Posted: September 7, 2005

Athletics: Khannouchi, Goucher, Rudolph, Famiglietti Headline USA 5K Championships in Providence

From USATF

The USA 5K Championships, to be held Sunday, Sept. 11 at the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence, R.I., boasts strong U.S. fields. The men's lineup includes a trio of Olympians and a former marathon world record holder, while the women's field features an Olympian and several national champions.

Olympians Anthony Famiglietti, Adam Goucher and Jonathan Riley are among the favorites for the 2005 U.S. title in the men's race, but will likely have company in former marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:38). This is Khannouchi's first appearance in a USA Championship. Goucher, who is making his road racing debut, is considered to be the race favorite based on his 13:10.19 on the track at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium on July 23.

Leading the women's field will be two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph, a Providence resident. With the top U.S. 10,000 meter performance in 2005 (31:18.96), Rudolph, 31, also owns several USA titles including the 1998-99 USA 8K and two USA short-course cross country crowns. Rudolph's main competitors for the 5K national title should be former NCAA champion Kara Goucher, who ran 15:17.55 at the same meet as her husband Adam and 2004 USA 10K champion Amy Yoder-Begley.

For the first time, the USA Men's and Women's 5K Championships will be hosted by the same race in the same year.

Last year at the event, Tim Broe won the U.S. title (and the race outright) in a national championship record (13:37). For more race information, go to: CVSDowntown5K.com

The USA 5K Championships is the seventh stop for the men and fifth for the women on the USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series, features USA Championships from 5K to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The eleventh edition for the men and tenth for the women, the 2005 circuit has nine events for men and seven events for women.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships (Twin Cities, Oct. 2) will be doubled. Abdi Abdirahman currently leads the men's circuit with 48 points and Colleen De Reuck leads the women's standings with 34.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $5 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the USA 5K Championships and the 2005 USARC, visit: USATF.org.