Carlsbad 5000

Carlsbad 5000 Preview: Dibaba Wants Fifth WR

Carlsbad 5000 Preview: Dibaba Wants Fifth WR

Mar 28, 2015 by Meg Bellino
Carlsbad 5000 Preview: Dibaba Wants Fifth WR




Remember in 2014 when Genzebe Dibaba set three world records in the span of two weeks? Then when she set the indoor 5000m record (14:18.86) this February? The 24-year-old superstar is coming to America to track down her fifth world record in this Sunday’s Carlsbad 5000.

Named “World’s Fastest 5k” Carlsbad has a rich history of producing fast times. The course is home to the men’s and women’s world 5k road records: 13:00 for men, and 14:46 for women. This will be Dibaba’s debut on the roads, but with a record in mind and barring no major mishaps, she should walk away with her fifth world record.

Some of America’s top talent will be on hand to challenge Dibaba, however. U.S. record-holder Deena Kastor (Whose 14:54 from 2002 set the record) is shooting for the master’s world record in this event, a modest 15:48. 2013 800m world bronze medalist Brenda Martinez will be on the line for her third Carlsbad 5000. The speedster ran 15:25 last year and has been the first American finisher each year. Though Dibaba’s personal best may be over a minute faster, Martinez is one of the toughest competitors out there and could surprise people.

On the men’s side, Ethiopian Dejan Gebremeskel will try to win his fifth consecutive Carlsbad 5000. But everybody’s favorite master’s runner, Bernard Lagat, will be right alongside the young gun. Lagat finished second in 2014, only five seconds behind Gebremeskel (in what Lagat thought was the American record, 13:21. Turns out the course was short, so the 13:24 record from 1996 still stands, for now).

Fresh off his U.S. Half Marathon Championship, Diego Estrada will mix it up with the top athletes. He blew away the field in Houston, running 1:00:51 for his firth U.S. title. Lagat’s training partners, Lawi Lalang and Sam Chelanga, former multiple-time NCAA Champions, will surely be competitive as well.

Most impressively, it was reported on Friday that T-Mobile CEO and avid running fan John Legere doubled the prize money for the top-3 U.S. men and women, as well as doubling the American Record bonuses. 

Full Elite Fields for 2015 Carlsbad 5000
 
Women
Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopia
Deena Kastor, USA
Betsy Saina, Kenya
Brenda Martinez, USA
Wude Yimer, Ethiopia
Morgan Uceny, USA
Margaret Chelimo, Kenya
Gelete Burka, Ethiopia
Jessica O’Connell, Canada
Susan Kuijken, Netherlands
Sarah Brown, USA
Miyuki Uehara, Japan
Violah Lagat, Kenya
D’Ann Arthur, USA
Katie Matthews, USA
Juliet Bottorff, USA
Stephanie Bruce, USA
Sarah Pagano, USA
Annie Beck, USA

Men
Dejan Gebremeskel, Ethiopia
Bernard Lagat, USA
Lawi Lalang, Kenya
Wilson Too, Kenya
Andy Vernon, Great Britain
Joseph Kitur, Kenya
James Leakos, Canada
Dan Lowry, USA
Diego Estrada, USA
Ben St Lawrence, Australia
Luke Caldwell, Great Britain
Mikael Ekvall, Sweden
Sam Chelanga, Kenya
Haron Lagat, Kenya
Steve Mangan, USA
Ethan Shaw, USA
Ben Bruce, USA
Andrew Springer, USA, pacer