Triathlete wins US club cross-country nationals

Morgan Pearson, a former runner for the University of Colorado turned triathlete, helped the Tinman Elite to the team title at the 2019 US Club Cross-Country Nationals. Pearson took the win over 10K 13 seconds ahead of second-place runner Aaron Templeton, also of Tinman. The Tinman Elite are a professional running group based in Boulder, CO.

https://twitter.com/chrisnickinson/status/1205933892823371778

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Pearson was a talented collegiate runner, holding a personal best of 13:36 for the 5,000m. But since graduating from school, Pearson has become a professional triathlete and his running strength has helped him to dominate the event. After only one year in the sport, Pearson was fifth at the 2018 Salinas ITU Triathlon World Cup. One year late he would earn his first ITU Triathlon World Cup medal–a silver in Huatulco, Mexico.

The triathlete beat some cross-country heavy-hitters on Saturday like Hillary Bor and Templeton. Bor was a member of the 2019 US World Cross-Country squad and is a 2019 World Championship steeplechase finalist. Templeton owns a 28:25 10,000m personal best.

.@SMASHLING1 takes open women’s race over HS phenom Katelyn Tuohy at the @usatf #ClubXC Championship at @LehighU #USATF #USATFClubXC #USATFXC @2019ClubNats pic.twitter.com/ACCtzrCFeA

— Michael Scott (@urimiscott) December 14, 2019

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In the women’s race, high schooler Katelyn Tuohy was second in one of her first senior-level races. The North Rockland High School student became the first woman to win three consecutive Nike Cross Nationals titles (which are the American national high school championships) only one week ago. She was second to Aisling Cuffe, a 15:11 5,000m runner for Saucony. Cuffe is a Stanford alumn who was an NCAA standout.

Full results can be found here.