Chelanga Seeks Repeat at the USATF 10 km Championships

USATF Release

NORTHPORT, New York – In 2021, Sam Chelanga won the USATF 10 km Championships with a thrilling kick to the finish. On Saturday, Chelanga seeks to repeat at the USATF 10 km Championships presented by Toyota, which will once again host talented men’s and women’s fields. 

The USATF 10 km Championships, hosted by the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, New York are the ninth stop on the 2022 USATF Running Circuit presented by Toyota.

At least year’s event, which took place in Atlanta, Chelanga edged Fred Huxham and Clayton Young over the final stages of the race to win by a mere second. With the event moving to Northport, New York this year, Chelanga will have a new course to manage, but will once again seek the title. The veteran recently placed third at the USATF 20 km Championships and currently sits fourth in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 32 points. 

Chelanga will be joined in Northport by Leonard Korir and Futsum Zienasellassie, who sit first and second in the USATF Running Circuit standings. 

Korir, who won the USATF Half Marathon and 25 km Championships earlier this year, while also placing one spot ahead of Chelanga in second at the USATF 20 km Championships earlier this month, owns 92 points to his name, well ahead of the rest of the competition. Korir won the USATF 10 km title in 2017 and will look to add to his 2022 season of success on Saturday.

Zienasellassie owns a 50.5 point total, well behind Korir in second, but 10 points ahead of third place Shadrack Kipchirchir, who is not racing Saturday. Zienasellassie was runner-up to Korir at both the USATF Half Marathon and 25 km Championships earlier this season. He earned a sixth place finish earlier this month at the USATF 20 km Championships and will no doubt seek victory in Northport.

Jacob Thomson and Abbibya Simbassa are two others to keep an eye on. Simbassa placed fifth at the USATF 20 km Championships earlier in September, while Thomson earned a third place finish behind Korir and Zienasellassie at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. The duo currently sit sixth and seventh in the USATF Running Circuit standings, Thomson having 20 points and Simbassa having 16.

Ben True is also entered Saturday. The multi-time national champion placed fourth at the BAA 10K in late-June, after having a quiet 2022 up to that point. True is joined by Kiya Dandena, who placed third at the USATF 25 km Championships earlier this season.

Other notable contenders in the men’s race include Geoffrey Kipchumba, who was in the top six until the final mile at the USATF 20 km Championships earlier this month, Stanley Kebenei, World Indoor Championship medalist Ryan Hill, and Eric Jenkins.

The top two returnees on the women’s side are Annie Frisbie and Stephanie Bruce. Frisbie placed third in 2021 and continues to be one of the more versatile Americans on the roads. Frisbie placed fourth at the USATF 20 km Championships this month, sixth at the USATF 15 km Championships in March, while also 1:10 twice over the half marathon, placing in the top ten at both the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Bruce placed fifth at the 2021 edition of the USATF 10 km Championships, while winning the title back in 2018. Bruce is having a strong 2022 campaign, placing seventh at the USATF 10,000m Championships, only to follow up that performance in August with a victory in the 10,000m at the NACAC Championships in The Bahamas. She also ran 1:10 for the half marathon in March at the United Airlines NYC Half, falling just short to Frisbie 1:10:14-1:10:26.

While Frisbie placed fourth at the USATF 20 km Championships in New Haven, Connecticut, Nell Rojas placed third overall. Rojas is better known for her performances over the half marathon and marathon distances, including a tenth place finish at the Boston Marathon back in April, but the 34 year old is fully capable of challenging for the win in Northport.

Rojas is the highest ranking entrant in the USATF Running Circuit standings, sitting sixth overall with 21 points. Emily Sisson and Keira D’Amato are tied at the top, both with 55.5 points, while Aliphine Tuliamuk is third with 32.5 points.

Just behind Frisbie and Rojas at the USATF 20 km Championships, Erika Kemp got back to her strong road racing ways, placing fifth, after having dealt with injury earlier this season. Kemp owns the course record in Northport of 32:18.

Dakotah Lindwurm and Molly Bookmyer are also entered Saturday and are ready to challenge for top finishes. Lindwurm placed ninth earlier this month at the USATF 20 km Championships, while having placed third at the USATF 25 km Championships. Bookmyer placed sixth at the USATF 25 km Championships and looks to bounce back from her 19thplace effort at the USATF 20 km Championships.

Carrie Verdon is entered in Saturday’s contest and should challenge for a top three finish. The Portland-area runner finished ninth at the USATF 10,000m Championships earlier this season. 

Finishing a spot behind Verdon in Eugene at the USATF 10,000m Championships was Molly Grabill, who is also entered in Northport. They are joined by Lauren Hurley, who placed seventh at the USATF 10 km Championships in 2021, as well as veteran Ednah Kurgat.

On demand race videos, 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 $37,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 10 km Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 10 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