Completed Event: Cross Country versus NCAA Championships on November 22, 2025 , , 17th / 32
Final Score
Cross Country
17th / 32
vs NCAA Championships
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo Credit: John Nepolitan / DyeStat.com
Former Utah All-American Emily Venters to Represent Team USA at Worlds
12/7/2025 9:52 AM | Cross Country
Former Utah XC/TF All-American Emily Venters qualified for her first world team.
PORTLAND – Former Utah cross country and track & field All-American Emily Venters will represent Team USA at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 10, at a familiar course in the Apalachee Regional Park.
"I'm really happy to finally make a world team and to just have a good race," Venters said after the race. "I've been in a bit of a slump for the past seven months, where my races haven't shown the fitness my training has. So, earning a spot on the team today meant a lot. I proved to myself that I belong and I regained confidence I had lost."
This will be Venters' first-time representing Team USA in a global event after finishing fifth-overall at the USATF Cross Country Championships on Saturday with a run of 34:20.7 at a muddy Glendoveer Golf Course after days of rain in the Portland area leading up to the event.
"The road back to Team USA has not been a straight one for Em," Utah head cross country and track & field coach Kyle Kepler said. "The life lessons and what you learn when the journey is the focus…that's the true fun and joy. Keep Getting Up No Matter What!! It's a Great Day to be a Ute!"
The Lawrence, Kan., native is joined on Team USA by some household names in Weini Kelati, Katie Izzo, Ednah Kurgat, Karissa Schweizer and Grace Hartman.
"Going into this race, I honestly wasn't even thinking about making the team," Venters noted. "My only goal was to have fun out there. As a pro, you don't get many chances to race cross country, so you take those opportunities when they come. I'm excited to represent Utah, Nike and the United States in January at Worlds. I'm not just going to be happy to be there. I still have more to prove and I want to put myself as far up there as I can."
As of today, Dec. 7, Venters will join Riley Innes – who will be joining the Women of Utah next fall. Innes qualified for the Canadian U20 world team after finishing ninth in the Canadian U20 Cross Country Championships with a run of 29:28.5 in the 8k race.
Meanwhile, former Utah All-American Poppy Tank (GBR & NI) and current Utah freshman Emily Junginger (GER) look to qualify for their respective world teams next Sunday, Dec. 14, in Lagoa, Portugal, in the 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Tank will be racing in the senior race while Junginger competes in the U20 event. The U20 race will go off at 2:20 a.m. (MST) while the senior women's race is slated to start at 5 a.m. (MST).
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
"I'm really happy to finally make a world team and to just have a good race," Venters said after the race. "I've been in a bit of a slump for the past seven months, where my races haven't shown the fitness my training has. So, earning a spot on the team today meant a lot. I proved to myself that I belong and I regained confidence I had lost."
This will be Venters' first-time representing Team USA in a global event after finishing fifth-overall at the USATF Cross Country Championships on Saturday with a run of 34:20.7 at a muddy Glendoveer Golf Course after days of rain in the Portland area leading up to the event.
"The road back to Team USA has not been a straight one for Em," Utah head cross country and track & field coach Kyle Kepler said. "The life lessons and what you learn when the journey is the focus…that's the true fun and joy. Keep Getting Up No Matter What!! It's a Great Day to be a Ute!"
The Lawrence, Kan., native is joined on Team USA by some household names in Weini Kelati, Katie Izzo, Ednah Kurgat, Karissa Schweizer and Grace Hartman.
"Going into this race, I honestly wasn't even thinking about making the team," Venters noted. "My only goal was to have fun out there. As a pro, you don't get many chances to race cross country, so you take those opportunities when they come. I'm excited to represent Utah, Nike and the United States in January at Worlds. I'm not just going to be happy to be there. I still have more to prove and I want to put myself as far up there as I can."
As of today, Dec. 7, Venters will join Riley Innes – who will be joining the Women of Utah next fall. Innes qualified for the Canadian U20 world team after finishing ninth in the Canadian U20 Cross Country Championships with a run of 29:28.5 in the 8k race.
Meanwhile, former Utah All-American Poppy Tank (GBR & NI) and current Utah freshman Emily Junginger (GER) look to qualify for their respective world teams next Sunday, Dec. 14, in Lagoa, Portugal, in the 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Tank will be racing in the senior race while Junginger competes in the U20 event. The U20 race will go off at 2:20 a.m. (MST) while the senior women's race is slated to start at 5 a.m. (MST).
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
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Players Mentioned
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