World Class Field Assembled for 2014 B.A.A. 5K

Date: April 17, 2014

The race is sold out. A prize purse of $39,900 (USD) will be awarded equally to the top male and female finishers

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced an elite field of Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships medalists and returning champions for the 2014 B.A.A. 5K, to be held on Saturday, April 19, two days prior to the 2014 Boston Marathon®.

The 2014 B.A.A. 5K will have a field size of 10,000 entrants and will start and finish at Boston Common. The race is sold out. A prize purse of $39,900 (USD) will be awarded equally to the top male and female finishers. In addition, professional runners are eligible for a $5,000 (USD) bonus for event record times established at the B.A.A. 5K. Bonus incentives will also be available for professional runners for multiple top finishes at B.A.A. events in 2014.

Defending champion Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH) will look to be among the top contenders in this year’s race. Gebremeskel, 24, is a 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist at 5,000 meters and set the B.A.A. 5K event record (13:37) last year. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), silver medalist at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow will also look to be in contention, along with two-time B.A.A. 5K champion (2011, 2012) Ben True (Hanover, NH) and 2013 B.A.A. 10K champion Stephen Sambu (KEN).

Other top contenders on the men’s side include Philemon Cheboi (KEN), silver medalist at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships at 10,000 meters; Lani Rutto (KEN), third place finisher at the B.A.A. 5K in 2012 and 2013; two-time NCAA championLeonard Korir (KEN); 2013 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run (Washington, DC) champion Daniel Salel (KEN); and four-time national champion and 2012 Olympian Nick McCormick (GBR). Top Americans Tyler Pennel (Blowing Rock, NC), third place finisher at the 2013 Manchester (CT) Road Race and Bobby Curtis (Rochester Hills, MI) will also look to be among the leaders.

Linet Masai (KEN), 2009 IAAF World Championships gold medalist and 2011 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000 meters, will look to be among the top contenders on the women’s’ side. Molly Huddle (Providence, RI), a 2012 Olympian who holds the American record for 5,000 meters at 14:44.76, will look to challenge Masai, along with Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), 2011 B.A.A. 5K champion, and Mamitu Daska (ETH), 2014 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run champion and 2013 B.A.A. 10K champion.

Other top contenders on the women’s side include Mary Wacera (KEN), winner of the World’s Best 10K (San Juan, PUR); Julia Bleasdale (GBR), 2014 Carlsbad (CA) 5000 champion and 2012 Olympian; Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH), 2013 Tufts Health Plan 10K (Boston, MA) champion;  Betsy Saina (KEN), three-time NCAA champion and 11-time NCAA All-American; Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH), 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships gold medalist at 3000 meters; and Emelia Gorecka (GBR), bronze medalist at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships at 3000 meters. Top Americans Amy Hastings (Providence, RI), winner of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 10,000 meters and Amy Van Alstine (Flagstaff, AZ), 2014 U.S. Cross Country champion will look to be in contention.

New for 2014, professional runners are eligible for bonus incentives for multiple top finishes at the B.A.A. 5K, B.A.A. 10K, B.A.A. Half Marathon, and Boston Marathon. For example, a runner who wins three of those four events in 2014 will be awarded $50,000 (USD) in prize money. In addition, the B.A.A. will award bonuses for event record times established at the B.A.A. 5K.

$39,900 (USD) in prize money will be distributed to the top 10 runners overall, the top three masters competitors, and the top three push rim wheelchair competitors. Prize money awards are equal for men and women. The B.A.A. 5K male and female champions will each receive $7,500 (USD) in prize money. The prize money and bonus structure is listed below.

The 2014 B.A.A. 5K has a field size limit of 10,000 entrants. Registration opened on Wednesday, February 5 at 10:00 a.m. ET and closed approximately one day later on Thursday, February 6 at 3:25 p.m. ET. The start and finish lines for the B.A.A. 5K are located on Charles Street between the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common. The 2014 B.A.A. 5K course will be a scenic tour through Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and participants will pass Boston landmarks including Newbury Street and the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street before returning to Charles Street for the finish.

