BATHURST, New South Wales, Australia – Stanford junior Ky Robinson placed 23rd at the World Cross Country Championships on Sunday in his home country.
Robinson was the top Australian and the second non-African-born runner, covering the demanding 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) course at Mount Panorama in 31:11. He also was the second collegian, behind only Spain's Aaron Las Heras of Wake Forest, who was 22nd.
With a storm approaching, Robinson, 20, braved the wind and hot, humid, and hilly, muddy conditions to become Stanford's highest finisher in this event since Chris Derrick '12 of the U.S. was 10th over a 12K (7.46-mile) course in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2013.
"It was really difficult," Robinson said. "The wind was the worst factor, kicking up dust. My eyes were really struggling to stay open because the dust was just clouding up my vision. There were some sections where you just had to grind it out, but I'm happy I got through it."
Ky Robinson. Photo by David Pearce Productions.
Two future Cardinal, Irene Riggs and Leo Young, had outstanding performances in the under-20 races. Australia's Amy Bunnage, also a Stanford signee, was unable to finish the women's U20 race.
U.S. U20 individual champions, Riggs was 12th among the women and Young 16th among the men. Both helped their U.S. teams to bronze medals. It was the first medal-winning performance for the U20 women and first since 1982 for the U20 men.
Riggs was the second American and second non-African finisher. She helped the U.S. squad to a bronze medal. Riggs, a senior at Morgantown (W.Va.) High School, clocked 22:03 over 6K (3.73 miles). Riggs is the highest finishing Stanford-affiliated women ever in the World U20 race, bettering the 13th of Alexandra Gits '11 in 2008 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
"I'm really happy," Riggs told LetsRun.com, adding that she felt this was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"I came in with a goal of the top 25," Riggs said. "I didn't want to take it out super hard. I knew I wasn't going to be up with the front pack. I wanted to go out a little more conservative with the mindset that I didn't have to win the race."
Irene Riggs. Photo by Citius Magazine.
Young was the highest placing non-African in the men's U20 field, clocking 26:03 over 8K (4.97 miles). Young, a senior at Newbury Park (Calif.) High, is the highest finishing Stanford-affiliated runner in the men's U20 race since Derrick was 15th in 2009 in Amman, Jordan, and the highest-placing American since the same race, with German Fernandez taking 11th, ahead of Derrick.
The U.S. U20 men had a strategy of staying back and working their way up. If they were in the top 30 and could make their last of the 2K laps the fastest, they felt they could finish in the top 20.
On finishing as the top non-African, Young said to LetsRun.com, "It's just really cool. The U.S. has had a tough time challenging the top nations in the world. Today, doing that, shows that we're really ready to go after it. Maybe the next time, the U.S. will be in the mix with the African countries."
Robinson, who is from Brisbane, about 600 miles northeast of Bathurst, enjoyed the support of the home crowd.
"It was fantastic," Robinson said. "I feel like everyone was there cheering me on. At every corner, there was someone. I saw all these familiar faces, kids just screaming my name. It really helped me up some of those hills and kept my strength going on those downhills too."
Leo Young. Photo by Citius Magazine.
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World Cross Country Championships
At Mount Panorama
Men
Senior (10K, 6.2 miles)
1, Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) 29:17; 23, Ky Robinson (Australia) 31:11.
Under-20 (8K, 4.97 miles)
1, Ishmael Kipkurui (Kenya) 24:29; 16, Leo Young (U.S.) 26:03.
Women
Under-20 (6K, 3.73 miles)
1, Senayet Getachew (Ethiopia) 20:53; 12, Irene Riggs (U.S.) 22:03; Amy Bunnage (Australia) DNF.