Elias proved that Californians can run on tough cross country courses, and run well! Surprising many with a huge kick over the last 200 meters at the NXN finals in 2009, Elias may have won the race if it had been just a little longer. His track season picked up right where he left off there with more personal records including a 3:47 1500 that put him on the US team for the world junior championships.