Runner's & Triathlete's Web (RRW) Athletics: Crazy 8's 8-K Releases Elite Field

Organizers of the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8s 8-K Run have released their complete elite fields, and they are hopeful that Peter Githuka's 1996 world record of 22:03 can finally be surpassed at Saturday's event in Kingsport, Tenn. The race takes place on a candlelit, figure-8 course at night.

Ethiopian Demssew Tsega, recently fifth over 10 km at the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta in 28:52, looks like the best bet to take home the special $10,008 world record bonus put up by Regional Eye Center.

"He certainly has the wheels to do it," said co-event director and elite athlete recruiter Hank Brown through a media release. "His agent told me he's going for it, so we'll do everything on our end to help make it happen."

That includes adding a pacemaker to take the field through 4 km, Brown said. "Hopefully that will set it up for a very exciting second half of the race," he said.

Other top entrants include Kenyans Josphat Boit, Julius Kiptoo (2006 champion), and Philip Koech; Moroccan Karim El Mabchour, and Ethiopians Gebo Burka and Ezkyas Sisay.

On the women's side of the race, Kenyan Ogla Kimaiyo will defend her title (she ran 25:52 last year). Ethiopian Amane Gobena appears to be her top challenger; she was second at the Freihofer's Run for Women and the Dick's Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder 10-K earlier this year.

Here are the complete elite fields:

MEN - Josphat Boit, KEN Tim Briles, USA/SC Michael Bunker, USA/NC Gebo Burka, ETH Karim El Mabchour, MAR Ernest Kimeli, KEN Evance Kipchumba, KEN Daniel Kipkoech, KEN Julius Kiptoo, KEN Peter Kipyator, KEN Philip Koech, KEN Peter Kosgei, KEN Nicholas Kurgat, KEN Taylor Little, USA/NC Silah Misoi, KEN Shadrack Muteri, KEN Joseph Ngeti, KEN Sammy Nyamongo, KEN Evans Ogaro, KEN Erick Rotich, KEN Stephen Samoie, KEN Ezkyas Sisay, ETH Bernard Too, KEN Demessew Tsega, ETH Ryan Warrenburg, USA/NC

WOMEN - Janet Cherobon, KEN Belainesh Gebre, ETH Amane Gobena, ETH Divina Jepkogei, KEN Jane Kibii, KEN Ogla Kimaiyo, KEN Everlyne Lagat, KEN Alemtsehay Misganaw, ETH Jane Muia, KEN Jane Murage, KEN Hyvon Ngetich, KEN Nuta Olaru, ROM Mirriam Siamusiye, KEN Winny Tonui, KEN