2025 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
Shelbyville, Indiana - Blue River Cross Country Course
December 13, 2025
| The USA Track and Field association (USATF) conducted its National Junior Olympics championship on December 13 at Shelbyville, Indiana. Everett had qualified for this championship by winning both the Georgia State championship, and also winning in regionals (GA-NC-SC) competition.
For the USATF National Championships competition, the weather, however, would not be very friendly. It appeared that the runners would be competing in low temperatures and with snow. Robert and family brought Everett to the competition, staying in Columbus, Indiana, the night before to ensure that Everett was close to the competition site at the Blue River Cross Country Course. Beginning with the ten-day forecast for Shelbyville, everyone was concerned. It was clear from the projections that would be very cold in Shelbyville and with a strong likelihood of snow. The USATF position, however, was that the run would be conducted regardless of temperature. So on the day of competitions, the temperature projection had risen from 0°F to somewhere around 25°F but with snow.
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National
Junior Olympics
Cross Country
Championships
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For the competition in the 13-14 age group, there were runners from across the United States. Boys in that age group would run cross country on a 4 km course. The number of national competitors in that age group was 377. Everett was helped by his former coach Josh, who traveled from Texas just to be there to encourage Everett and provide him some last-minute coaching tips and guidance. That was very nice. Soon it was race time.
What a large number of competitors that set off at the starting gun. The course weaved back and forth so we were able to cheer on Everett from a number of vantage points.
The results: We were so pleased to see that, among all those qualified runners, Everett placed 10th natiomnally!!! USATF recognizes all players in such competitions within the top 25 as "All Americans" and certainly Everett met this requirement. We are so proud of him!
(Both Robert and family and Jay had some problems/issues getting home in snow-covered highways and runways, but Everett's great performance overcame any such glitches.)
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Snowy and cold! Brrrrrr!
With 377 runners, the challenge is to not only race well with a good strategy, and to not get "trapped in the pack so you cannot move up. This is the lead group early in the race.
The race leader at about 400m from the finish
Everett as he comes up to the 300m-to-Finish mark; running around 13th. Now for the finishing "kick!"
Freezing but completed the race with a strong finishing kick that moved him into the Top Ten.
10th out of 377!!!
In the Warm-Up tent awaiting the official results. (There is a 30-minute wait to allow protests, if any.)
The Awards Ceremony and medals presaentation. The first 25 runners are "All-Americans."
Everett the All-American!!!
We are soooooo proud of you!!!
We are soooooo proud of you!!!
We are soooooo proud of you!!!
We are soooooo proud of you!!!
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