Anthony Rotich and Shannon Rowbury Win US 5K Road Titles in New York
Tight races highlight the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K in Central Park on the eve of the New York City Marathon
On a bright, beautiful morning in Central Park, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program member Anthony Rotich and three-time Olympian Shannon Rowbury won the USATF 5 km Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K.
Rotich, who lives and trains in Colorado Springs, said, in a New York Road Runners’ press release, “This is my first time running here, I just became a U.S. citizen earlier this year, and now this win is the biggest race and win of my career so far.”
After the race, he told PodiumRunner “I led after the second mile. I have not many races on the road, so I was watching the truck. When saw two miles finished, I thought, ‘Ok, 4 laps to go—it’s my race, it’s time to go.”
Rotich said he was confident, even when Aaron Templeton made a move to pull away with about 400 meters to go. “He went too soon,” Rotich said. “I saw how he went, how he looked. If he looks like that, he’s not going to hold it. If he had waited for 30 meters before the finish he would have had it.”
On the women’s side, Shannon Rowbury held off a fast-charging Jessica Tonn to secure her first 5K national title in 15:43.
Rowbury led for the majority of the race. “Knowing that I had all of these women right behind me, it’s an important challenge to work through mentally because you can either freak out that you’re surrounded by people or you can use it to kind of focus yourself and direct your energy towards execution,” Rowbury told the press.
Emily Infield was in second heading up the hill to the finish, and held on to third after Tonn passed her.
Top Finishers:
Men:
- Anthony Rotich, 13:48
- Aaron Templeton, 13:49
- Eric Jenkins, 13:50
- Shadrack Kipchirchir, 13:53
- Jordan Mann, 13:54
Women:
- Shannon Rowbury, 15:43
- Jessica Tonn, 15:44
- Emily Infield, 15:47
- Shalaya Kipp, 15:50
- Ayla Granados, 15:53