Olympic Medalists Chelimo, Centrowitz to Compete at USATF 5 km Championships

USATF Release

NEW YORK, NY – Two-time Olympic medalist Paul Chelimo and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz headline the start lists for Saturday’s USATF 5 km Championships presented by Toyota hosted by the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K in New York City.

The USATF 5 km Championships are the second-to-last stop on the 2021 USATF Running Circuit. Fans can tune-in for the live broadcast, and free to view, beginning at 8:20am ET on USATF.TV.

While it’s been more than two months since Chelimo and Centrowitz last competed, both having raced on the track at the Prefontaine Classic on August 21, both athletes have shown time and again that they have to be considered favorites heading into any race they enter. 

Chelimo is coming off of his bronze medal effort at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and won the USATF 5 km Championship title in 2018, so his experience on the course could help him tremendously Saturday morning. Centrowitz enters having run in the 1500m semi-final in Tokyo.

While Chelimo and Centrowitz are the top names on paper, Abbabiya Simbassa and Sam Chelanga are both in phenomenal shape, having placed first and third at the recent USATF 25 km Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Simbassa, in particular, is on a tear, having won the USATF 10 Mile and 25 km titles this season, as well as runner-up efforts at the USATF 15 km and 20 km Championships. He leads the USATF Running Circuit overall standings with 75 points, far ahead of second place Clayton Young (37 total points) and Chelanga (30 points).

Chelanga continues to be a dominant runner in American distance running. Chelanga brings a wealthy of experience competing in New York City, having placed third at the 2016 USATF 5 km Championships. While he placed third at the USATF 25 km Championships last month, he also won the USATF 10 km title earlier this season.

Eric Avila is another top entry with USATF Running Circuit experience. Avila won the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships this summer, only to follow up that performance with a seventh place performance in the 1500m final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field in Eugene. While the 5 km distance will challenge Avila’s strength, he’s more than capable of coming away with the victory.

Other notable entries include top returnees from the 2019 USATF 5 km Championships, with Jordan Mann and Brian Barraza returning to the scene after claiming fifth and sixth in 2019. Barraza is joined by teammate Andrew Hunter, who is racing for the first time since February after being injured for much of the year.

In the women’s race, Erika Kemp seeks to near big points in the USATF Running Circuit, while eyeing a title. Kemp placed second at the USATF 25 km Championships last month, which came off a big win at the USATF 20 km Championships and fifth place finish at the USATF 15 km Championships earlier in the season. In addition, Kemp owns sixth place and runner-up finishes at the USATF 5 km Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Kemp currently sits in third place in the USATF Running Circuit overall standings with 46.5 points, one point behind second place Makena Morley, and two and a half points behind leader Emily Durgin. A big performance on Saturday morning would catapult Kemp into the lead with only the USATF Half Marathon Championships remaining.

While Kemp ran to her runner-up finish at the USATF 25 km Championships two weeks ago, a number of Saturday’s top runners competed at the Boston 10K For Women three weeks ago. 

Winning the race in Boston was Weini Kelati, who simply dominated the field, on her way to a 40 second victory. Kelati is clearly in tremendous shape coming off an extended break after the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The two-time NCAA champion looks to earn her first USATF title after gaining U.S. citizenship back in June. 

Kelati will be joined Saturday by Boston 10K For Women fourth place finisher Natosha Rogers, sixth place finisher Lauren Paquette, and seventh place finisher Aisling Cuffe. Rogers and Paquette both earned seventh place finishes, in the 10,000m and 5000m, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, while Cuffe brings experience to the course in New York City, having placed eighth overall in 2019.

Grayson Murphy is also entered, looking to add to her impressive 2021 resume, which includes a sixth place finish in the 3000m steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, sixth place finishes at the USATF 15 km and 1 Mile Road Championships, as well as winning the USAtF Mountain Running Championships. Murphy’s versatility will be on full display in New York City.

2012 Olympian Kim Conley and 2016 Olympic triathlon gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen look to challenge for top five finishes. Conley placed fourth at the 2018 USATF 5 km Championships, while looking to get back racing after an injury-shortened racing season earlier this year. Meanwhile, Jorgensen placed ninth in the 5000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials earlier this summer.

Young pros Katie Rainsberger and Ella Donaghu seek top five finishes on Saturday morning, while Grace Barnett looks to build off her seventh place finish in the 1500m final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Madeline Alm and Danielle Shanahan are two others fully capable of challenging for top five.

On demand race videos (+PLUS), results, and post-race interviews will be available shortly after the race in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #USARC.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $60,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 5 km Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 5 km Championships, scoring is set as 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7 ,6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush