July 22, 2026 Welcome to my blog! I report on Masters Elite LDR. In addition to this current story recapping the first part of the 2026 USATF Masters National Grand Prix, I preview and recap most USATF Masters LDR Championships., I report on middle distance events at some USATF Masters Indoor and Outdoor Championships. I reported on the one World Cross Country Championship that included Masters competition, Australia 2022. I regularly cover the Non-Stadia Road Race Events at World Masters Athletics Championships. I recap Masters performances in major marathons and other iconic road races from time to time. See the sidebar for easy navigation through the archives. [If you are using a mobile phone, please scroll to the bottom and choose 'View web version' to access the sidebar.] While there, please note the coffee cup logo. Clicking on that provides a way for you to express your appreciation for the work that goes into these articles. Shout out here to recent supporters, Matt B-C, John H (2), Lorilynn B, Bryan H,, Brendan, cush, Gary G, Jan F, Aaron T-L, Ken Y, Peter W, Dan K, Suzanne L B, Michael M, Ed B, Dana H, John B, Bill A (2), John & Amy M, Jay L, Tim L, Mike M, Donna M & Victor V. May you have good speed in 2026! and beyond!
Individual Grand Prix. The 2026 Masters Individual National Grand Prix is based on the performances at eight masters LDR National Championships plus non stadia events at the 2026 Masters TF Outdoor Championships and the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships. [Points for WMA are assigned according to finishing place among US competitors.] Points from the best 5 events are totaled. A minimum of three races is required for an award. Points start at 100 and decline to 95 for second, 90 for third and so on down to 5 points for anyone who finished in 20th position or below. The top three finishers in each division are awarded Grand Prix plaques; the next twelve receive certificates.
The championships in the books, as of July 22nd, include the 2025 USATF Cross Country Championships, Portland OR, December 7 (Cross Nationals); 2025 Half Marathon Championships, Spicewood TX, December 14; Club Cross Country Championships, Tallahassee FL, January 11 (Club Cross); 1 Mile Championships, Des Moines IA, April 21; 10 Km Championships, Dedham MA, April 27; and 4 Mile Championships, Peoria I, June 6.
The 10K Road Race scheduled for the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships was announced as being available to count towards 2026 Grand Prix points. Unfortunately the poor Air Quality in Geneva OH due to Canadian (and Upper Minnesota) wildfires led to the postponement and then cancellation of the 10K Road Race. That dashed the hopes of several runners who were looking for those points as a vital part of their pursuit of a top Grand Prix finish.
There are three opportunities left to score: WMA Non Stadia [best score from XC, 10K Road, or HM Road]; 5 Km Championships, Atlanta GA, Oct 25; Masters 5 Km Cross Country Championships, Huntsville AL.
LOCKED UP or ALMOST LOCKED UP?
Since the final GP score is the sum of the best five events, the best possible score is 500 points. Should there be a tie, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head competition. The second tie-breaker is number of wins. If the athletes are still tied, then they share first place and both receive Championship plaques. Last year's mid-season review was posted with only three championships left. Four athletes had already locked up the win in their age division. In 2026, only Joyce Hodges-Hite, in W85, and Roland Cormier, in M85, have it completely locked up.
W85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite Atlanta TC goes for her third consecutive GP win in this division. She has competed at Cross Nationals n Portland OR, the 1 Mille Championships in Des Moines IA, and the 4 Mile Championships in Peoria IL She has won them all, giving Hodges-Hite 300 points, with two events left to go. No other competitor has scored in this division. No one from this division is registered for a Non-Stadia event at WMA-Daegu.
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| Joyce Hodges-Hite completes her winning W85 run at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing. |
Hence the maximum score anyone else could earn would be 200 points. Hodges-Hite will take her third consecutive W85 Grand Prix The only question is what her final winning total will be. If she competes at both Atlanta and Huntsville and wins them both, she will again win with a perfect 500 points. as she did last year.
M85-89 Roland Cormier Shore AC has the M85 Grand Prix championship locked up. Cormier reeled off three straight wins, at Cross Nationals in December, Club Cross in January and the 1 Mile Championships on April 21st. Five days later he finished second to George Gilder at the 10 Km Championships in Dedham MA. Cormier got back on track though, winning on June 6th in Peoria at the 4 Mile Championhips. That gives him 495 points. Gilder is not entered for any events at WMA-Daegu. With just two events left now, Gilder's maximum score would be 300 points.
Roland Cormier On His Way to the M85 Win at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing.
Cormier will win the M85 Grand Prix championship. If he wins either of the last two events, Cormier will win with a perfect 500 points.
There are a few others who appear highly likely to win their age divisions. In other cases, it is wide open. See the discussions below.
WOMEN
40-44 Prior to this year, Karen Dos Santos Shore AC had not competed much in Masters national championships. The lone exception was the Masters 12 Km Championships held in her home state of New Jersey. Dos Santos had not traveled to compete in national championships. That changed this year; she has, apparently, committed to competing in more national championships for her team. Dos Santos kicked off the season at Club Cross in Florida. The fields were as 1oaded with talent as ever. Dos Santos did well to finish 14th and come away with 35 points. Dos Santos reloaded and was primed for a top performance at the 10 Km Championships. A near-podium finish gave her 85 points. On June 6th in Peoria, she roared to a convincing W40 win and pocketed the 100 points that go with a win.
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| Karen Dos Santos Striding toward her Overall and W40 Win at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing. |
Her total of 220 moved her past the early leaders, Renee Metivier Team Red Lizard. and Carrie Dimoff Bowerman TC. Metivier got the win at Cross Nationals in Portland OR, with Dimoff second. Dimoff reversed the tables at Tallahassee Club Cross, winning with Metivier second. They were tied for the lead at 195 until Dos Santos won at Peoria. Both Dimoff and Metivier had stellar Open careers and are competing on occasion in Masters races at Cross Nationals and/or Club Cross. There seems little reason to think that either will compete at the Masters 5 Km XC Championships in Huntsville. If neither competes in a third event, they are not eligible for a GP Award. Jessica Minty Battle Road Track Club is in fourth, at 185 points, from a fourth-place finish at Club Cross and a win in the 10 Km Championships. Lauren Davis Nevada, who won the division last year with 225 points from three events, sits in fifth place at 140 points. She finished ninth at the 10 Km Championships, and fifth in Peoria. With 400 GP points still up for grabs, it could be anybody's prize to win. But Dos Santos is best positioned at his point, the only runner with the three competitions necessary for an award. There is, however, a complication. Dos Santos is listed at 44 years old. She will apparently turn 45 before the final two championships of the year. The 'aging up' rule for the Grand Prix states that if a runner ages up to the next 5-year division during the GP season and competes in a championship in the new age division, they move up into the new division, carrying all of the points earned in the younger division. Hence, if Dos Santos competes at either Atlanta or Huntsville, she would be competing for a 45-49 GP prize. If so, she would be in the 45-49 Grand Prix contest. See below.
