New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Elite runners headed back to Elm City
20K national championship returns to New Haven for 30th year
The Faxon Law New Haven Road Race celebrates its 44th anniversary on Labor Day. The event will once again serve as the 20K national championship for the USATF, drawing many of the top long distance runners from across the country.
The races, which were canceled last year due to the pandemic, consist of a half marathon, relay, 5K, Town Fair Tire Kids Fun Run, and the signature 20K.
This year’s 20K race, which takes place on the New Haven Green, features three past champions, two Olympians and a number of America’s top distance runners competing for a prize purse of nearly $40,000. New Haven has hosted the 20K National Championship since 1992. This year marks the 30th year a national championship event has been held in New Haven, making the race the longest consecutive USATF Championship race ever.
California’s Jordan Hasay, 2017 Faxon Law New Haven 20K Champ, became the latest addition to the 20K race field this week. Hasay is the third fastest U.S. female marathoner and finished third in the Boston Marathon in both 2017 and 2019.
Hasy, Emily Durgin and Karis Joechem head the women’s field. Durgin (Standish, Maine) ran at UConn and is the current
USATF Running Circuit points leader. Joechem (Colorado Springs) finished third in the 2019 Faxon Law New Haven 20K. Boston’s Erika Kemp (2019 US 15K national champ) and Utah’s Makena Myler (1:09 half-marathon best) are also expeted to challenge for the top spot.
On the men’s side, Leonard Korir (Colorado Springs) heads a stellar men’s race field. Korir (2016, 2018, 2019 20K Champion and 2016 U.S. Olympian) is expected to be challenged by Jared Ward (Provo, Utah), Biya Simbassa (Flagstaff, Ariz.) , Haron Lagat (Colorado Springs) (Flagstaff) and Provo Utah’s Clayton Young. Ward won the 2015 Faxon Law New Haven 20K and finished sixth in the Rio Olympic Marathon. Simbassa finished second in this month’s Falmouth
Road Race. Lagat finished second to Korir in the 2019 Faxon Law New Haven 20K. Young is the current USATF Running Circuit leader. New Hampshire’s Ben True (2014 and 2016 Manchester Road Race champion) and Girma Mesha (2014 Faxon Law New Haven 20K champion) are also part of a very deep men’s race field.
The Ryan Shay Memorial Award will be awarded to the top male and female 20K finishers. Ryan Shay,
2004 New Haven 20K champion, passed away while running the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trails in New York City. The award is in recognition of Ryan’s commitment and dedication to the sport, as well as his longtime support of the New Haven Road Race. In addition to his first-place finish, Ryan competed in the event from 2004-2007.
To learn more about the event or to register, visit www.newhavenroadrace.org. Early registration is encouraged and this year the event is limited to 4,500 entrants!