At the USA Cross Country Championships over the weekend in Vancouver, Wash. at Ft. Vancouver National Historic Site, the favorites prevailed under near ideal cross country conditions - cool and muddy.

On Saturday, in the men's 4K national championship, 2004 Olympian Tim Broe recaptured the title he won in 2001 and 2002 with a narrow win over two-time U.S. short course champion and 2000 Olympian Adam Goucher who is returning to form.

In the women's 8K race, 2002 World XC bronze medalist Colleen De Reuck, 40, pulled away on the final 2K lap from fellow 2004 Olympic marathoner Jen Rhines of Team Running USA to defend her title.

On Sunday, in defending her U.S. 4K title, Shalane Flanagan defeated a strong field that included 2003 U.S. women's short course champion and 2000/2004 Olympian Shayne Culpepper, in addition to Lauren Fleshman, who placed third in this race last year. Flanagan also finished ahead of three-time NCAA Division III cross country champ and rising star Missy Buttry.

In the men's 12K race, Dathan Ritzenhein, bronze medalist at the 2001 World Junior XC Championships, ran away from former Colorado Buffalo teammate Jorge Torres to win his first Open national title in convincing fashion.

The USA Cross Country Championships serve as the selection event for the U.S. team that will compete at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, March 19-20 in St. Galmier, France. The top six finishers in the Open and Junior races qualify for the U.S. team. The USA Championships follows the same format as the upcoming World Championships, with six races over a two-day span.

Saturday

Men's 4K

1. Tim Broe, MI, 11:37
2. Adam Goucher, OR, 11:39
3. Donald Sage, CA, 11:40
4. Josh McDougal, VA, 11:41
5. Jorge Torres, CO, 11:44
6. Alan Webb, VA, 11:48

Women's 8K

1. Colleen De Reuck, CO, 27:24
2. Jen Rhines, PA, 27:44
3. Blake Russell, CA, 27:54
4. Kathy Newberry, VA, 28:01
5. Katie McGregor, MN, 28:04
6. Lauren Fleshman, CA, 28:11

Sunday

Women's 4K

1. Shalane Flanagan, NC, 13:24
2. Shayne Culpepper, CO, 13:27
3. Missy Buttry, IA, 13:29
4. Blake Russell, CA, 13:30
5. Lauren Fleshman, CA, 13:30
6. Amy Mortimer, MA, 13:38

Men's 12K

1. Dathan Ritzenhein, CO, 36:59
2. Jorge Torres, CO, 37:14
3. Tim Broe, MI, 37:27
4. Matt Withrow, WI, 37:32
5. Jason Lehmkuhle, MN, 37:33
6. Ian Dobson, CA, 37:33

For complete results, quotes and more, go to: www.usatf.org/events/ 2005/USAXCChampionships