Leader: Karen Dos Santos 220 [3 events] 2nd [tie] Carrie Dimoff 195[2] & Renee Metivier 195 [2]
45-49
The top two athletes in this division have both competed in the same four events, Club Cross, the Road Mile, the 10 Km a6nd the 4 Mile. Dana Hayden Virginia and Vanessa Lordi Strawberry Canyon TC finished- 1-2 in this division last year, Hayden winning with 385 points from four events, and Lordi second, with 305 points from five events. This year, Hayden finished third at Club Cross and second at the rest. That gives her 365 points and the lead. But the same 'aging up' wrinkle affects Hayden as affects Dos Santos. Currently 49, it appears Hayden will turn 50 prior to the final two events of the Grand Prix season.
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| Dana Hayden Closing Off Her W45 Silver Medal Performance at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
If she competes at either Atlanta or Huntsville, Hayden will contest the 50-54 GP, not the 45-49 GP. Lordi finished 13th at the highly competitive Club Cross championships. She combines that with a 7th at the 10 Km and fourth-place finishes at the Road Mile and the 4 Mile. Lordi has 280 points. Brooke Novak Atlanta TC, who competed in just two events last year, has already competed in three. She has finished just ahead of Lordi in the three events they have both competed in. Novak finished 12th at Club Cross and third at the Road Mile and 4 Mile. Novak has 225 points from her three events. If Novak competes in two more events, there is a good chance she could pass Lordi. And that could be enough for the win, depending on which divisions Dos Santos and Hayden wind up competing in.
Leader: Dana Hayden 365 [4] 2nd: Vanessa Lordi 280 [4] 3rd: Brooke Novak 225 [3]
50-54 Last year, Laura Scholz Atlanta TC competed in the 45-49 division, finishing 5th with 205 points from three events. This year, Scholz has already competed in four events. At Cross Nationals in Portland last December, Scholz picked up 50 points for her 11th pace finish. Club Cross had an even deeper, more competitive field. Scholz added 20 points for her 1th place finish. With smaller fields, Scholz picked up the first-place finish at the Road Mile in Des Moines, for 100 points, and 90 points for a third-place finish in the 4-Mile in Peoria. That gives Scholz 260 points and the lead.
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| Laura Scholz Enjoying Her W50 Bronze Medal Performance at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
There are several challengers, however. Scholz's teammate, Kathy Wiegand Atlanta TC ran at three of Scholz's events and came in ahead of her each time. Wiegand finished 7th at Cross Nationals, 11th at Club Cross, and earned the Silver W50 Medal at the Masters 4 Mile Championships. That gives her 215 points from three events. It seems likely that both Scholz and Wiegand will compete in Atlanta and Huntsville. If so, Wiegand's 'Best 5' events could well give her a higher total than Scholz. Alysia Puma Shore AC finished four places behind Wiegand at Club Cross but picked up good points from her 6th place W50 finish at the 10 Km Championships and her win at the 4 Mile Championships in Peoria. Puma is ten points behind Wiegand in 3rd. Carla McAlister Cal Coast TC won W50 at Cross Nationals; Jennifer Rodriguez Unaffiliated won the Half Marathon Championships; Sara Girotto took top honors at Club Cross; and Perry Shoemaker won at the 10 Km in Dedham MA. Girotto was registered for the 10K Road Race at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. That was cancelled due to the poor air quality. Had she won that event, she would have been in position to challenge for the W50 Grand Prix championship. As it is, Girotto is in the same boat as the other three event winners. Except for Rodriguez, they have not registered for a WMA Non-Stadia event so they have only 200 Grand Prix points available. Rodriguez has registered for WMA but if she runs that race, she ages up to W55 and is no longer relevant for W50. It is also true that Shoemaker will age up if she competes in one more event this year. So her total will apply to 55-59. It is almost certain that both Scholz and Wiegand will top out the season over 300 GP points. Interestingly, however, Rebekah Kennedy Central Park TC, who finished second W50 at the 10 Km championships, is entered in all three non-stadia races in Korea. Kennedy is a strong runner. It seems plausible that she will wind up as Top American in at least one of the three events. Should she do so, that would give her 195 points from two races. If she chose to compete at both Atlanta and Huntsville and did as well as she did at the 10 Km Championships, Kennedy would wind up with 385 points and a real shot at the W50 Grand Prix win! If Hayden competes in either the 5 Km road or 5 Km Masters X+C, she moves up to W50 with her 365 points from the earlier races. She would likely top out over 400; if so, she would win the division.
Leader: Laura Scholz 260 [4] 2nd: Kathy Wiegand 215 [3] 3rd: Alysia Puma 205 [3]
55-59 Last year, Cassandra Crane Genesee Valley Harriers finished second to Amy McMahon in the Grand Prix. Her 335 points from 5 events trailed McMahon's 440 points from five events. McMahon has not yet competed in a Grand prix event this year. So far this year, Crane is ahead. Her tenth place at Cross Nationals and her 16th place at Club Cross brought her out of Cross Country season with 80 points. She added fourth place finish points at the 1 Mile and 4 Mile championships, and 8th place points at the 10 Km Championships.
