Flanagan set to defend USA 5 km title, Tegenkamp, Famiglietti lead men's field at USA 5 km
Posted Thursday, 18 September, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.), the Olympic bronze medalist at 10,000 meters returns to Providence, Rhode Island to defend her USA 5 km title at the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K on Sunday. Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.) and Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.), both of whom represented Team USA at the Beijing Olympic Games, will lead the men's field.
In her first race appearance since Beijing, Flanagan, the American record holder at 5,000m and 10,000 meters, leads the field that includes Carrie Tollefson (St. Paul, Minn.), a 2004 Olympian at 1,500 meters; former Colorado University All-American Renee Metivier (Flagstaff, Ariz.); and former Notre Dame All-American Molly Huddle (Providence, R.I.).
In the men's race, 2006 champion Famiglietti, a finalist in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in Beijing, will face Olympic teammate Tegenkamp and defending champion Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.), who will look to win his third 5 km title. The field also features 2007 runner-up Rod Koborsi (Washington, D.C.) and Thomas Morgan (Blowing Rock, N.C.), who finished tenth at this year's Olympic Trials 5,000m.
The championship, hosted by the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K is the seventh stop for men and the sixth for women on the 2008 USA Running Circuit (USARC).
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series that features USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The thirteenth edition for the men and twelfth for the women, the 2008 circuit has nine events for men and seven events for women. James Carney currently leads the men's circuit with 37 points and Deena Kastor leads the women with 45.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the 2008 USARC and USA 5 km Championships visit www.usatf.org.
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