Posted: March 30, 2006

Athletics: Olympic Gold Medalist Highlights Carlsbad 5000 Field

Several runners to arrive in Carlsbad following World Cross Country Championships

CARLSBAD, Calif. (March 30, 2006) - A race renowned for fast runners and world records once again welcomes a stellar field for the elite invitational at the 21st annual Carlsbad 5000 on April 9, 2006. Leading the way will be Olympic gold medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, who won gold in the 5,000-meters at the 2004 Games in Athens. She will be joined by the runner-up in that same race, silver medalist Isabella Ochichi of Kenya. Ochichi returns to Carlsbad as a former champion who broke the women's world record in 2004 and finished second last year.

The spring running season is in full swing as a contingent of runners will travel to Carlsbad straight from Fukuoka, Japan where they will be competing in the World Cross Country Championships, April 1-2; Ethiopians Sileshi Sihine and Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam and Mohamed Moustaoui of Moracco from the men's field and Defar, Ochichi, Australian Benita Johnson, Jo Pavey of Great Britain and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya from the women's field. If history holds true, a world record could be in sight, as last year Tirunesh Dibaba tied the women's world mark at Carlsbad  (14:51) after winning gold in both the long and short races at the World Championships.

Defar, 22, owns the fastest 5K in the elite women's field this year. She made a previous appearance in Carlsbad when she finished third in 2004 en route to a stellar season that saw her capture Olympic gold. Australian Benita Johnson adds to the competition as well. After finishing first at the 2004 World Cross Country Championships two years ago, she joined the elite women's field in Carlsbad where she finished second in a time of 15:07.

Crowd favorite and three-time winner Sammy Kipketer, who set the current men's world record of 13:00 when he won Carlsbad in 2000 and matched the effort in 2001, returns again. Kipketer seeks a return to the top of the podium after finishing third last year.

Challenging Kipketer and making his Carlsbad debut is Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia, the silver medalist in the 10,000-meters in Athens. He enters the race with the fastest time in the field at 12:47.04 on the track. Kenyan Shadrack Kosgei, who finished third last year, will also return.

Top Americans will be joining the field on the women's side led by Amy Yoder-Begley of Albuquerque, the 2004 USA 10 km Champion. Jenelle Deatherage, Christin Wurth and Annie Bersagel round out the American group.

In addition to the elite invitational, the Carlsbad 5000 promises a scenic course, healthy competition and a weekend of fun for participants of all ages and skill levels. The popular Junior Carlsbad kids' event, now in its 17th year, is held the day prior, Saturday, April 8. Registration for both events will be available on race day.

For more information or to register for the races, visit www.eliteracing.com or call (858) 450-6510.

-- Elite Roster Follows --

(As of March 30, 2006)
Men's Elite Field
BIB #    NAME, AGE     COUNTRY   5K BEST        FACT/COMMENT
1- Sammy Kipketer, 24      KEN    12:52.33 (t)  1st 2000-02 Carlsbad 5000, WB(13:00) 2000&01 CB 5000


2 - *Sileshi Sihine, 24    ETH    12:47.04 (t)  Silver medalist 2004 Olympics 10,000m
3 - *Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, 21   ETH12:52.80 (t) 3rd 2005 Rome Golden Gala 5,000m
4 - Abraham Chebii, 26     KEN    12:52.99 (t)  2nd 2005 World XC 4K
5 - Shadrack Kosgei, 21    KEN    13:12.69 (t)  3rd 2005 Carlsbad 5000
6 - *Mohamed Moustaoui, 20 MAR    13:22.61 (t)  N/A
7 - Boaz Cheboiywo, 28     KEN    13:19.56 (t)  5th 2005 Carlsbad 5000
8 - Meshack Sang, 27       KEN    13:20.36 (t)  6th 2005 Carlsbad 5000
9 - Meregu Zewdie, 23      ETH    N/A
10 - Ibrahim Gashu, 17     ETH    N/A
11 - Fidele Baregensabe, 26BUR    Debut

Women's Elite Field
BIB #    NAME, AGE     COUNTRY   5K BEST        FACT/COMMENT
F1 - *Isabella Ochichi, 24 KEN     14:47.70 (t) 2nd 05 CB5000, 2nd 04 Olympic 5,000m
F2 - Meseret Defar, 22     ETH    14:28.98 (t)  2004 Olympic Gold Medalist 5,000m
F3 - *Benita Johnson, 26   AUS    14:47.60 (t)  1st 2004 World XC 8K, 2nd 2004 Carlsbad 5000
F4 - *Jo Pavey, 32         GBR    14:40.71 (t)  7th 05 Rome Golden Gala 5,000m
F5 - Amy Yoder-Begley, 28  USA    15:38.60 (t)  2004 United States Women's 10,000m Champion
F6 - *Edna Kiplagat, 26    KEN     N/A          4th 2006 Kenya XC Trials
F7 - Jenelle Deatherage, 28USA    DEBUT         8th 05 US National Ch. 1500m
F8 - Yuri Kano, 27         JPN    15:21.70 (t)  1st 04 US Cobb 10k Classic
F9 - Rebby Koech, 24       KEN     N/A          N/A
F10 - Sentayehu Ejigu, 21  ETH    14:35.18 (t)  4th World Indoor 3,000m, 4th 2004 Carlsbad 5000
F11 - Christin Wurth, 25   USA    15:43         2006 US World XC 4K
F12 - Annie Bersagel, 23   USA    15:56.90 (t)  10th 2006 US XC Trials 8K
F13 - Sylvia Mosqueda, 40  USA    15:33.38 (t)
F14 - Carrie Messner, 28   USA    15:47.37 (t)
F15 - Lyubov Denisova, 34  RUS    N/A
F16 - Irina Vachuk, 23     UKR    16:27

t = Track Time

* 2006 World Cross Country Championships Participants
Sileshi Sihine
Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam
Mohamed Moustaoui
Isabella Ochichi
Meseret Defar
Benita Johnson
Jo Pavey
Edna Kiplagat

COUNTRY KEY
AUS    Australia
BUR    Burundi
ETH    Ethiopia
GBR    England
JPN    Japan
KEN    Kenya
MEX    Mexico
MAR    Morocco
UKR    Ukraine
USA    United States of America

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