BYDGOSZCZ, Poland--In preparation for Sunday's IAAF World Cross Country Championships, members of Team USA's squad selected team captains during a team meeting Wednesday night.
Athletes earned their places on the Team USA roster at the 2010 USA Cross Country Championships in Spokane, Washington on February 13th.
2008 Olympic Women's Marathon team member Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, California) was selected as the women's captain by her peers.
Sunday's world championship race holds special significance for Lewy Boulet, who was born in Jastrzibie, Poland and emigrated to the United States in 1988, as the 36-year old will compete on Polish soil for the first time since leaving the country.
"Its very awesome to be selected as team captain by the girls! I guess it's because of seniority, as I'm one of the oldest on the team, and also because I was born and raised in Poland."
Three time USA world cross country team member Ryan Vail (Stillwater, Oklahoma) was selected as the senior men's captain. Vail finished sixth in the USA Cross Country Championships in Spokane, running 35:25.
In his previous appearances at the world championships, he finished 77th in the junior men's race in 2005 in St. Etienne, France, and 33rd in the senior race last year in Amman.
"I was selected by the guys based on my past experiences at world cross. This is my third team, and most of the guys on the senior team haven't competed at the world championships."
Providence College freshman Shelby Greany (Suffern, New York), the reigning national champion, was elected as junior women' team captain. Greany won the national title as she broke away from a pack of four runners on the final lap, stopping the clock in 20:27 over the 6-kilometer course.
"I didn't expect to be nominated, but the other girls suggested it. I don't think me being team captain changes our team dynamics at all. We're all very close, and we're here to help each other out."
University of Portland freshman Trevor Dunbar (Kodiak, Alaska), who won the national junior title by separating himself from the field early in the 8-kilometer race, clocking 24:04 despite a case of strep throat, was elected the junior men's team captain.
"I'm more than happy to accept the role, and be a good leader for the guys on our team."
For more information on the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, please visit www.usatf.org.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
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