Courtesy of Running USA wire.

Top International Field also expected to produce fast times
PROVIDENCE - (September 12, 2002) - For the first time since 1998, the USA Men's 5K Championship will be contested as the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence, Rhode Island hosts the national road championship on Sunday, September 15. A top American men's field including U.S. Olympian Meb Keflezighi and 1998 U.S. 5K champion Dan Browne is expected.

A deep international men's field - which includes Falmouth champion James Koskei, Irish Olympian and local runner Mark Carroll and Australian Olympian Shaun Creighton - also will be competing, but as Open athletes while the women's field is equally talented with Asmae Leghzaoui (8K and 10K world record holder), Uta Pippig (2001 winner), Libbie Hickman, Elva Dryer and Elana Meyer who set a world 5K road record (15:10) here in 1994.

"CVS is proud to return as the title sponsor of this premier Rhode Island event and the state's largest road race," said Jack Kramer, Senior Vice President of CVS/pharmacy and Chairman of the CVS Downtown 5K. "We are especially delighted to bring the USA Men's 5K Championships to Rhode Island for the first time."

Keflezighi, 27, from San Diego is one of the favorites not only for the U.S. title, but also overall. Thus far in 2002, the Team USA California athlete has won four national titles (12K cross country, 15K roads, 10,000m track and 7 mile roads) and in May at Stanford, the UCLA graduate ran 27:20.15, the #2 all-time U.S. 10,000m performance behind his U.S. record. His 5000m personal record is 13:11.77.

Browne of Portland, Ore. and Kyle Baker of Mason, Mich. are running well too as evidenced by their exciting duel at the USA 20K Championships at New Haven on Labor Day - Browne edged Baker, 59:21 to 59:22. Boulder, Colo. resident Clint Wells who finished 6th (13:36.22) at the USA 5000m Championships in June also should be a top contender.

Other top Americans expected at Providence are:

Mark Andrews (Canisteo, NY), Scott Bagley (Mendon, NY), Chris Banks (Springfield, VA), Trent Briney (Rochester Hills, MI), Richie Brinker (Rochester Hills, MI), Kevin Doyle (Rochester Hills, MI), Mike Fox (Rochester Hills, MI), Donnie Franzen (Rochester Hills, MI), Matt Gabrielson (St. Paul, MN), Joe Gibson (Rochester Hills, MI), Chad Johnson (Portland, OR), Ryan Kirkpatrick (Boulder, CO), Jason Lehmkuhle (St. Paul, MN), Brian Sell (Rochester Hills, MI), Matt Thull (Wauwatosa, WI) and Justin Young (Rochester Hills, MI)

The race offers over $51,000 in prize money with $5000 to the winners and an additional $15,000 for the USA Men's Championship ($5000, $3000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $900, $700, $500, $300 and $100). There is also a $25,000 World Record bonus (to break 13:00/14:54) and a $5000 time incentive bonus (1st Man 13:10 or under/1st Woman 15:10 or under). Time incentives and world records are not cumulative.

5K ROAD RECORDS World
13:00 Sammy Kipketer (KEN) Carlsbad 5000, CA 03/26/00
13:00 Sammy Kipketer (KEN) Carlsbad 5000, CA 04/01/01
14:54 Deena Drossin (USA) Carlsbad 5000, CA 04/07/02

U.S.
13:24 Marc Davis Carlsbad 5000, CA 03/31/96
14:54 Deena Drossin Carlsbad 5000, CA 04/07/02

Course
13:20 Ismael Kirui (KEN) Harvard Pilgrim Downtown, RI 09/14/97
15:10 Elana Meyer (RSA) Harvard Health Downtown, RI 10/16/94

Before the 5K Race, the Youth Races will be held in age categories ranging from ages 5 and under to ages 14-15 beginning at 9:00AM in front of the Providence Place Mall. This year, the CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K has invited Rhode Island schools to bring their student athletes to compete in these races. Schools that bring a team of 25 or more runners will be eligible to participate in a drawing for a $5,000 grant to one school's physical education program.

For more information, please call the Race Hotline at (401) 751-7287 or visit the race website at: www.cvsdowntown5k.com