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Talented Field Heading to Saturday’s Boston 10K for Women, Presented by REI
Experienced champions and professional debutants to square off in downtown Boston
BOSTON – Conventures, Inc. today announced the field of elite athletes competing in the 2021 Boston 10K for Women, presented by REI which will be held on Saturday, October 16th at 8:00 a.m. The women will vie for $17,000 in prize money, and to secure a title on one of the most historic courses in women’s road racing. Formerly known as the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, the race is New England’s largest all-women’s sporting event, and is the second oldest all-women’s road race in the United States.
Athletes representing five countries and various training groups across the US will descend on Boston Common for the event, with 2017 champion Lauren Paquette and 2017 runner-up Natosha Rogers returning to compete against rising stars like Weini Kelati, Sharon Lokedi, Fiona O’Keeffe, and more. The Elite Field is sponsored by Puma, who joins REI as a new race sponsor for the 2021 event. A full list of athletes is below, and biographical information on each athlete will be made available for attending media.
| Bib | Athlete (CTZ) | Age | Residence | 10,000 meters/10K PR (Year) |
| 3 | Weini Kelati (USA) | 24 | Flagstaff, Arizona | 31:10 (Track, 2020) |
| 4 | Sharon Lokedi (KEN) | 27 | Flagstaff, Arizona | 31:11 (Track, 2020) |
| 5 | Natosha Rogers (USA) | 30 | Littleton, Colorado | 31:12 (Track, 2020) / 32:46 (Roads, 2017) |
| 6 | Mary Munanu (KEN) | 26 | Embu, Kenya | 33:08 (Track, 2018) / 31:20 (Roads, 2017) |
| 7 | Iveen Chepkemoi (KEN) | 24 | Kericho, Kenya | 31:57 (Track, 2019) |
| 8 | Lauren Paquette (USA) | 35 | Little Rock, Arkansas | 32:01 (Track, 2020) / 32:52 (Roads, 2016) |
| 9 | Fiona O’Keeffe USA) | 23 | Davis, California | 32:12 (Track, 2020) |
| 10 | Amy Davis (USA) | 27 | Madison, Wisconsin | 32:13 (Track, 2020) |
| 11 | Taylor Werner (USA) | 23 | St. Genevieve, Montana | 32:26 (Track, 2019) |
| 12 | Poppy Tank (GBR) | 23 | Devon, England | 32:50 (Track, 2021) |
| 13 | Alycia Cridenbring (USA) | 29 | Pleasant Hill, California | 33:12 (Track, 2015) |
| 14 | Kathryn Munks (USA) | 23 | Chester, New York | 33:22 (Track, 2019) |
| 15 | Maor Tiyouri (ISR) | 31 | Kefar Sava, Israel | 33:43 (Track, 2018) / 33:46 (Roads, 2021) |
| 16 | Aisling Cuffe (USA) | 28 | Concord, Massachusetts | 34:00 (Roads, 2019) |
| 17 | Emeline Delanis (FRA) | 24 | Villeneuve St. George, France | 34:11 (Roads, 2021) |
| 18 | Mimi Fallon (USA) | 56 | Walpole, Massachusetts | 34:22 (Roads, 2004) |
| 19 | Nikki Long (USA) | 30 | Cary, North Carolina | 38:16 (Roads, 2015) |
| 20 | Caity Ashley (USA) | 26 | Cary, North Carolina | 38:31 (Roads, 2020) |
| 21 | Rita Beard ( USA) | 31 | Raleigh, North Carolina | 38:37 (Roads, 2016) |
| 22 | Melissa Lodge (USA | 25 | Hopkinton, Massachusetts | Debut |
The race returns for its 45th running to Boston Common after being held virtually in 2020, and will be held on a Saturday for the first time in race history, after yielding its traditional race date for the running of the 125th Boston Marathon.
Media credentials:
Interested attending media must contact T.K. Skenderian at 617-204-4239 or tkskenderian@conventures.com to guarantee access. Media access at the start line, finish line, and on the lead press truck will be provided on a first-come, first served basis. A media tent will be located near the finish line and available for pre-race and post-race recording.
Schedule of events:
A partial schedule of weekend events is listed below.
2021 Boston 10K for Women Presented by REI
Boston Common
6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Festival and Expo
7:50 a.m. Wheelchair Start
8:00 a.m. RACE START
9:30 a.m. Inclusive Kids’ Races
10:00 a.m. Post-Race Celebration and Award Ceremony
Prize Money Structure:
The REI Boston 10K For Women is pleased to again provide a $20,150 prize purse for top finishers in the various event divisions. The prize structure for the 2021 event is as follows:
Open Division
1st $9,000
2nd $5,000
3rd $3,000
Master’s Division
1st $500
2nd $350
3rd $200
Wheelchair
1st $500
2nd $350
3rd $200
Handcycle
1st $500
2nd $350
3rd $200
Past Champions:
| 2019 | Molly Huddle | 31:50 |
| 2018 | Emily Sisson | 30:39^ |
| 2017 | Lauren Paquette | 33:30 |
| 2016 | Emily Sisson | 31:46 |
| 2015 | Molly Huddle (CR, AR) | 31:21* |
| 2014 | Jordan Hasay | 31:39 |
| 2013 | Sentayehu Ejigu (CR) | 31:33 |
| 2012 | Helen Jemutai | 32:30 |
| 2011 | Janet Cherobon-Bawcom | 32:47 |
| 2010 | Molly Huddle | 32:00 |
| 2009 | Molly Huddle | 32:07 |
| 2008 | Molly Huddle | 32:51 |
| 2007 | Deena Kastor | 32:38 |
| 2006 | Katie McGregor | 32:38 |
| 2005 | Katie McGregor | 32:36 |
| 2004 | Marie Davenport | 32:48 |
| 2003 | Elva Dryer | 32:34 |
| 2002 | Marla Runyan | 31:46 |
| 2001 | Colleen DeReuck | 32:10 |
| 2000 | Catherine Ndereba | 32:46 |
| 1999 | Libbie Hickman | 32:48 |
| 1998 | Libbie Hickman | 31:57 |
| 1997 | Gladys Ondeyo | 32:46 |
| 1996 | Gladys Ondeyo | 32:47 |
| 1995 | Colette Murphy | 31:39 |
| 1994 | Elana Meyer | 31:39 |
| 1993 | Lynn Jennings | 32:02 |
| 1992 | Lynn Jennings | 32:22 |
| 1991 | Lynn Jennings | 32:12 |
| 1990 | Lynn Jennings | 32:39 |
| 1989 | Lynn Jennings | 31:57 |
| 1988 | Anne Hannam (Course Record) | 31:38 |
| 1987 | Nancy Tinari | 32:22 |
| 1986 | Ingrid Kristiansen | 31:40 |
| 1985 | Joan Benoit Samuelson | 31:49 |
| 1984 | Joan Benoit | 31:51 |
| 1983 | Joan Benoit | 31:39 |
| 1982 | Anne Audaine (AR) | 31:42 |
| 1981 | Jan Merrill (AR) | 32:02 |
| 1980 | Patti Lyons (Catalano) (AR) | 32:24 |
| 1979 | Margaret Groos (AR) | 32:47 |
| 1978 | Joan Benoit (American Record) | 33:16 |
| 1977 | Lynn Jennings | 34:31 |
* Molly Huddle’s 2015 performance remains the current US 10K road record in an all-women’s competition
^ Due to an off-course public safety response during the race, the 2018 race course was shortened by approximately 300 meters.
About the Boston 10K for Women, Presented by REI:
Established in 1977 as the Bonne Bell Mini Marathon, the REI Boston 10K for Women is the longest-running all-women’s sporting event in New England. With thousands of runners and spectators each year, it’s New England’s largest all-women’s road race, and has been organized every year by Conventures, Inc. Known for many years as the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, the race features a flat out-and-back course through Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and stretches of Memorial Drive in Cambridge, finishing at Boston Common. More than 175,000 women have raced in the event since its inception. For more information on the race please visit www.boston10kforwomen.com.
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