The following article was written by Jason Bryant, leader Team USA for the 2023 NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Photos also provided by Bryant.
The NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships took place Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park located near Swift Current, Canada hosted by Athletics Canada and Prairie Sky Running.The event consisted of two disciplines, a 10K and 50K for both men and women.
The 10K race served as the 17th edition of the Mountain Championships and the 50K served as the inaugural Trail Championships. Team USA bested Canada and Mexico in scoring to take the team overall title.
The USA team consisted of 11 athletes competing for individual, team and overall championship titles. Team scoring for each distance being determined by the top 2 finishers for each country. The overall team title was decided by the lowest score of each country’s top 2 men and top 2 women placings in either events. Host country Canada fielded a full team of 16 athletes while Mexico traveled with seven athletes. The US Virgin Islands were represented by one athlete who competed in the women’s 10K.
Team USA at NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
NACAC host region
The Saskatchewan prairie may seem an odd location for the NACAC Mountain and Trail Championships as the landscape around Swift Current displays endless plains disappearing into the sky on the horizon without even a hill in sight. The 30 minute drive north to the race venue provides no evidence of any change. Suddenly, the South Saskatchewan River appears as it cuts deeply in the prairie plains revealing a plethora of steep hills to challenge competitors.
Race Day
Race morning began with the 50K race starting at 8:00am in relatively cool conditions with the 10K race sending runners off at 9:15.
The 10K
Three kilometers into the 10K race, a group of three men, Liam Meirow (USA) Justino Luz Coronado and Jesus Quiroz de la Cruz of Mexico, had broken away from the string of runners starting to space out behind the lead group. Eric Hamel and Jeffrey Stern of Team USA battled for position in the line.
On course in the 10K race.
Meirow appeared first approaching the finish as he had put in a strong push on the penultimate descent before the last climb, breaking away from the pair of Mexican athletes. Meirow continued to push ahead for the win in 40:42.3 with Luz Coronado and Quiroz de la Cruz placing second and third.
The two – three finish would secure the gold team title for Mexico in the Men’s 10km. Hamel and Stern placed sixth and eighth respectively to earn USA the team silver. Team Canada would take bronze as a team.
For the women, Gabrielle Orie of Team USA appeared at 3K in first with her teammate Megan Lacy following closely. The women had created their own tight line runners with Courtney Barnes (USA) working into the mix.
Women’s 10K podium.
Orie captured the women’s title in 47:22 having continued to gradually gap the others. Lacy held a firm grasp on second to the finish over Canada’s Care Nelson who took third, giving USA the team gold with a perfect score. Barnes just missed the podium with a fourth place finish. Canada claimed team silver for the Women’s 10K with Mexico securing bronze.
The 50K
While the 10km race wrapped up, the 50K competitors began to battle not on rolling hills and one another, but also the increasing temperatures on the course that provided no respites of shade.
Early on, Chris Balestrini (CAN) and Miguel Angel Perez Alvarado (MEX) broke away slightly with the USA contingent of Dan Button, Adam Sjolund and Aubrey Myjer running together in third, fourth and fifth at the 16K aid station.
By 33K, Balestrini held a 1 minute lead over Perez Alvarado as the heat had become a significant factor in the 50K race. Button would be 3 more minutes back in third, followed by Sjolund then Myjer, each a couple of minutes back of the other.
Balestrini continued to pull away to take the win in 4:11:25.6. Sjolund moved up steadily thru the finish overcoming a 5 minute deficit at 43K to claim second over Perez Alvarado in third. Button and Myjer followed in fourth and fifth respectively giving USA another team gold with a narrow win at 6 points over Canada’s 7 points.
For the women, Kristina Randrup (USA) would come through 16K first followed closely by Shannon Penway (CAN) Sarah Biehl (USA) and Carmen Ramiro Allende(MEX). Biehl had taken over first at 33K with a solid gap on Penway. Randrup settled into third another small gap back.
Biehl coming into the finish line for gold in the 50K race.
Biehl held strong through the finish taking the individual gold in 5:10:26.0. Penway and Randrup also held steady to finish second and third respectively. With Biehl and Randrup both on the podium, Team USA claimed its third team gold out of 4 events. Canada would take their third team silver.
For the overall NACAC Championship, team USA took the gold with 5 points, Canada silver with 11 points and Mexico bronze with 14 points.