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| Casandra Crane Scores Valuable points for her GVH Team and Gains 85 Grand Prix points for her W55 Fourth Place Finish at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
Crane has 315 points from her five events. Maureen Massell Shore AC, currently in second, is a threat to take the win. With 220 points from just three events, Massell has plenty of upside potential from the final two events of the year. Massell finished ahead of Crane at the three evens where they competed head-to-head. Massell finished 12th at Club Cross, 5th place at the 10K and 2nd at the 4 Mile Championships. Last year, Massell only competed at the 10 Km Championships. It seems she is more committed to competing this year. If she would compete at both Atlanta and Huntsville, Massell would surely overtake Crane and have a good shot at the GP win. Crane's teammate, Brenda Osovski GVH, is currently tied for third on points with 195 from three events. Osovski has come in behind Massell, but ahead of Crane at Club Cross, 15th; at the 10 Km, 6th, and at the 4 Mile, 3rd. If Osovski would compete at Atlanta and Huntsville, she would likely overtake Crane. But it seems that Osovski will turn 60 this summer so her points, if they increase, will apply to 60-64. Elizabeth Guerrini Cal Coast TC is tied with Osovski but from just two events. Guerrini won W55 at the Half Marathon Championships and finished second at Club Cross. Ordinarily I would have guessed that Guerrini would compete in no more championships and so would not be a threat for the GP podium. But Guerrini is registered for a non-stadia event at WMA. Guerrini is registered for the 10K and Half Marathon Road races. Should she be the highest placed American in either of those races, which seems a plausible assumption, Guerrini would have 295 points from three races. Would she be interested enough in competing for the top W55 GP award to enter the 5 km Championships in Atlanta and the 5 Km XC Championships in Huntsville? And there is one other wrinkle. Rodriguez, mentioned in the W50 analysis, has a win at the Half Marathon championships, finishing ahead of Guerrini. Rodriguez is entered in the Half Marathon road race at WMA. Should she be the top American in that race, she would add 100 points to her total. Rodriguez would be at 200 points from two events. Rodriguez has not competed recently in Atlanta, nor has she competed regularly in Cross Country events. Rodriguez could contest for the W55 GP podium but would need to compete in at least one of the two to have any chance, and at both to have a real shot.
Leader: Cassandra Crane 315 [5] 2nd: Maureen Massell 220 [3] 3rd: Brenda Osovski 195 [3]
60-64 Suzanne La Burt Shore AC has this GP championship almost in her pocket. She has competed in four events and won them all. Her points from Cross Nationals, Club Cross, the 10K and the 4 Mile give her 400 points and a big lead.
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| Suzanne La Burt left #5697 Heading for the W60 Win at the 2026 USATF Club Cross Championships at Appalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee FL Photo By Michael Scott |
Victoria Bok Liberty AC has 285 points from her four events. An 11th place finish at Club Cross and a 10th at the 10 Km, the two tougher events, plus third place finishes at the 1 Mile and 4 Mile championships. Bok's teammate, Mary Cass Liberty AC is in third at 260 points from three events. Sixth at Club Cross, third at the 10K and second at the 4 Mile, Cass finished ahead of Bok at their three common races. Barring a surprise it seems likely that Cass will add points and move past her teammate. Leslie Nowicki Shore AC, currently in 7th with 170 points from 4 events, is registered for the WMA 10K Road Race. As long as Nowicki is able to start and finish the race, she will earn at least 95 points; only one other American is entered. That would give her 265 points from five events. If Nowicki also competes at both Atlanta and Huntsville, it is possible Nowicki could wind up around 350 points or above. Depending on the choices that others make in terms of events, that could be enough to threaten for the podium. Michelle Allen Atlanta TC; Lauren Leslie Liberty AC; and Pamela Ricker Shore AC, are in 4th through 6th place in the GP contest, with GP points in the low 200's from three events each at present. Any of them who compete at bot Atlanta and Huntsville, could well move up. Osovski, if she moves up from 55-59 could also be in the mix.
Leader: Suzanne La Burt 400 [4] 2nd: Victoria Bok 285 [4] 3rd: Mary Cass 260 [3]
65-69 Lesley Hinz Atlanta TC loves to race on the track! Like many top middle distance runners, she endures running on the roads, despite being good at it. This GP year, either through her own commitment, or the needs of her team, Hinz has competed three events already. Last year, she finished 6th, with 190 points from 2nd place finishes at the 1 Mile in Indianapolis and the 5K in Atlanta. This year, Hinz leads the way with 290 points from three events. She won W65 at the highly competitive Club Cross Championships in Tallahassee in January, collected third place points at what would, ordinarily, be her highest scoring event, the 1 Mile Championships, and added another win at the 10K, which would ordinarily be a stretch, in distance, for Hinz.
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| Lesley Hinz Finishing Off Her W65 Podium Performance at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
Hinz is not entered in any non-stadia events in WMA-Daegu. But it seems likely she will run in the 5 km Championships in Atlanta as she did last year. The 5 Km XC is less of a sure thing for Hinz. Her performance in Tallahassee suggests she would do well. The two biggest threats to a Hinz GP win are her teammates, Mireille Silva Atlanta TC, currently in second place with 255 points from three events, and Patrice Combs Atlanta TC, currently in third with 185 points from two events. If Hinz runs in both the Atlanta and Huntsville races, it is highly unlikely that either Silva or Combs could catch her for the win. If Hinz skips both, it seems likely that either Silva or Combs or both would pass her. If Hinz runs in Atlanta but skips Huntsville, then Combs could, in principle, win both and her score would rise to 385. If Hinz finished second in Atlanta, she, too, would top out at 385. If Silva netted two fifth place finishes, her final total would be over 400 and she would win. If Hinz wants to go for the 2026 W65 Grand Prix win, running both Atlanta and Huntsville would, essentially, guarantee it.
Leader: Lesley Hinz 290 [3] 2nd: Mireille Silva 215 [3] 3rd: Patrice Combs 185 [2]
70-74 In terms of speed, Nora Cary is the top runner in this division. But a Grand Prix win requires both speed and commitment. Cary has entered only the Club Cross Country event this year, which she won handily. With just two races left to go, Cary's maximum possible points top out at 300. Cynthia Lucking Atlanta TC won this GP division last year with 470 points. Helene Myers Potomac Valley TC was second at 435. They are 1-2 again this year, with Lucking leading at 425 points from 5 events and Myers second with 405 points from six events. Lucking finished 2nd W70 at the Half Marathon championships; 7th at Club Cross; 3rd at the 1 Mile and finished this segment of the Grand Prix off with fourth place finishes at the 10 Km and 4 Mile Championships.
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| Cindy Lucking Finishes Off Her W70 Bronze Medal Performance at the .2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
Myers finished 2nd at Cross Nationals, third at the Half Marathon Championships and 9th at Club Cross. A 4th at the 1 Mile and a 6th at the 4 Mile are important components of Myers' total. She can drop either the Club Cross or the 10 Km scores to find her best 5 scores. Susan Stirrat Shore AC finished 2nd in W65 last year. Aged up this year to W70, Stirrat is currently third with 380 points from four events. Lucking has had a challenging year in terms of recovering from injury, but she leads at present. That is likely to change with the results from WMA-Daegu. Myers is one of two entered in non-stadia events. Neither Lucking nor Stirrat is entered. Myers will only be scored relative to other Americans. That means Myers will likely get 95 points with 100 being a possibility. Even with 95, Myers would vault past Lucking to a 440 total. But if Lucking can finish third or better at either of the final two events on the calendar, she can move to 445, ahead of Myers once more. But Stirrat could top them both. She only needs to finish 7th in one of the two final events to raise her GP total to 450. So far, Stirrat has finished ahead of Lucking and Myers in events that they have all competed in. Margaret Taylor Atlanta TC, currently in fourth at 270 points from three events, could also factor into the W70 GP podium race. If Taylor runs at both Atlanta and Huntsville, she could well top 440 or even 450, depending on who else enters.
