Katelyn Tuohy On To Next Challenge: USATF Club Cross

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Three-time Nike Cross Nationals champion Katelyn Tuohy will close out her fall season Saturday at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Bethlehem, Pa.

Tuohy, a senior from North Rockland High in New York, will run unattached in a field of older and faster women and is looking forward to the challenge.

Tuohy ran hard Saturday in Portland to fend off Taylor Ewert of Beavercreek OH and Sydney Thorvaldson of Rawlins WY.

“We had (USATF Club Cross) as a possibility for a while,” Tuohy’s coach, Brian Diglio said. “We were looking for new challenges with Katelyn. Since her sophomore year we could see a pattern of coming to certain meets over and over again. We wanted something to look forward to with new challenges. I think you learn and grow by experiencing different things.”

The 6K distance will be a first for Tuohy, and Diglio said that was attractive as well.

“I really liked the idea of her getting to run the 6K distance,” he said. “The longer the better for her. This is something exciting and low-stress for her.”

Diglio said Tuohy has fully recovered from the race in Portland and is looking forward to Saturday’s race.

“That was my one concern,” Diglio said. “I talked to her mom shortly after (NXN) and said ‘If there’s any (after) effect from this past race for Katelyn, there is no need for Saturday.”

But when Diglio saw Tuohy for practice on Tuesday, she told him she “can’t wait” for the race in Pennsylvania.

The weather could be like what she faced in Portland. It’s supposed to rain Saturday at Lehigh University.