PORTLAND, OR -- Fresh off leading Virginia Intermont College to the 2004 NAIA National Cross Country Champiopnship title two weeks earlier, Cobra senior All-Americans Fernando Cabada and Corey Duquette took their running to a higher level. Both competed in last weekend's USA Cross Country Championships in Portland, OR and both captured top 20 finishes.
Competing against the US's best, including several Olympians, Cabada managed twelth place after racing most of the race in the top seven, and then fading in the final half mile due to the longer 10k distance and the tough muddy course. Duquette also had his turn at the front leading the first mile and managed to hang on to 19th. The event was the largest US cross country championship in US history with a total of 348 finishers.
The duo competed along with teammate Nick Glimsdahl, VIC assistant coach Matt Aguero, Milligan College's Chris Wright and Jeff Campbell to form the club team Foot RX Virginia which finished in 16th place out of the 41-team field.
The championship was a dress rehearsal, in a way, for the US World Cross Country Trials to be held in February where a top 10 finish could put either Cabada or Duquette on the national team competing in St. Galmier, France.