CARLSBAD, Calif. – Ethiopian
great Meseret Defar will attempt to better her standing world record at the 25th
Annual of the Carlsbad 5000, presented by Nuvasive. The race is renowned as the
‘World’s Fastest 5K’ as the home of 16 world records and will celebrate its
silver anniversary on Sunday, April 11, 2010.
“I have so many great memories of
Carlsbad. It will be very special to run there for the 25th anniversary of the
race,” said Defar, who set her world record of 14:46 in the 2006 Carlsbad 5000.
“Everyone knows how fast the course is and if we get a good day it would be
great to try and challenge my world record.”
Defar, who won Olympic 5000m gold medal at
the Athens Games and a bronze medal over 5000m at the Beijing Olympics, was recently
crowned world indoor 3000m champion, her fourth consecutive title. She will
square off on the seaside course against 2009 champion Aheza Kiros of Ethiopia.
Kiros defeated American Shannon Rowbury 15:38 to 15:41 in 2009, after a
thrilling stride-for-stride finish over the last 400 meters.
“The Carlsbad 5000 has certainly had its
far share of success when it comes to breaking records,” said Matt Turnbull,
Elite Athlete Coordinator for the Event.
“Will this year’s chapter in the history of Carlsbad produce another
World Best? Well it’s hard to guarantee, but all the ingredients are there.
Meseret Defar will return after a three year absence and she is on a world
record quest. She was so close in Europe over 3,000m indoors and now firmly has
Carlsbad in her sights.”
Headlining the men’s field is defending
champion Bekana Daba of Ethiopia. Daba barely out-kicked fellow Ethiopian
Abreham Cherkos to take the 2009 Carlsbad 5000 title, with both athletes
clocking in at 13:19. He recently won the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon
in 1:01:40, the sixth fastest half-marathon run in the U.S. last year. The
21-year-old has run a sensational 12:59 over 5,000m, with sub-13:00 being the
gold standard for 5000m track racing.
“If world records were easy then they
would be set far more regularly than they are,” added Turnbull. “The men’s 5km
record has only changed hands 7 times in the last fifty years which is
incredible given the talent and the amount of attempts over the years. It was
not until 2008 that I actually saw the course for the first time and I was
surprised because at first glance it does not appear to be the fastest course,
with a few inclines and a couple of hair pin turns, it is staggering the
quality of performance we have seen over the years.”
Also returning in 2010 is the special All
Day 25K competition. Runners can register to run five of the individual 5K
races and join the inaugural All Day 25K participant group. Participants who
sign up for the All Day 25K will receive a special technical t-shirt and an
“All Day 25K” finisher’s medal upon completion of their last race.
The cost to register for the All Day 25K
is $75 and space is limited, so runners are encouraged to sign-up soon. The All
Day 25K is intended for runners who can maintain a 10-minute or faster pace, as
the time between individual races is limited. Participants already registered
for the Carlsbad 5000 who are interested in the All Day 25K program can
complete a transfer form at: Carlsbad5000.com
The 25th running of the Carlsbad 5000
annually attracts amateur, competitive and professional runners from around the
world. Race day begins at 7:05am with the Masters Men 40 and over, the first of
nine races that will take place throughout the morning.
The main event, featuring the world’s
fastest professional athletes, begins at 12:15pm. The event is the home of the
current world 5K road records: 13:00, Sammy Kipketer (KEN), 2000 & 2001,
and 14:46, Meseret Defar (ETH), 2006.
