Loaded Field Lining Up for the B.A.A. 5K
American Molly Huddle is back to defend her title.
The Boston Marathon is running’s main event in April, but it’s not the only race bringing star power to Beantown.
The B.A.A. announced the elite fields for both the B.A.A. 5K and the B.A.A. Invitational Mile today. Both races will take place on April 18, two days before the Boston Marathon.
The B.A.A. 5K will feature defending women’s champion Molly Huddle, while two-time champion Ben True will race on the men’s side. Huddle recently became the first American woman to win the NYC Half in March, blazing to a time of 1:08:31.
A resident of nearby Rhode Island, Huddle will be a favorite at the B.A.A. 5K. Her toughest competition could be Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska, who finished two seconds behind Huddle at the B.A.A. 5K a year ago. Also in contention are Kenya’s Lineth Chepkurui, Mary Wacera, Cynthia Limo and Valentine Kibet, and Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane, Sentayehu Ejigu and Buze Diriba. Chepkurui and Kidane are former champions of the event.
On the men’s side, Ben True expects to face stiff competition from Kenya’s Stephen Sambu and recent Carlsbad 5000 champion Lawi Lalang. Other Americans in the field include Girma Mecheso, Maverick Darling and Brett Gotcher.
There is $39,000 in prize money available for the 5K, with the winners getting a $7,500 payout.
The B.A.A. 5K course is slightly altered this year, starting and finishing at Boston Common and taking runners across the Boston Marathon finish line.
The B.A.A. Invitational Mile will feature a strong contingent of American women, including Morgan Uceny, Gabe Grunewald, Heather Kampf, Brie Felnagle, Rachel Schneider and Emily Lipari. American men racing include Duncan Phillips, Frezer Legesse, Steve Mangan and Dan Lowery, all battling European Championships medalist Chris O’Hare of Great Britain.
The B.A.A. Invitational Mile, a three-loop course which finishes at the Boston Marathon finish line, has a $14,500 prize purse, with $3,000 going to the winners.