2014 B.A.A. 5K Men’s Field (as of Thursday, April 17, 2014)
NAME COUNTRY AGE 5K PERSONAL BEST
Dejen Gebremeskel  ETH 24 13:11 (12:46.81)
Hagos Gebrhiwet ETH 19 13:14 (12:47.53)
Ben True USA (NH) 28 13:41 (13:11.59)
Stephen Sambu KEN 25 13:21 (13:13.74 indoors)
Philemon Cheboi KEN 20 (14:06.4)
Lani Rutto KEN 25 13:41
Girma Mecheso USA (PA) 26 (13:34.83)
Haron Lagat KEN 30 13:36 (13:26.57)
Leonard Korir KEN 27 13:30 (13:15.45)
Daniel Salel KEN 23 13:55 (13:08.23)
Nick McCormick GBR 32 13:58 (13:18.81)
Dan Lowry USA (MI) 24 (13:34.49)
Tyler Pennel USA (NC) 26 (13:45.63)
Bobby Curtis USA (MI) 29 13:48 (13:18.97)

2014 B.A.A. 5K Women’s Field (as of Thursday, April 17, 2014)
NAME COUNTRY AGE 5K PERSONAL BEST
Lineth Chekpurui KEN 26 15:23 (15:15.15)
Molly Huddle USA (RI) 29 15:27 (14:44.76)
Linet Masai KEN 24 15:06 (14:31.14)
Mary Wacera KEN 25 (15:20.30)
Sentayehu Ejigu ETH 28 15:17 (14:28.39)
Mamitu Daska ETH 30 15:19
Julia Bleasdale GBR 32 15:06 (15:02.00)
Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton KEN 24 (15:18.86)
Betsy Saina KEN 25 15:21 (15:12.05)
Gotytom Gebreslase ETH 19 15:32 (15:11.12)
Helen Clitheroe GBR 40 15:58 (15:06.75)
Amy Hastings  USA (RI) 30 15:32 (15:09.59)
Emelia Gorecka GBR 20 16:48 (15:34.21)
Sonia Samuels GBR 34 16:44 (15:44.24)
Amy Van Alstine USA (AZ) 26 15:30 (15:36.56)
Kellyn Johnson USA (AZ) 27 15:57 (15:31.66)
Katie Matthews USA (MA) 23 16:10 (15:44.19)
Jennifer Rhines USA (MA) 39 15:21 (14:54.29)

( ) – indicates track performance for 5000 meters

2014 B.A.A. 5K Prize Structure*
PLACE OPEN PRIZE MONEY MASTERS
PRIZE MONEY PUSH RIM PRIZE MONEY
1 $7,500 (USD) $300 (USD) $300 (USD)
2 $4,000 (USD) $200 (USD) $200 (USD)
3 $2,500 (USD) $100 (USD) $100 (USD)
4 $1,500 (USD)
5 $1,000 (USD)
6 $750 (USD)
7 $600 (USD)
8 $400 (USD)
9 $300 (USD)
10 $200 (USD)
TOTAL $37,500 $1,200 (USD) $1,200 (USD)
 
GRAND TOTAL $39,900 (USD)
* Prize money awards are equal for men and women.

B.A.A. 5K Event Records* 
TIME NAME YEAR
Male 13:37 Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH) 2013
Female 15:12 Werknesh Kidane (ETH) 2012
* $5,000 (USD) in prize money will be awarded for event records established at 2014 B.A.A. 5K.

Bonus Incentives for Top Overall Finishes in 2014 B.A.A. Events*

• Win three of the four events $50,000 (USD)
• Win two of the four events $20,000 (USD)
• Place in the top two in three of the four events $10,000 (USD)
• Place in the top three in three of the four events $5,000 (USD)

* Includes finishes in the Boston Marathon. Only the single highest bonus will be awarded to a runner.

For more info, visit http://www.baa.org/

this article Courtesy of Running USA wire