Leader: Cynthia Lucking 425 [5] 2nd: Helene Myers 405 [6] 3rd: Susan Stirrat 380 [4]
75-79 This division has a tight contest at the top. Andrea McCarter Atlanta TC and her teammate, Kathleen Allen Atlanta TC are 1-2. McCarter has 345 points from 5 events and Allen has 335 points from five events. Those totals disguise the fact that Allen has come in well ahead of McCarter the two times they have competed head-to-head in the same event. McCarter has second place finishes at the Half Marathon and 4 Mile Championships, joined with a third at the 1 Mile Championship and an 8th place finish at Club Cross. Allen has a win at the 4 Mile Championships, a 4th place finish at the 10K, a 5th at Cross Nationals in Portland, and a 7th place at Club Cross.
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| Andrea McCarter Closing Out Her W75 Silver Medal Performance at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing. |
The other wrinkle is that McCarter will, apparently, turn 80 this summer. So, if she runs either at Atlanta or Huntsville, McCarter will move up to the 80-84 division along with her 345 points and then add to that whatever points she scores at that event. It is unlikely that anyone currently in the 80-84 division will amass a total that high. That seems more likely than simply staying in 75-79 by not competing. McCarter is a mainstay of Atlanta's 70+ team. It will be interesting to see if Irene Herman Impala Racing makes another two cross country flights to compete for the W75 Grand Prix win. Competing out of the San Francisco Bay area, Herman not only collected the points for a third-place finish at Cross Nationals, but she finished fourth at Club Cross in Tallahassee FL, and second at the 10 Km Championships in Dedham MA. She finished ahead of Allen at all three events. Herman sits in third with 270 points. If Herman competes at both Atlanta and Huntsville, it seems likely she would win the W75 GP.
Leader: Andrea McCarter 345 [5] 2nd: Kathleen Allen 335 [5] 3rd: Irene Herman 270 [3]
80-84 No one had the required three event minimum to earn an award last year. So far it is the same. Catherine Radle Atlanta TC won the W80 1 Mile Championships and Susan Sajdak Unaffiliated won the 4-Mile Championship. They both have 100 points from that single event. It would not be surprising to see Radle compete in Atlanta. If she also competes in Huntsville she would have the three events needed for an award. But if McCarter ages up in the next few months by competing at a national championship, McCarter will take the W80 win; she already has over 300 points.
No competitors in this division have the three events needed for an award. In that sense, there is no clear leader.
85-89 As noted earlier in this article, Joyce Hodges-Hite has this division win locked up. See above for details.
MEN
40-44 In the first championship of this Grand Prix season, Cross Nationals in Portland OR in December 2025, Nicholas Kipruto Unaffiliated finished 8th. He has done better as the season has progressed. He fought for the win in the 1 Mile Championships in Des Moines IA but faded and was passed in the final stretch by one runner, gaining third place points in that event. His next two races were terrific. He won, Overall, the highly competitive 10 Km Championships in Dedham MA. A few weeks later, Kipruto claimed his second win of the season at the 4 Mile Championships at the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL. That gives Kipruto 355 points from four events.
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| Nicholas Kipruto Breaks the Tape to Claim the Overall and M40 Win at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing. |
His closest rival is Dickson Mercer GRC Tracksmith, in second place with 180 points from three events. Mercer won the 2024 M40 Grand Prix with 325 points from five events. The 40-44 division at Club Cross is so strong that Mercer, despite finishing in the top 30 overall, could only earn 5 participation points. All those who finish 20th or below in their division, earn 5 points. But once the road part of the championship started, Mercer was in his element. He gained 85 points for his fine fourth place M40 finish at the 10 Km Championships and followed that with 90 points for his third place M40 finish at the 4 Mile Championships. But Mercer is aging up to the next older age division this summer. In fact, his entry into the 10K Road Race at the Outdoor MTF Championships was in the 45-49 division. That race was cancelled so Mercer is still, technically, in the M40 division. He is not considered for the 45-49 Grand Prix until he runs a championship in that division. There is, of course, no guarantee that Mercer will run in one of the final two events. He is, at least somewhat, focused on the Grand Prix contest or he would not have entered the 10K Road Race at Outdoors as it was solely for Grand Prix points. Edwin Pagan Unaffiliated won the Masters Half Marathon Championships, over a challenging course, with a fine 1:14:41. Then, like Mercer, Pagan ventured into the Club Cross Championships. Pagan finished a minute behind Mercer, in 40th place, earning 5 participation points. That gives him just 105 points from his two events. But Pagan should get closer and should get his qualifying third event. He is the sole M40 American entered at WMA-Daegu in the 10K and Half Marathon Road Races. As long as he finishes one of those two races, he earns 100 Grand Prix points as the top American. That would put him ahead of Mercer at 205 points. Pagan would likely finish second to Kipruto in the M40 Grand Prix race. If Pagan ran and made the podium at both of the final two races and Kipruto skipped both, Pagan could win with at least 365 points. It seems unlikely that Kipruto would skip both of the final two races at this point but it is possible. Assuming Kipruto puts first place out of reach, the only runner who could challenge Pagan for second place is Andrew Carlson Unaffiliated. Carlson finished 25th at Club Cross, ahead of both Mercer and Pagan, for 20 points. Carlson then earned another 85 points for a 4th place finish in the 4 Mile Championships, held in his hometown of Peoria IL. Carlson was only 11 seconds off the podium in Peoria. He may be interested in taking another shot at a national title at the 5K Masters Championships in Atlanta. Depending, of course, on what Mercer and Pagan do, Carlson could finish as high as second place in the M40 GP. Ben Lundell Crown Running is currently the only runner in M40 apart from Kipruto and Mercer with three events in. That puts him ahead of Pagan and Carlson at present as they have yet to become eligible for an award. Lundell finished 19th M40 at Cross Nationals in Portland and followed that with a 100th place finish at Club Cross in Tallahassee. Those two events are tough ones for scoring GP points. Lundell had 15 points at that point. Lundell added 75 points from his 6th place finish at the 1 Mile Championships in Des Moines. In third at the moment, it is likely Lundell would need to add some points to finish ahead of Pagan once the WMA-Daegu results are posted.
