Magda Qualifies for World Cross Country Championships

SPOKANE, WA -- On Saturday, February 13, Magda Lewy Boulet finished 4th at the USA Cross Country Championships to earn a spot on the US team bound for World Cross Country Championships. She covered the 8km course in a time of 26:09.

In a race that was dominated by Shalane Flanagan of the Oregon Track Club, Magda stuck with the chase pack, trading third and fourth place with Amy Hastings until the final kick when Amy broke away for third place. 



It was nearly ten years since Magda last raced cross country, but she showed that her road racing skill set translates well to the rougher and hillier terrain of cross country. Fortunately for her, the weather in Spokane held up and the course didn't get too torn up from the four races prior to the Senior Women's. 

The World Championships hold special meaning for Magda. The race will take place only a few hours from where she grew up and the trip offers her the chance to see her 98-year-old grandmother, who she hasn't seen in person for a number of years. 

Magda said that having family in Poland "was definitely an extra incentive to push hard and make the team." The race will be held on March 28 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Three weeks later, Magda will race the Rotterdam marathon. 

"Trying to do both cross country training and marathon training simultaneously has been a challenge, but the cross country workouts bring a fun element to marathon training."