MECHANICSVILLE, Va. – Former Gaucho Katie Camarena has qualified to run for Team USA at the upcoming 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Camarena placed third in Women's 10K at the 2024 USATF National Cross Country Championships on Jan. 20, 2024 and secured a spot on the American team with her time of 33:40.3. Her average time of 3:22.0 kilometer/hour established her as one of the best distance runners in the country and promoted her to the celebrated international stage.
The 45th World Championships will be held in Belgrade, Serbia on March 30, 2024 in the Park of Friendship next to the Danube river. The US team will comprise of the top six finishers of the US Championships: Weini Kelati, Emma Hurley, Katie Camarena, Allie Ostrander, Cailie Logue, and Abby Nichols.
At UC Santa Barbara, Camarena had an impressive career. She was key to the Women's Cross Country team winning their first Conference Title in 2017, placing third overall in the 6k with a time of 20:28.8 at the Big West Championships. She also came in first at the 2018 UC Santa Barbara Lagoon Meet 5k, crossing the finish line with a 17:07.0.
Camarena's time on the track was equally notable. She won her first collegiate track race in 2017 in the 800m at the UCLA Legends Invite in the 800m running 2:15.10. She placed first in the 1500m and second in the 3000m at the 2019 Cal Poly Dual Meet, as well as first in the 3000m at the 2019 Beach Opener with a time of 10:10.60.
Camarena also won the 1500m at the 2019 Cal Poly Dual Meet, setting her personal best of 4:24.68 and qualifying for the NCAA West Regional Meet. At the 2019 Big West Conference Championships, Camarena placed first in the steeplechase and established herself as No. 5 of UC Santa Barbara All-Time in the event. After earning her first Big West Conference individual title in track, she also placed second in the 5000m and third in the 1500m.
Camarena will have the months of February and March to train for the worldwide show before embarking on her journey to Europe alongside her fellow competitors as they aim to achieve among the best runners in the world.