Leader: Nicholas Kipruto 355 [4] 2nd: Dickson Mercer 180 [3] 3rd: Ben Lundell 90 [3]
45-49 The last time someone other than David Angell Roanoke Valley Elite won the M45 Grand Prix was 2022. Angell was fighting an especially pesky injury that year and did not compete from January through early September. In 2023, Angell won with 470 points, in 2024 with 480 points and last year, another one with its share of injury issues, Angell still won the M40 GP with 430 points. This year, some of those same issues persisted. Angell's first national competition was the 10 Km in Dedham MA in late April. In a loaded field, Angell finished 5th to pick up 80 points. Although far from satisfied with his performance overall, Angell nonetheless took the M45 win at the 4-Mile Championships. Angell, like Mercer, entered the 10K Road Race at the MTF Outdoor Championships. That was cancelled by the Officials due to poor AQI from the Canadian wildfires. Hence, Angell stands at this juncture with just 180 points from the two events. He is not yet eligible for an award. It seems highly likely that Angell will enter the 5 Km Masters Championships in Atlanta and the 5 Km XC Championships in Huntsville AL. If his results there are consistent with his results this spring, it is likely his total will rise above 350, and possibly as high as 380. Angell's prospects in M50 are discussed in the division below. Bryan Hendricks Gulf Winds TC is the current leader and the only athlete in this division who has already qualified for an award. Like many other runners, Hendricks struggled to get points at Cross Nationals and Club Cross. But Hendricks finished 14th M45 at Club Nationals and 18th M45 at Club Cross. He got 50 points combined from those two events. He finished third M45 at the Masters Half Marathon Championships, for 90 points and added 75 points for his 6th place finish at the 1 Mile Championships in Des Moines.
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| Bryan Hendricks On His Way to the M45 Bronze medal at the 2025 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships in Spicewood TX Posted on Stava |
All told, Hendricks has 215 points from four events. Hendricks is ahead of Angell and Angell can only increase his point total by moving into M50. Eric Blake Boston Tracksmith Hares has 185 points from, arguably, the two toughest events, Club Cross and the 10 Km Championships. Blake has the talent to easily score over 350 points. But it is unlikely. A college TF/XC Coach in Connecticut, Blake rarely can find time to compete in national championships. He often makes it to Club Cross in December (because the college schedule sometimes works) and typically runs the 10 Km Championships (because he can drive to the race Sunday morning). Hendricks's chief worry is that Mercer (See M40 analysis) might run one or more events this year, and thereby move up to M45, and, potentially, pass Hendricks for the win. But, in fact, at the current time, Hendricks is the leader and only athlete who has qualified for an M45 award.
Leader: Bryan Hendricks 215 [4] No other competitors in this division have the three events needed for an award yet.
50-54 Gregory Mitchell Bowerman TC currently leads the division, in points, with 200. He won Cross Nationals in Portland OR and Club Cross in Tallahassee. But he lacks the third event he would need to qualify for an award. Despite being one of the strongest runners in the division, Mitchell typically can only get away from coaching responsibilities to run at Club Cross and, on occasion, a West Coast sited Cross National or Masters 5 Km XC Championship. Limited by being a TFXC coach, Mitchell has occasionally made a trip across the country for a road race if it is in the summer. He has competed in road races sited on the west coast. Neither of the two final championships this year fit any of those parameters. It is unlikely Mitchell will get a third score this season. Three athletes have the requisite three events on the books. Peter Christopher Unaffiliated, NH leads with 195 points. He finished third M50 at the Half Marathon Championships in Texas, earned participation points for finishing 20th or below at Club Cross in Florida, and claimed the M50 win at the 4 Mile Championships in Peoria.
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| Peter Christopher On His Way to the M50 Win at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing |
Christopher finished 11th overall in 23:12. Steve Bell Atlanta TC won the M50 Grand Prix in 2023 with 450 points. Bell is just ten points behind Christopher. He earned the same participation points in Tallahassee, finishing 42 seconds behind Christopher. Bell added 85 points for a 4th place finish at the 1 Mile Championships and 95 for his fine 2nd place finish at the 10 Km Championships in 36:40. But Bell, currently 54, will age up to the next division before the 5 Km in Atlanta. It seems highly likely that Bell will compete on his home turf. If so, his points are judged in the 55-59 division. [See below.] Bell's teammate, Brian Sydow Atlanta TC has the third highest total, 120, among those with three events completed. Sydow earned 40 points for his 13th place finish at Cross Nationals, participation points at Tallahassee, while finishing nine seconds behind Christopher. Sydow picked up 90 points, finishing third at the 10 Km Championships, just six seconds behind Bell. Sydow seems likely to compete at both Atlanta and Huntsville and is not aging up. His point total will, almost surely, rise above Christopher's current total. Christopher, from New Hampshire, has competed already in Texas, Florida and Illinois. So why not compete in Georgia and Alabama? If he competes in one of the two, he could earn enough points to stay ahead of Sydow. But it seems that entering both would make it almost a sure thing. There is one other wrinkle. Alan Black Atlanta TC won the M50 championship last year with 270 points from second place finishes at the 4 Mile Championships in Peoria and the 5K in Atlanta. He added a fifth-place finish at the 5 Km XC Championships in San Francisco CA. This year, Black has 100 points for his win at the Half Marathon Championships and 70 points for finishing 7th at Club Cross, two minutes ahead of Christopher. If Black runs as well in Atlanta as he did last year, his total soars to 265. If Black also runs at Huntsville, he becomes the favorite to win the M50 GP Championship. That would give him two in a row.
Leader: Peter Christopher 195 [3] 2nd: Steve Bell 185 [3] 3rd: Brian Sydow 120 [3]
55-59 After a two-year hiatus, Gregory Putnam Central Mass Striders is back chasing a top Grand Prix finish. He won the M50 Grand Prix in 2022 with 465 points. A year later, he finished second with 400 points. This year he is the leader at 375 points from 4 events. Putnam won the Half Marathon championship in Texas and added 75 points for a sixth-place finish at Club Cross. Tightly contested M55 wins at the 10 Km and 4 Mile Championships raised his total to 375 from four events.
