Recap: 2024 AAU Cross Country National Championships

12/09/2024


It was a cold one in Charlotte but that didn't stop the 1600+ athletes on Saturday 12/7

2024 AAU Cross Country National Championships
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Location: McAlpine Creek Park – Charlotte, North Carolina
Results | Event Photos | Event Merchandise
 
By Alex Gagnon

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AAU Track and Field (@aautrackandfield)


Charlotte, NC (December 9, 2024) – There may have been a chill in the air and a bit of frost on the ground, but the fire of competition burned strong this weekend in Charlotte. Not to mention there wasn’t a drop of rain, a welcome change from last year’s event.
 
For the third time, Charlotte hosted the AAU Cross Country National Championships. Over 1,600 athletes representing 110 teams from 34 states competed through the course at McAlpine Creek Park.
 
The Open / Masters division got things underway, with the following groups scaling down in both age and distance until the 1k run for the 6U division. The parents and coaches 3k capped off the event as roles reversed and the athletes got to call out words of encouragement from the fence at their coaches. AAU National Championship medals were awarded to the top 25 individual places, top 3 teams per divisions, and the top 8 individual finishers of each age earned All American patches. Trophies were also awarded to the top 3 teams in each age division and an overall team champion trophy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AAU Track and Field (@aautrackandfield)

 
Here is the winner for each age group and their winning time:
Event Winner Affiliation Winning Time
Open / Masters 5k Cesar Patino Kern County Cross Country 17:29.0
Girls 15-18 5k Elle Dawson High Point Blaze 18:46.9
Boys 15-18 5k Noel Huato Fast Track Lamont A 15:32.5
Girls 13-14 4k Sawyer Nicholson Unattached 14:24.0
Boys 13-14 4k Dashiell Keffer Unattached 12:59.7
Girls 11-12 3k Angelina Alder Roadrunners 10:35.4
Boys 11-12 3k Braden Millar Unattached 10:08.0
Girls 9-10 3k Abigail Riley Vo2max Track Club 11:23.8
Boys 9-10 3k Zody Benoit Maryland Blaze 10:47.1
Girls 7-8 2k Morgan Codrington Vo2max Track Club 7:38.6
Boys 7-8 2k Forrest Park Unattached 7:17.3
Mixed 6U 1k Emelie Chavez Kern TC 4:02.9
Parents / Coaches 3k Reza Manavi AOC Ambler Track Club 10:23.3
 
Full results can be found at the results tab at the top of the article.
 
Congratulations to all who participated in AAU Cross Country this season! Be sure to see pictures from the past weekend here!