Virgin, Porter to Lead U.S. Team in Cross-Country Championships
INDIANAPOLIS — Two-time world champion Craig Virgin and four-time American champion Pat Porter head a 21-member U.S. team that will compete today in the World Cross-Country Championships in Neuchatel, Switzerland, The Athletics Congress announced.
Porter, of Alamosa, Colo., is considered the top U.S. entry and is one of the favorites to dislodge defending champion Carlos Lopes of Portugal, TAC said.
The American men’s, women’s and junior men’s teams were selected at trials in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 15.
Joining Porter and Virgin, of Marietta, Ga., on the men’s team are Bruce Bickford, Wellesley Hills, Mass.; Keith Brantley, Gainesville, Fla.; Jeff Drenth and Alan Scharsu, both of Eugene, Ore.; John Easker, Birnamwood, Wis.; Ed Eyestone, Provo, Utah; and Randy Reina, Fayetteville, Ark.
The women’s team is composed of Nanette Doak, Eugene; Sabrina Dornhoefer, Columbia, Mo.; Cathy Easker, Birnamwood; Lynn Jennings, Durham, N.H.; Betty Springs, Raleigh, N.C.; and Brenda Webb, Austin, Texas.
The junior men’s team is made up of Christopher Borsa and Scott Fry, both of Madison, Wis.; Mark Dani, El Cajon, Calif.; Harry Green, Austin; Reuben Reina, San Antonio, Texas; and Greg Whiteley, Providence, R.I.
John and Cathy Easker are husband and wife, and the two Reinas are brothers, marking the first time that the U.S. cross country teams have included either a husband and wife or a pair of brothers at the world championships, TAC said.
The men’s coach will be Joe Vigil of Adams State College in Alamosa. The women’s coach will be Doris Brown Heritage of Seattle Pacific University.
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