University of North Carolina Athletics
Strand & Wolfe Impress At World Athletics Cross Country Championships
January 10, 2026 | Cross Country
TALLAHASSEE, FLA — The most recent male Patterson award winners, Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe, represented the United States at the 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Apalachee Regional Park in Florida on Saturday, Jan 10.
Senior Men's 10k Race:
In his World Championships debut, Wolfe was the first American to cross the finish line for Team USA. He improved his placement throughout the race, opening in fifteenth and staying near the main pack for the race. Roughly halfway through, Wolfe started to push and worked his way up to 12th, and he held that position for the last 3k.
2k Mixed Relay:
Ethan Strand led off the mixed relay race for Team USA in the Mixed Relay. Strand had a fantastic start as he stayed in the lead pack for his part of the 2k race. He stayed on the hip of the top two runners throughout the race, but made his move at Alligator Alley, a series of logs with wooden alligators on top to which was created as an additional obstacle for the runners. Strand took over the lead as he battled Reynold Cheruiyot, the bronze medalist in last year's world championships, as he handed off the baton ahead of Kenya, the defending champions to give the US the lead after the first leg. The US could not hold onto the lead Strand had given them, and they dropped to fifth.
