Gebremariam Gebre-egziabher (© Getty Images)
Elite Racing, organizers of the Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego and the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Virginia Beach, announced a top field for their 5 km road race next Sunday, the famed Carlsbad 5000, in Carlsbad, Calif. The 18th edition of the race will feature many of the top-10 finishers from the recent IAAf World Cross Country Championships, including five individual medalists.
Leading the men's race is Ethiopia's Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, who took bronze in the men's senior 12 km race in Avenches, who has run 13:12.14 for 5000m on the track. He'll be joined by silver medalist from the 4 km race, John Kibowen of Kenya, who has run 12:59.97 for 5000m. Two-time Carlsbad champion Paul Koech, another Kenyan will also compete along with American Alan Culpepper, who will be gunning for Mark Davis's U.S. record of 13:24 set on the same course in 1996.
Three women who earned individual medals at World Cross, including double medalist Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia (gold in the 8 km and silver in the 4 km), will contest the women's race. Two other Ethiopians, Merima Denboba (bronze, 8 km) and Tirunesh Dibaba (gold, junior 6 km) will also try for the title. Benita Johnson of Australia, who was fourth in the women's 4 km race, will also take part.
World half marathon champion, Berhane Adere of Ethiopia, will also take part.
A complete list of the elite athletes assembled by elite athlete coordinator, Mike Long, follows.
MEN -
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, ETH, 13:12.14 5000m PB
Paul Koech, KEN, 12:56.29
Alan Culpepper, USA, 13:28.64
John Kibowen, KEN, 12:58.61
John Itati, KEN, 13:27 (road)
Linus Maiyo, KEN, 14:01 (altitude)
Shadrack Hoff, RSA, 13:14.16
Teodoro Vega, MEX, 13:34.48
Alejandro Suarez, MEX, 13:39.08
Thomas Kiplitany, KEN
Jonathan Wyatt, NZL
Scott Westcott, AUS
WOMEN -
Berhane Adere, ETH, 14:33.65 5000m PB
Isabella Ochichi, KEN, 15:01:42
Benita Johnson, AUS, 14:47.60
Eyerusalem Kuma, ETH, 15:23
Asmae Leghzaoui, MAR, 14:48.31
Elva Dryer, USA/NM, 15:03.56
Blake Russell, USA/MA, 15:21.37
Werknesh Kidane, ETH, 14:43.53
Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH, 14:49.90
Meseret Defar, ETH, 15:08.36
Kathy Butler, GBR, 15:10.69
Hayley McGregor, AUS, 15:32 (road)
Emilie Mondor, CAN, 15:32 (road)
Edna Kiplagat, KEN
Victoria Klimina, RUS, 15:41 (road)
Breeda Dennehy-Willis, IRL, 15:12.83
Courtney Babcock, CAN, 15:07.53
Sylvia Mosqueda, USA/CA, 15:30.5
David Monti (c) Race Results Weekly
