Posted: April 6, 2006

Athletics: Olympic Gold Medalist Highlights Carlsbad 5000 Field

Several runners to arrive in Carlsbad after World Cross Country Championships

CARLSBAD, Calif. - (April 5, 2006) - A race renowned for fast runners and world records once again welcomes a stellar field for the elite invitational at the 21st Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday, April 9, 2006. Leading the way will be Olympic gold medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, who won gold in the 5000 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 past 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 competed at the World Cross Country Championships, April 1-2: Ethiopians Sileshi Sihine (12K silver medal) and Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam and Mohamed Moustaoui of Morocco from the men's field and Defar, Ochichi, Australian Benita Johnson (4th 4K and 8K), 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 Cross Country 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 winning gold at the 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 Carlsbad champion 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. After finishing third last year, Kipketer again eyes the top of the podium.

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 10K champion. Jenelle Deatherage, Christin Wurth and Annie Bersagel round out the U.S. 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 EliteRacing.com or call (858) 450-6510.

Carlsbad 5000 Field - as of March 30, 2006

MEN
BIB# / NAME / AGE / COUNTRY / 5K BEST / FACT - COMMENT
1 Sammy Kipketer, 24, KEN, 12:52.33 (t), 1st 2000-02 Carlsbad 5000; WR (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, ETH, 12:52.80 (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, 26, BUR, Debut

WOMEN
BIB# / NAME / AGE / COUNTRY / 5K BEST / FACT - COMMENT
F1 Isabella Ochichi*, 24, KEN, 14:47.70 (t), 2nd 05 CB5000, 2nd 04 Olympic 5000m
F2 Meseret Defar, 22, ETH, 14:28.98 (t), 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist 5000m
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 5000m
F5 Amy Yoder-Begley, 28, USA/NM, 15:38.60 (t), 2004 USA 10K champion
F6 Edna Kiplagat*, 26, KEN, N/A, 4th 2006 Kenya XC Trials
F7 Jenelle Deatherage, 28, USA/MN, Debut, 8th 05 USA 1500m
F8 Yuri Kano, 27, JPN, 15:21.70 (t), 1st 04 U.S. Cobb 10K Classic
F9 Rebby Koech, 24, KEN, N/A
F10 Sentayehu Ejigu, 21, ETH, 14:35.18 (t), 4th World Indoor 3000m, 4th 2004 Carlsbad 5000
F11 Christin Wurth, 25, USA/AR, 15:43, 2006 USA World XC 4K
F12 Annie Bersagel, 23, USA/MN, 15:56.90 (t), 10th 2006 USA XC Trials 8K
F13 Sylvia Mosqueda, 40, USA, CA, 15:33.38 (t)
F14 Carrie Messner, 28, USA/CO, 15:47.37 (t)
F15 Lyubov Denisova, 34, RUS, N/A
F16 Irina Vachuk, 23, UKR, 16:27
t = Track Time
*competed at 2006 World Cross Country Championships

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.

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