MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Forest Braden, a 2002 graduate of Bonners Ferry High and former one-time cross country and two-time track and field All-American at Boise State, qualified for a spot on Team USA Track and Field after winning the Champions Masters Men’s 8k in a time of 25:34.4 (5:08/mi) at the USATF Cross Country Championships held at Pole Green Park Saturday, Jan. 20.

Braden, 40, competed in the Men’s 40-plus division and handily defeated second place finisher Brian Flynn of Garden State Track Club, who finished in 25:51.3. Braden represented the Colonial Road Runners who won the 40-plus division with a total of 40 points (1-2-6-14-17).

“... I had a big crew of athletes out here cheering me on, which definitely helped,” Braden said in an interview with Dyestat.com. “When your athletes are watching what you do, you better execute what you’re telling them to do, or you’re in trouble.”

The reason Braden had a lot of athletes cheering him — he is currently in his seventh season as head cross country coach of William and Mary (NCAA Division I), which is about a one hour ride from where the USATF Cross Country Championships took place this year. Before William and Mary, Braden coached for eight years at UCLA, where he helped the Bruins reach the NCAA Cross Country Championships six times. Across all seasons, Braden's athletes earned a total of 16 All-American honors in his final six years, including three in cross country, nine in outdoor track and field, and a men's distance medley relay. 

In addition to the collegiate scene, Braden has helped coach nationally and internationally, serving as the men's and women's distance coach during the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea.

During his collegiate years at Boise State, Braden was equally impressive, as he holds multiple records at Boise State until this day. Currently, Braden is second all-time in BSU history in the indoor 5,000-meter run (13:47.73), third in the outdoor 5,000-meter run (13:45.44). He still holds the record for most individual cross country titles won with seven. He is currently the only distance runner to earn three NCAA All-American honors in BSU school history. In high school, Braden was a seven-time state cross country and track and field champion for the Badgers.

Braden will look to add to his resume when he represents the U.S.A. at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, set to be held Saturday, March 30, in Belgrade, Serbia.