Nation’s top runners ready to descend on Elm City for race

This year’s Faxon Law New Haven Road Race boasts a number of the country’s top runners, who will compete for a prize purse of more than $40,000 Labor Day at the New Haven Green. The event has played host to the USATF 20K National Championship since 1992.

Past Faxon Law New Haven 20K champions Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, Meghan Peyton and Aliphine Tuliamuk head the women’s race field. Georgia’s Cherobon-Bawcom won the 2011 race and finished 12th in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Olympics. New Mexico’s Tuliamuk, the 2016 champion here, will also be competing. She holds nine national road race titles.

Peyton was the 20K winner in 2013. She competed at the 2012 and 2016 USA Olympic team trials and has been a member of four USA National teams. California’s Sara Hall, a 2017 USATF Marathon champion, who placed third at last year’s New Haven 20K, will also compete. New York’s Allie Kieffer is also expected to finish near the top. She was sixth in last year’s Faxon Law New Haven 20K and was fifth in last year’s New York City Marathon.

Colorado’s Leonard Korir, a champion here in 2016 who competed in the 10,000 meters at the Rio Olympics, is the men’s favorite. Korir lost on a lean Galen Rupp in last year’s memorable race. Korir will be challenged by Colorado’s Sammy Kosgei, Connecticut’s Donn Cabral, North Carolina’s Christo Landry and Massachusetts’ Tim Ritchie.

Kosgei boasts a marathon best finish of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and is a former world record holder for the 25K. Landry finished fourth in last year’s 20K and third in the 2016 race. Cabral, who had a stellar high school career at Glastonbury, will be competing in New Haven for the first time. Cabral competed in the last two Olympics in the steeplechase, placing eighth both times. Ritchie has finished fifth in the last two Faxon Law New Haven 20Ks.

The Ryan Shay Memorial Award will be presented to the top male and female 20K finishers. Shay, the 2004 New Haven 20K Champion, passed away while running the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City. The award is in recognition of Shay’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, Shay competed in the event from 2004-2007.