HURLEY, MORRIS TAKE USATF TITLE IN CREDIT UNION CHERRY LOSSOM 10 MILE
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2026 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission.
WASHINGTON, USA (April 12) – Emma Grace Hurley (Asics) and Graydon Morris (Puma Elite Running) won USATF 10-Mile National Titles time this morning Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile 53rd Running here in the capital of the country. In sunny but slightly chilly weather, the two Americans also nearly won the overall race titles, which went to: Ethiopian Asayech Aychev (Nike) for women and Morocco Mohammed El Yousfi (Nike) for men. All four winners set personal best times, but no American or race records were broken.
ARE WOMEN MORE CONSERVATIVE THIS YEAR?
Unlike last year when American Taylor Roe (Puma Elite Running) clocked the first two miles in 5:04 and 4:58 respectively, this year the women took a more measured approach. The first mile was a solid 5:10, and after crossing the Potomac River over the Memorial Bridge, the second mile was an even slower 5:16. That pace wasn’t fast enough to catch any of the top contenders, and the big group of 16 women hit the 5-K mark in 16:09.
Hurley, 28, who set the national record in the 8km course two weeks ago, was just ahead. He went into today’s race hungry for a national title, something that had eluded him despite several podium finishes over the past three years. He was prepared for many race scenarios.
“I really thought it would come out a bit quicker with the really top international talent here,” said Hurley, referring to Ethiopia’s Ayiche, Uganda’s Joey Cheptoyek (Asics) and Kenya’s Everly Kemboi (Relegated). “I was ready for anything.”
The US half marathon record holder was also up front Gelatin wine (Nike) and two-time USA Olympian Carissa Schweitzer (Nike Swoosh TC). Kelati posted the fastest 10-mile personal best in the field (50:05), and Schweitzer, who was running the longest race of his life, ran 30:18 in the 10,000m. The three American women watched each other carefully.
“Emma was brave,” Kelati told Race Results Weekly. “He was brave out there running up front.”
The first major step came in the fourth mile, when Aychev clocked the pace to 5:05. Although it was more of a mild acceleration, it was enough to knock down several women, including American Biruktait Degefa. Things settled down to 5:13 in mile 5 (run time 25:56), but then Aychev decided to push again. He ran a 4:56 mile-6 and a 31:57 10-K. That was fast enough to whittle the field down to six: Aychev, Cheptojek, Kemboi, Kelati, Hurley and Schweitzer. Molly Bourne finished seventh about 10 seconds back.
“It was kind of slowing down and picking up,” said Kelati, who prefers a hard, steady pace. “When the race is fast, I feel more comfortable than at a slow pace.”
A 4:58 eighth mile (again with Aichev in front) was too much for Kemboi, who fell back (he would finish sixth). There was a bit of a headwind at that point, but Hurley took the lead anyway.
“When the race went slow, I was ready to have a pretty sharp jump at the end,” explained Hurley. “It was good. It was kind of ‘Scenario B’ in my head and I was happy with it.”
Approaching 9 miles and 15 K points, Kelati made her bid for the win. A 4:57 ninth mile was too hot for Schweitzer, and she decided to back off (she would finish fifth/third American in 50:55). Ayichu, Cheptojek and Hurley stayed close to Kelati for the final twisty and slightly hilly kilometer of the race.
“I thought Wayne was going to win,” Hurley said.
But Aichev had other ideas. He hit the gas and ran the last mile in 2:58 to win in 50:37, good for $7,000 in prize money and bonus money.
“My goal from the beginning was to make it extremely fast,” Aychev said through a translator. “I was actually aiming for the course record. Unfortunately it didn’t work out and as the kilometers went on I kept upping the pace.”
Ugandan Cheptoyek finished second in 50:41 with Hurley right on his heels in a personal best of 50:42. Kelati was fourth overall (second American) in 50:46.
Hurley was happy to win his first national title. He got the added benefit of doing it at an event where his kit sponsor, Asics, is a featured sponsor, and their North American CEO, Koichiro Kodama, was at the finish line to greet him.
“Man, I really wanted to win,” said Hurley, who won a total of $12,000 in prize money and bonus money. “I’ve never won a USATF race before. I’ve been second and third many, many times. You know, I was ready to be second, but I really wanted to win.”
Schweitzer, a track specialist, was jazzed by his performance.
“It was so much fun,” Schweitzer told Race Results Weekly. “Like, I just feel like there’s so much energy there, and I was definitely a little scared of the distance. It just felt a little intimidating, but I just felt very relaxed through most of it.”
OTHER MEN ARE IN NO HURRY
The men did not start aggressively either. Benjamin Eidenshink (On) He was the nominal leader in the 5-K at 14:36 according to official time data. However, 25 men were within two seconds of that mark. The pack was the same size in the 10-K (29:21) and Morris settled into the lead. Miller’s twin brother Gracie Morris, The runner-up at the 2026 USATF Indoor Championships, she entered the race with both her confidence and top-level fitness.
“From the gun I just settled into a rhythm,” Morris told Race Results Weekly. “It felt like I was pacing. I was very calm the whole time.”
The race didn’t really stop until the last mile. El Yousfi, Morris, American Cole Sprout and US-based Thai Kieran Tuntiwat took the first four positions. Morris took a bold step.
“I made a pretty big move with a mile and a half to go,” Morris told Race Results Weekly. “I was like, I don’t know if it’s going to work or not, but I wanted to take that risk and it paid off.”
Morris missed the overall victory by just one second over El Yousfi, 46:17 – 46:18. Still, he was thrilled with his first national title and earned $13,000 in prize money and bonus money.
“Honestly, it feels unreal,” Morris said. He added: “I am very, very happy now. It seems unreal. It’s been a long road to get to this point. That’s great.”
El Yousfi, who won the $6,000 prize money, was also happy.
“I stayed behind the pack until the last 2,” El Yousfi said when asked about his strategy. “I finished well and I will win. I am very happy today.”
Tuntivate finished third in 46:32, Sprout fourth in 46:35 and Aidan Reed fifth in 46:38. Canadian Olympian Moh Ahmed Finished sixth in 46:39 in his 10-mile debut.
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Today’s race, which saw a record 20,079 finishers, was the last driven by Phil Stewart, who will hand over the reins to his deputy Rob Wolfe after 35 years. The race was officially named after Stewart.
“I’m sad and proud,” Stewart said at a VIP dinner last night. He plans to direct the 2027 Cherry Blossom, he said.
FINISHING
