Huddle Set to Race at NYRR New York Mini 10K
This year’s roster for the NYRR New York Mini 10K on June 9 is gearing up to be an exciting race between some of the world’s best pro athletes. This week, it was announced that Molly Huddle would also be racing in the iconic event next month.
A three-time United Airlines NYC Half winner, Huddle will compete against three-time TCS New York City Marathon champion and the Mini 10K defending champion Mary Keitany along with 2018 Boston Marathon champion Desi Linden. In 2014, Huddle ran the Mini 10K in 31:37, the fastest-ever time by an American on the course. The following year, Keitany finished in 31:15 to become its new champion and repeated that win in 2017 with a time of 31:20.
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The women’s open division will include runners from nine different countries including 10 Olympians. Joining the headliners will be second- and third-place Boston finishers, Sarah Sellers and Krista DuChene. One competitor to also keep your eye on over the weekend is Aliphine Tuliamuk who recently won both the USATF Half Marathon and USATF 25km races this month. The latter was a three-peat win for her.
On May 21, the Kenyan tweeted her enthusiasm to return to the race saying “I am excited to head back to NYC this summer for the 3rd year in arrow to run #Mini10k. [Thank] you @nyrr for giving me another opportunity to mix it up with some of the world’s fastest women! #Mini10K.”
During last year’s race, Keitany had a lead of more than 48 seconds against the rest of the field when she broke the tape. This year, if she takes the lead again, we’re likely to see a battle between Tuliamuk and Huddle for second, with both having similar personal bests of 31:52 and 31:21, respectively, in this distance.
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Sitting in the middle of the field is Linden with a personal best of 33:02 in this event. Fresh off her win in Boston, this could possibly push her to chase down another “W,” but more than likely, we won’t be seeing her podium this race. With Sellers, although she could surprise us, her personal best is one of the slowest times among the pack with a time of 35:33. Only one other runner sits below her, American Jessica Chichester at 37:47 in the 10K. But, as the newly-sponsored Altra runner is wont to do, she may shock us yet again.
The Mini 10K will also feature a professional wheelchair division for the first time this year. Among its competitors are four Paralympians: Amanda McGrory, Chelsea McClammer, Susannah Scaroni and Michelle Wheeler. They’ll be racing against five-time New York City Marathon champion and the 2018 Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair winner Tatyana McFadden.
Here’s a look at the full professional athlete fields for the race:
Professional Athlete Field – Open Division
Name 10K Road Personal Best
Charlotte Arter, GBR 32:19
Stephanie Bruce, USA 32:55
Jessica Chichester, USA 37:47
Adriana da Silva, BRA 34:40
Sophie Duarte, FRA 32:21
Krista DuChene, CAN 32:41
Roberta Groner, USA 34:19
Molly Huddle, USA 31:21
Mary Keitany, KEN 30:41
Desiree Linden, USA 33:02
Amanda Marino, USA 34:18
Ivette Mejia, USA 33:41
Askale Merachi, ETH 33:08
Diane Nukuri, USA 31:49
Beverly Ramos, PUR 33:17
Betsy Saina, KEN 30:46
Sarah Sellers, USA 35:33
Aliphine Tuliamuk, USA 31:52
Eva Vrabcova, CZE 33:07
Professional Athlete Field – Wheelchair Division
Name 10K Road Personal Best
Tatyana McFadden, USA 23:15
Amanda McGrory, USA 23:30
Chelsea McClammer, USA 23:34
Susannah Scaroni, USA 24:01
Michelle Wheeler, USA 28:13
The 10K race will begin on Central Park West at 61st Street and will end at 67th Street on West Drive. Runners will compete for a $10,000 first-place prize in the open division and $1,250 in the wheelchair division. Pro races will be live streamed on USATF.TV.