Athletics: Keflezighi to Defend USA 8K Title Against Stellar Men's Field

For the third consecutive year, another deep U.S. men's field including six Olympians and eleven national champions has been assembled for the USA Men's 8K Championship hosted by the New York Road Runners, and last year's U.S. champion Meb Keflezighi of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. hopes to repeat the feat in Central Park on Saturday, March 27.

In 2003, Keflezighi, 28, a Team Running USA athlete, battled Chad Johnson and Abdi Abdirahman before he prevailed in 22:28 with Johnson national runner-up (22:39) and Abdirahman third (22:42). The 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials runner-up again will face Johnson and Abdirahman and a top U.S. field.

The national championship prize purse totals $20,000 and is part of the NYRR Professional Racing Series, which also includes the Circle of Friends New York Mini (June 12) and the ING New York City Marathon (November 7). First place in the USA Championship is $5000; second, $4000; third, $3000; fourth, $2000 and fifth, $1250 with prize money down to 15th place. A $25,000 bonus is being offered to the winner if he breaks the American 8K record of 22:04 set by Alberto Salazar in 1981.

The USA Men's 8K Championship also is part of the 2004 USA Running Circuit, a USA Track & Field road racing series featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon. The 2004 USARC offers a record $818,700 in guaranteed prize money with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000 and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall.

At each USARC race, the first ten US runners earn points (15 points for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), and Circuit points will be doubled at the USA Marathon Championships.

For race history, stats, athlete profiles and more, go to the race website at: www.nyrrc.org/nyrr8000/index.php.

USA Men's 8K Championship Top Entrants As of March 23, 2004

Bib/Athlete/City, ST/Affiliation/8K PR
1 Meb Keflezighi, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Nike, 22:28
2 Chad Johnson, Portland, OR, Nike, 22:39
3 Abdi Abdirahman, Tucson, AZ, Nike, 22:42
4 Luke Watson Stillwater, MN, adidas, none
5 Dave Davis, Portland, OR, Nike, 22:49
6 Mike Donnelly, Portland, OR, Nike, 22:51
7 Bolota Asmerom, San Leandro, CA, Nike, none
8 Nolan Swanson, Springfield, OR, ASICS, 22:54
9 Nick Rogers, Eugene, OR, Nike, 23:00
10 Ryan Kirkpatrick, Boulder, CO, U.S. Army, 22:44
11 Robert Gary, Columbus, OH, adidas, 23:09
12 Karl Savage, Blowing Rock, NC, ZAPfitness, 24:08
13 Steve Slattery, Boulder, CO, Unattached, 23:11
15 Ryan Shay, East Jordan, MI, Nike, 23:13
16 Terrence Mahon, Ardmore, PA, adidas, 23:15
17 Ibrahim Aden, Albuquerque, NM, Nike, none
18 Anthony Famiglietti, Knoxville, TN, adidas, 22:30
19 Rich Byrne, Ridgewood, NJ, Ridgewood RC, 23:24
21 Ray Hughes, Eugene, OR, Nike, 22:55
22 Jason Balkman, San Francisco, CA, Shannon Lab, none
23 Justin Young, Boulder, CO, Team Parsec, 23:40
24 Clint Wells, Boulder, CO, Nike, 22:54
26 Peter Julian, Boulder, CO, adidas, none
27 Nick Smith, Eugene, OR, Team Eugene, 23:46
28 Lyle Weese, Minneapolis, MN, Team USA Minnesota, 25:29
29 Jason Lehmkuhle, St. Paul, MN, Team USA Minnesota/ASICS, 25:21
30 Paul Kezes, Eugene, OR, Team XO, 24:01