Gregory Putnam Hurries Along to Gain Some Hard-Earned Grand Prix Points at the 2026 USATF Club Cross Championships at Appalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee FL Photo By Michael Scott
Brad Slavens Atlanta TC is in second at 310 points from 5 events. One of those five events was Club Cross where he got the 5 participation points. The upside of that is that even though Slavens has five events, a good result at Atlanta, for example, would raise his total much closer to 400. But participation in a seventh event in Huntsville would likely raise Slavens's total past 400 but not by much. Another and perhaps more dangerous threat comes from Shane Anthony Shore AC who is in third place with 275 points from three events. Anthony came in ahead of Putnam at Club Cross, earning 85 points for his 4th-place finish. He then had narrow losses to Putnam at the 10 Km Championships (by ten seconds!) and at the 4 Mile Championships (by 2 seconds!). If they both compete in Atlanta, it could be an epic confrontation. If Putnam would win and Anthony finish second, as at the two most recent road race championships, Putnam's total rises to 475 and Anthony's to just 370, with one event to go. Anthony could not catch Putnam even by winning the 5 Km XC championship in Huntsville. But if the Atlanta result comes out Anthony first and Putnam second, then Putnam is only at 470 from five events and Anthony would be at 375. Anthony could then edge Putnam for the GP win by winning at Huntsville. Anthony's teammate, Scott Siriano Shore AC won this division Grand Prix in 2023 and 2024 and finished second last year. Siriano is currently 8th in M55 with 170 points from four events. He had hoped to add significantly to that total at the 10K Road Race at the Outdoor MTF Championships, but that hope was dashed when the race was cancelled. Siriano has a good chance of adding 100 points to his total; he is currently the top ranked M60 American entry in the 10 Km Road Race at WMA-Daegu. He is also running the Cross Country event there so he has that as insurance. And, as the reader must surmise, Siriano is aging up to M60. (See below for a consideration of Siriano's prospects in M60).
Leader: Gregory Putnam 375 [4] 2nd: Brad Slavens 310 [5] 3rd: Shane Anthony 275 [3]
60-64 From 2022 through 2024, Nat Larson won the M60 Grand Prix with a perfect 500 points. But that was not the case last year or this. Injury has limited the number of championships in which Larson has been able to compete. The leader at this stage is Lester Dragstedt Atlanta TC with 385 points from his best 5 events. Dragstedt's lowest score, from a 12th-place finish at Club Cross is dropped. His 8th place finish at Club Nationals earned 65 points. He added a 7th at the 1 Mile, a 6th at the 4 Mile, a 5th at the 10 Km, and a 2nd-place at the Half Marathon Championships for his 385 points. If Dragstedt finishes 6th or better at one of the last two championships his final GP point total will be at least 415. Will this be Dragstedt's year to last all the way to the GP win?
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| Lester Dragstedt Slogging through the 'Everglades' section of the Tallahassee XC =Course at Appalachee Regional Park at the 2026 USATF Club Cross Country Championships Photo By Michael Scott |
After finishing third in the 2023 M60 Grand Prix, Dragstedt finished 2nd in both the 2024 and 2025 M60 GP's. Mike Nier Genesee Valley Harriers has finished in the top ten twice in the last three years. Perhaps he can finish in the top five this year? Nier finished 17th at Club Cross, garnering twenty points. A 7th-place at the 4 Mile Championships, a 4th at the 10K, and third-place finishes at the Half Marathon and 1 Mile resulted in a total of 355 points from those five events. Like Dragstedt, a reasonable outing at either Atlanta or Huntsville should bring his GP total above 400.With Larson missing the first four events this year, Mark Hixson Greater Springfield Harriers has been the top point-getter for his team. Hixson earned 70 points for his 7th-place finish at Club Cross, His other scores included a 4th-place at Cross Nationals for 85 points, a 3rd at the 10 Km and 100 points for the 4-Mile win in Peoria. That gave Hixson 345 points from those four events. If Hixson competes in one or more of the final two events, his GP total will also climb well over 400. Mark Zamek Twin Cities RC TCRC won this Grand Prix last year with 480 points. Zamek has been in and out of rehab this year. After winning Cross Nationals in Portland OR, Zamek finished 8th at Club Cross, 6th at the 1 Mile Championships and 8th at the 4 Mile Championships. That leaves him in 4th place in the GP with 305 points. Whether Zamek competes at the final two championships depends in part on how his current rehab block goes and how eager his TCRC team is to compete in those last two championships. It would certainly be a mistake to count Zamek out in the race for the M60 GP podium. He has often emerged from rehab to have a good race when it would seem unlikely. Scott Grandfield Greater Springfield Harriers, currently tied for fifth place with 275 points from three races, would be a good bit higher except for some bad luck at Club Cross. Grandfield was leading much of the way before something activated a hip flexor which forced him, in the end, to withdraw. He had no difficulties at other races, before or after. Grandfield finished second at Cross Nationals in Portland OR and at the 1 Km Championships in Dedham MA. A fourth-place finish in the 4 Mile Championships rounded out his scoring. He, too, could add enough to his GP score in the final two events to bring him over 400 points. It could be crowded at the top! In 2023, John Van Danacker Twin Cities RC amassed 465 Grand Prix points. The M60 competition that year was fierce, as it is this year. That only earned Van Dannacker a fourth-place finish in the GP. This year, Van Danacker sits in 6th-place currently. The overall M60+ win at Club Cross is the feather in Van Danacker's cap this year. Take that 100 points and combine it with a 4th-place at the 10 Km Championships and a third at the 4 Mile Championships to get Van Danacker's 275 points and his 5th-place tie with Grandfield in the GP contest. Larson emerged from rehab at the Masters 10 Km Championships in late April. As he has done so many times before, Larson found a way to win. His 36:24 brought him home a good half minute ahead of his teammate, Grandfield. At the 4 Mile Championships, Larson was a bit slower than his teammate, Hixson, but still added 95 points for second place. At 195 points from two championships, Larson is not really in contention for the GP podium this year. But I would not be surprised to see him win the final two championships of the year. Even if Larson achieves that, his 395 points would likely not be enough to land him on the podium.
Leader: Lester Dragstedt 385 [5] 2nd: Mike Nier 355 [5] 3rd: Mark Hixson 345 [4]
65-69 Doug Keller TCRC finished 4th in the 2025 M65 Grand Prix with 350 points, This year he is the current leader with 355 points from 4 events. Keller started the season strong with a fine 2nd place at Cross Nationals in Portland. He followed that with a 4th place finish at Club Cross, another 4th at the 1 Mile Championships and a third at the 4 Mile Championships.
