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RECAP OF THE 2014 CVS HEALTH DOWNTOWN 5k
More than 7,000 people from around the region and world registered for
today’s 25th annual CVS Health Downtown 5k ÛÓ bringing a mix of
elite and other competitive runners into Providence, along with recreational
runners, walkers and children. In addition to hosting the USA Men’s and USA
Women’s 5k National Championships, the CVS Health Downtown 5k offered
races and inspirational events for individuals of all ages and abilities, and
raised funds for charities throughout Southern New England.
More than 4,500 people registered for the main 5k race while nearly 1,700
children registered for the event’s youth races, which included
21 different races for children ÛÓ pre-kindergarten through eighth grade ÛÓ
including a CVS Health “All Kids Can” Inspirational event for children of
all abilities. The athletic activities offered through the CVS Health Downtown
5k included a 3k High School Inspirational eventÛÓsponsored by Tufts Health
PlanÛÓthat drew more than 1,000 high school students from the region.
Diego Estrada of Flagstaff, Ariz., became the men’s overall and
national 5k champion with a time of 13:56.4. Estrada, who grew up in Salinas, Calif.,
and graduated from Northern Arizona University, competed in the 10k during the
2012 London Olympics. This is Estrada’s first national title.
The women’s overall and national 5k champion was Molly Huddle
of Providence, R.I., with a time of 15:10.0 ÛÓ a personal record that also
equals the course record set by Elana Meyer in 1995. Huddle defended her title
from last year’s race, making her a four-time winner of the CVS Health Downtown
5kÛÓmatching the four-time winning record of Olympian and CVS Health Downtown 5k
inaugural race winner Lynn Jennings. Huddle is an Olympian (London Olympics)
who grew up in Elmira, N.Y., and graduated from Notre Dame University where she
was a record breaking nine-time All American.
Estrada and Huddle each won $8,000 in prize money: $5,000 for the
USA Track & Field Championship and $3,000 for winning the CVS Health
Downtown 5k Open Race.
Other top three 5k men’s runners include German Fernandez, who placed
second with a time of 13:57.0, and Maverick Darling who placed third with
a time of 13:57.5. Fernandez, a California native, made his debut at the CVS
Health Downtown 5k. He graduated from Oklahoma State University and trains in Portland,
Ore. Darling grew up and trains in Ovid, Mich., and graduated from the
University of Wisconsin.
Other top three 5k women’s runners include Jorday Hasay, who placed
second with a time of 15:25.0, and Emily Infeld who placed third with a time of
15:32.5. Hasay is part of the Nike Oregan ProjectÛÓcoached by Alberto SalazarÛÓand
competed in the 2013 Word Championship in Moscow, Russia. Hasay is a graduate
of the University of Oregon and grew up in San Louis Obispo, Calif. Infeld had
a spectacular return to this year’s race after being diagnosed with a stress fracture
in her sacrum in November, which kept her on the sidelines for the early part
of the year. Infeld trains in Portland, Ore., graduated from Georgetown
University and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.
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