2018 USATF 5 km Championships Runner-Up Finishers Lead 2019 Race Entries

By Adam Kopet

The reigning champions might not be returning Saturday to the USATF 5 km Championships, but the men's and women's runner-up finishers return to lead strong fields as part of the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K.

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The men's race returns Shadrack Kipchirchir, who finished a close second to Paul Chelimo last year as both runners ran 13:45. Joining Kipchirchir is American Distance Project training partner Stanley Kebenei, who has run well this year over a variety of distances.

The race also features Ben Blankenship, best known for his exploits over 1,500 meters. He is stepping up in distance this week approximately four weeks after he ran the 1,500-meter semifinals at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

The women's race was set to feature the 2018 champion, Emily Sisson, however, she scratched from the race earlier this week. That leaves last year's runner-up Erika Kemp. She won the USATF 15 km Championships in March.

So disappointed to have to pull out of the #AbbottDash5k this weekend. Had a small flare up & heading into a pretty important year we decided not to take a risk. Thank you @nyrr for understanding I’m so bummed not… https://t.co/ss2aJN4Ymk

— Emily Sisson (@Em_Sisson) October 29, 2019

Also in the field are two women who are returning after taking time off from racing last year. Shannon Rowbury missed 2018 due to pregnancy. She returned this year to finish sixth in the 5,000 meters at the USATF Outdoor Championships. She went on to run a season's best 15:05.99 in Berlin. Emily Infeld continues to make her return following surgery. She recently finished third at the Reebok Boston 10K for Women.

The USATF 5 km Championships, hosted by the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, take place the day before the New York City Marathon and uses the same finish line in Central Park. The race will be broadcast live on USATF.TV beginning at 8:20 am EDT.

Update: A previous version of this story listed Matthew Centrowitz as competing in the USATF 5 km Championships. He was a late scratch and will not be on Saturday's starting line.