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| Doug Keller left #5753 Strides Across the Upper Field on His Way to a 4th place M65 Finish at the 2026 USATF Club Cross Country Championships Photo By Michael Scott |
Two years ago, Ken Youngers Atlanta TC amassed 475 points in the 2024 M65 GP. But two others managed the same total and took 1st and 2nd on a tie-breaker. This year, Youngers started the GP season on the fly. He claimed the M65 win at Cross Nationals in Portland in December. A month later at Club Cross, things came out differently. Youngers finished behind two runners he beat in Portland. He earned 70 points for his 7th place finish and wrapped this stage of the season up with 4th place and 85 points at the 4-Mile Championships. Youngers is second in the GP at 255 from three events. Youngers will move up to the M70 group this summer though if he runs in either of the two final championships. [See below for his prospects there.] Lawrence Sak Ann Arbor TC is in third place with 240 points from three events. It would have been over 300 points from four events, had the 10K Road Race at the Outdoor MTF Championships not been cancelled. Saks's points came from a 7th place finish at the 1 Mile, a third place at the 10 Km Championships and a fifth at the 4 Mile Championships. Of these three, Keller is in the best position with 4 events scored already. But Youngers, if healthy, should rack up good points in Atlanta. And Huntsville AL is a comparatively short trip. Youngers should get his GP total up well over 400 and possibly over 450, depending on fitness. If Keller runs well in Atlanta, he can compete with Youngers but might need Huntsville as well. None of those three are entered in WMA-Daegu so they are dependent on points from the final two domestic championships. Rick Lee Greater Philadelphia TC finished second in the 2023 M60 Grand Prix and 4th a year later. He was more focused on roads and cross country back then. This year Lee has only raced at Club Cross where he finished 4th and the 1 Mile Championships where he finished 2nd (despite running a draining Boston Marathon the day before, climbing onto a plane and flying to Des Moines!) Lee is a runner of unusual talent and range. He is mainly focusing on the track this summer. But that includes a late summer trip to Daegu, in South Korea, to compete in the WMA Championships. As long as he competes in one of the three Non Stadia events he is registered for, Lee will, almost surely, earn 100 points as top American. The only one where there is some doubt is the 8 Km Cross Country where he will compete against Dan King. If so, his GP total would rise to 280. Lee is not focused on the Grand Prix. But, if things work with his other events, including fall Marathons, Lee could show up in Atlanta. If his team wants to compete in M60+ at Huntsville, it is not impossible that Lee could compete there as well. If so, his total would likely rise well above 450. Roger Sayre Twin Cities RC and David Westenberg Greater Lowell Road Runners are two other talented runners who have been quiet on the Grand Prix circuit this year. They are currently tied for seventh with 180 points each from two events. In 2023, Sayre won the M65 Grand Prix, with Westenberg third. In 2024, they tied for first place in the M65 Grand Prix with 475 points each. This year, Sayre has a 4th place finish at Club Cross and a win at the 4 Mile Championships. Westenberg, whose main focus is on the track, finished third at both Cross Nationals and Club Cross. I would not be surprised if Westenberg's Grand Prix season is done. Sayre, on the other hand, has competed in the 5 km Championships in Atlanta in each of the last three years, finishing second each year. If he repeats that exercise, his total could rise as high as 275. If his team needs a Huntsville score to achieve their team Grand Prix objectives, Sayre might appear there too. But his upper limit is still under 400, and it should take at least 400 points to make the podium.
Leader: Doug Keller 355 [4] 2nd: Ken Youngers 255 [3] 3rd: Lawrence Sak 240 [3]
70-74 The current GP leaders are the three teammates who have collected five consecutive team wins for their Shore AC M70+ team, Kevin Dollard Shore AC, Harold Leddy Shore AC, and James Linn Shore AC. With Shore's long-time leader, Reno Stirrat in and out of rehab for the last year or so, these three stepped up their game. Dollard started the GP season on a high note, winning M70 at Cross Nationals and finishing second at Club Cross. Fifth at the 1 Mile, Dollard mounted the podium, in third, at the 10 Km and 4 Mile Championships. That gave Dollard 455 points, from five events, and the clear lead.
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| Kevin Dollard On His Way to the M70 Bronze medal at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing |
Linn finished 2nd in the M70 Grand Prix last year with 475 points. This year has been a bit more up and down. Leddy and Linn are tied for second place at 415 points from 5 events. Leddy finished 2nd at Cross Nationals and followed that with third place finishes at Club Cross and the 10 Km Championships. Linn finished fourth at Cross Nationals and seventh at Club Cross. Linn bounced back to take 4th at the 1 Mile, fifth at the 10 Km and second at the 4 Mile Championships. Despite the outstanding year, those three are having in terms of the Team GP, they do not have a lock on the M70 Individual GP. Jack Pottle Boulder Road Runners matches up well with them. Not quite as strong as Dollard on the Cross Country turf, Pottle has the edge this year on the roads. Pottle finished third at Cross Nationals and Club Cross. He won the division at the 1 Mile and followed that with a second-place finish at the 10 Km Championships. He is poised to move into the GP lead. He is the only one of these four entered for Non-Stadia events at WMA-Daegu. Entered for both the 6 Km Cross Country event and the 10 K Road Race, it seems likely that Pottle will come home with 100 points in one of those two as top American performer. That would vault him into the lead with 475 points. Dollard could match that total by winning one of the two final events or by finishing second at both. Scott Lucking Atlanta TC is in 5th place with 355 points. He can move up if those ahead of him skip the last two championships, but he has a way to go. As noted above, Youngers will move up to M70 this summer. Youngers enters with 255 points from three events. It is not inconceivable that he could compete at both Atlanta and Huntsville and win them both. Even so, his total would rise only to 455. That would not likely be enough for the GP Championship. It would put him in the mix for a GP podium finish. Jacob Nur, the strongest runner in the division, has just 100 points from winning and setting the American Record at the 4 Mile Championships. My guess is that having a shot at the M70 4 Mile American Record was Nur's only motivation for entering that championship. John Barbour, another very strong runner, won the Club Cross and 10 Km Championships. But he is not focusing on the Grand Prix.
