2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship: A Race for the Ages
The 2009 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championship race in Boston was one for the ages. The race was won by Chris Derrick of Stanford in a time of 28:43.3, but it was the battle for second place that was truly memorable.
Derrick was closely pursued by Galen Rupp of Oregon, who finished in second place in a time of 28:44.0. Rupp and Derrick were neck and neck for most of the race, and the crowd was on its feet as they dueled down the stretch.
In the end, Derrick was able to hold off Rupp to win the race, but Rupp’s second-place finish was still a major accomplishment. Rupp was the defending champion, and he had been undefeated all season.
The 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship race was one of the most exciting races in recent memory. It was a race that will be remembered for years to come.
Here are some other notable runners in the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship race:
- Chris Derrick: Derrick was the individual champion, and he also led Stanford to the team title. Derrick went on to have a successful professional career, and he represented the United States at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
- Jordan Hasay: Hasay finished third in the race, and she went on to have a successful professional career. Hasay won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Olympic Games.
- Edward Cheserek: Cheserek finished fifth in the race, and he went on to have a successful professional career. Cheserek is the most decorated NCAA cross country runner of all time, with nine individual titles.
The 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship race was a classic race that will be remembered for years to come. It was a race that featured some of the best runners in the world, and it was a race that was decided by the narrowest of margins.