NACAC Results
Men 10K
1 Liam Meirow (USA) 40:42.3
2 Justino Luz Coronado (MEX) 41:24.3
3 Jesus Quiroz de la Cruz (MEX) 41:51.1
6 Eric Hamel (USA) 44:27.2
8 Jeffery Stern (USA) 44:57.3
1 Mexico – 5
2 USA – 7
3 Canada – 12
Team USA 10K men.
Women 10K
1 Gabrielle Orie (USA) 47:22.4
2 Megan Lacy (USA) 48:45.7
3 Care Nelson (CAN) 49:39.2
4 Courtney Barnes (USA) 50:04.3
1 USA – 3
2 Canada – 9
3 Mexico – 15
Men 50K
1 Chris Balestrini (CAN) 4:11:25.6
2 Adam Sjolund (USA) 4:30:47.8
3 Miguel Angel Perez Alvarado (MEX) 4:35:38.1
4 Dan Button (USA) 4:39:06.0
5 Aubrey Myjer (USA) 4:39:55.1
1 USA – 6
2 Canada – 7
Women’s individual podium in the 50K.
Women 50K
1 Sarah Biehl (USA) 5:10:26.0
2 Shannon Penway (CAN) 5:21:37.0
3 Kristina Randrup (USA) 5:30:27.3
1 USA – 4
2 Canada – 7
Complete results in the 50K are posted here.
Overall Team
1 USA – 5
2 Canada – 11
3 Mexico – 14
NACAC athletes sporting their medals.
Team USA shares thoughts
“Eating many tasty meals with like-minded runners from different backgrounds is truly the highlight and game-changing aspect of Team USA-based races like this. We all forge a competitive yet heartfelt friendship that makes us run with a bit more grit. Stoked to take home the individual gold and team silver at a race with infectious camaraderie and supportive fans.” – Liam Meirow
“Driving into Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, I was encompassed by rolling hills and deep valleys beckoning the first signs of Autumn. Everything was golden. It’s satisfying to secure a victory for Team USA, but the camaraderie between the participating countries was most special, and I’m walking away with some new friends! In the moments leading up to the race, Courtney and Megan (and the other international athletes) made me feel right at home. I’m especially appreciative of our gracious hosts, Team Canada. It was surreal exploring Saskatchewan’s natural beauty, and the experience made me eager to continue racing in the trails and mountains in the days to come.” – Gabrielle Orie
“Such a positive and fun experience this past weekend at NACAC championships with team USA. It was an honor to be a part of such a talented and supportive team. Receiving gold as a team and individual was a highlight of the year. Huge thanks to the USATF committee, race directors, and all the volunteers for putting on such a great event!” – Sarah Biehl
“I had a great time representing Team USA for the first time in Saskatchewan this weekend! It was a very challenging course and tough conditions but I’m very happy to come away with a team win in the 50K event!” – Adam Sjolund
“Saskatchewan Athletics and the Prairie Sky Running Company delivered a memorable inaugural NACAC Mountain & Trail Running Championships at the Beaver Flat 50 today. The volunteers were spectacular, the course was well marked, and the event was world class from start to finish. It was incredible to see so many inspiring performances from all the nations in attendance and an honor to represent Team USA.”– Jeffery Stern
“NACAC was great! Our team was very supportive of each other and the team scoring was such a fun element of the event. Thank you to the race team, all the volunteers and Saskatoon Athletics for having us!” – Megan Lacy
“The NACAC trail and mountain races were an excellent event! Sask Athletics worked very hard to put this on and it showed. The course was as tough as billed and I wouldn’t ask for anything else.” – Dan Button
“Being able to compete alongside Liam and Jeff made this even more memorable. I am definitely coming away from this very inspired by what my teammates were able to accomplish out there and am grateful I was given the opportunity to be a part of it.” – Eric Hamel
“The NACAC 50k was a fantastic experience and my first team racing experience since high school. Being part of a team makes you run for something bigger than yourself and gives you the chance to cheer on teammates and have a whole team of support. The camaraderie between Team USA was special and a blessing to have out on this sneaky hard course. My race wasn’t perfect, but I ran smart and knowing if I could keep pushing I could secure team gold.” – Kristina Randrup
“The course was surprisingly flowy and fast with some really fun steep ascents and descents. The US women in the 10k worked together in the top group to push each other for a great result overall.” – Courtney Barnes
“It was a pleasure to support our USA athletes in their quality performances. Personally, I appreciated the team USA camaraderie as well as the camaraderie shared among the athletes of all countries. Canada and Jared Welch organized an excellent championship in a unique and beautiful area of Canada.” – Jason Bryant, leader Team USA
Editor’s Note: The 2024 NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships are tentatively scheduled for September 7-8 in Mexico.