Leader: Kevin Dollard 455 [5] 2nd-tie: Harold Leddy 415 [5] 2nd-tie: James Linn 415 [5]
75-79 Don Morrison Greater Philadelphia TC, at 485 points from 5 events, enjoys a slim lead over Doug Bell Boulder Road Runners, at 465points from 5 events, and Jerry Learned Atlanta TC, at 445 from 6 events. It has been quite a back-and-forth battle. Learned started out on top with a 4th place finish at Cross Nationals, ahead of Bell who finished 5th. Morrison did not compete at that championship. All three competed at the Half Marathon Championship; the finishing order was Morrison, 1st, Bell, 2nd and Learned third. Bell and Learned were now tied at 175 with Morrison behind at 100 points. Club Cross was more of the same except that Bell flipped the tables on Morrison, finishing 2nd, with Morrison third and learned fifth. It was Bell 270, Learned 255 and Morrison 190. At the 1 Mile Championships, it was Morrison, Bell and Learned going 1-2-3 as Morrison inched closer to second place. Bell had 365 with Learned at 345 and Morrison now at 290. Bell finally skipped a championship and allowed Morrison a chance to close the gap at the 10 Km Championships. Morrison claimed the win with Learned third. Morrison vaulted ahead of Bell at 390. But Learned was now in the lead at 435, with Bell third at 365. Learned had yet to skip a championship; he is the 'Iron Man' of the Grand Prix. But his 435 points were from five events. From here on, his points would only help him if they were higher than his lowest point score, the 80 from Club Cross. Bell and Morrison would get full credit for their next score, their fifth. The 4 Mile Championships gave them their chance. Bell reversed the tables again, finding a way to beat Morrison for the win. Morrison finished second, with Learned third. When the dust settled it was Morrison in the lead but only 20 points ahead of Bell, who had a similar gap on Learned.
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| Don Morrison Closes Out His M75 Win at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships, Hosted by the Drake Relays' Grand Blue Mile Photo courtesy of the Grand Blue Mile |
Allen Joyce Atlanta TC is in 4th with 220 points. He is likely to add points at the 5 Km and, perhaps at the 5 Km XC in Huntsville. But he is too far behind to threaten Morrison, Bell and Learned. The M70+ Team Grand Prix is settled. Bell has no team motivation to compete at either Atlanta or Huntsville. He may decide to skip the last two championships and let his 465 points carry him to either second or third as the fates decree. Morrison is leaving nothing to chance. He is already entered for the 5 Km Championships in Atlanta. If Morrison wins at Atlanta, his total goes to 495, enough for the GP win. Even if Bell would win both events, his maximum total is 490 points. If Learned should win both, he tops out at 470. Learned has finished 2nd in the M75 Grand Prix the last two years. No one can prevent Learned getting his third M75 Grand Prix podium finish in three years. The only question is which of the three spots he will occupy.
Leader: Don Morrison 485 [5] 2nd: Doug Bell 465 [5] 3rd: Jerry Learned 445 [best 5 of 6]
80-84 Gary Ostwald Boulder Road Runners has won the M75 Grand Prix the last three years with 495, 490 and 500 points. He has been dominant in that division. He turned 80 early in 2026 and most folks figured he and Gary Patton So Cal TC would battle for the Grand Prix title. Patton, a Masters Hall of Famer for his many wins and records at middle distances on the track, does not compete regularly on the GP circuit. But every few years, he commits to five events or more and competes for the GP win. In 2016, Patton won the M70 Grand Prix title with 490 points. He tried again in 2022 but fell just short; Patton finished second with 475 points behind Dave Glass's 500. But the competition between Ostwald and Patton has been more one-sided than expected. Ostwald has only competed at two championships so far, Club Cross and the 1 Mile. At Club Cross, Ostwald won the final championship of his stay in the M75 division. Patton, who had already turned 80, won the M80 division. At the 1 Mile, Patton made a great move to kick away from Ostwald and gain the win. At that point, Patton had the GP lead at 200 points, with Ostwald second at 195. Przemek Nowicki Shore AC, who finished second to Patton in 2016, was, at that point in third, at least among those likely to contend for the GP title. Nowicki had 165 points from a 3rd place finish at Cross Nationals and a sixth-place finish at Club Cross. Nowicki's teammate, Jack Frame Shore AC had 80 points from his fifth-place finish at Club Cross. With Ostwald absent from the 10 Km Championships, Patton, Nowicki and Frame went 1-2-3. That allowed Patton to lengthen his lead. Patton had 300 points to 260 for Nowicki, 195 for Ostwald and 170 for Frame. Neither Ostwald not Patton competed in Peoria, so the 4 Mile Championships gave Nowicki and Frame a chance to pad their totals. They finished 1-2. Nowicki's total shot to 360 and gave him the current GP lead. Patton's total remained at 300, keeping him in second place, ahead of Frame's 265. Ostwald is tied for fourth at 195.
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| Przemek Nowicki White Singlet Crosses the Finish Line, First in M80 at the 2026 USATF Masters Championships, hosted by the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL Photo courtesy of Steamboat Classic and Shazam Racing |
Both Ostwald and Patton were expecting to compete in the 10K Road Race at the MTF Outdoor Championships. The cancellation of that race due to the bad air quality affected both but has a more serious effect on Ostwald's GP campaign. Patton can still get five races in this year. There could be scheduling issues I am not aware of, but neither Atlanta nor Huntsville are terribly long trips from Patton's Florida home. Competing at both should give Patton enough points for the GP win. But Ostwald can no longer get 5 scores. Even if he competes at both Atlanta and Huntsville, his maximum point total is 395. Patton, Nowicki and Frame, barring surprises, should all exceed that total. Jeffrey Dumas Boulder Road Runners won his division, in the absence of Ostwald and Patton at Cross Nationals and finished 2nd to Patton at Club Cross. [Ostwald won M75]. But Dumas has not competed since then and seems unlikely to do so. Two others who have played a role in recent Grand Prix contests are tied at 150, Ed Bligh Atlanta TC and Paul Carlin (That's me!). Bligh finished 2nd in M80 in 2023, following that with a 3rd place finish in 2024 and a 6th place finish last year. Carlin finished 4th in M75 in 2023 and followed that with another 4th in 2024 and a 3rd place M75 finish last year. Bligh finished 5th at Cross Nationals and 7th at Club Cross. Carlin finished 8th at Club Cross but rebounded to finish 4th at the 10 Km Championships. Whether either will compete in the final two contests of the year is uncertain although Bligh seems likely to compete at Atlanta. Carlin is working his way through a minor health issue. Either way, it seems unlikely that either could score enough points to factor into the M80 GP podium race this year.
Leader: Przemyslaw Nowicki 360 [4] 2nd: Gary Patton 300 [3] 3rd: Jack Frame 265 [3]
85-89 As noted earlier in this article, Roland Cormier has this division win locked up. See above for details.
That concludes my recap of the 2026 Masters National Grand Prix Individual Contests through mid-summer.
Sources: USATF Events website and the Masters National Grand Prix webpage, my archives, Athlinks, Strava, Facebook, World Masters Athletics, and relevant race websites.
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