australia
  24. 21:01 Rong Rong, China
  25. 21:03 Mona Utsunomiya, Japan
Jinhua Hu of China, Adrianna Buitelaar of Canada, Rong Rong of China, Fanny Szalkai of Sweden, Mei Hosomi of Japan, Isabella Valinoti of Australia, Daniela Scheffler of USA are looking for top twenty finishes.
Yui Onotora of Japan was 14th in 20:25 and the first athlete from outside of East Africa.
Debris Paniagua of Spain and Omaatla Dikoa of South Africa lead a large group through the Florida Beach sand. USA’s Norah Hushagen and Abigail Swell, along with Riley Innes of Canada, are in the large pack in the U20 race.
Much of the race course had shade through the pine forests.
Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia before breaking away, ran with Cynthia Cherpkirui of Kenya and Wosane Asefa of Ethiopia.
Caroline Barton of the United States runs through the woods with Scarlett Robb of New Zealand and Zoe Mosher of Canada.
The Sunshine Splash was a big spectator spot. The lead group of Ethiopians, Ugandans, and Kenyans splash right through. Later athletes tended to try and run near the sides.
The obstacles such as the Sunshine Splash were mandatory on the World XC course.
Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia won her second straight U20 title.
Marta Alemayo and Wosane Asefa of Ethiopia were first and second overall in the U20 women’s race.
Wosane Asefa of Ethiopia earns second place and the silver medal in 19:18. Charity Cherop of Uganda was one second back in 19:19, winning the bronze medal.
Blair Bartlett of the USA led the U20 team with a 16th place finish in 20:36.
Caroline Barton of the USA was part of the USA fourth place team in the U20 race.
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