Top Athletes Head to Boston to compete in the B.A.A. 5K and Invitational Mile on Boston Marathon weekend

BOSTON – Some of the fastest middle-distance runners in the world will be taking part in the third-annual B.A.A. 5K and Invitational Mile races on Sunday, April 17, 2011, one day prior to Monday’s Boston Marathon.  

For the first time in the three years of the 5k, top athletes will compete for a prize purse of $30,000.  The 5k will be headlined on the men's side by Bobby Curtis and The Ben's (Ben St. Lawrence, Ben True and Ben Bruce).  John Korir of Kenya and recent 2:11 marathoner Nick Arciniaga will also compete in the 5k, making this the deepest field the B.A.A. has yet to see.

Men's 5k

BEN ST. LAWRENCE (AUS) 14:05
BOBBY CURTIS (USA) 13:48
BEN BRUCE (USA) 14:00
NICK ARCINIAGA (USA) 14:13
JARROD SHOEMAKER (USA) 14:12
JON PIERCE (USA) 14:04
BEN TRUE (USA) 14:04
JOHN KORIR (KEN) 13:51

The women's race is headlined by Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui.  Americans Stephanie Pezzullo and Teresa McWalters figure to be in the mix as well.

Women's 5k

LINETH CHEPKURUI (KEN) 15:50
STEPHANIE PEZZULLO (USA) 16:11
TERESA McWALTERS (USA) 16:12
TONI SALUCCI (USA) 15:45

After the B.A.A. 5K, a talented field of athletes will compete for $14,500 in the third-annual Invitational Mile, with $3,000 going to the top male and female finisher.

Great Britain’s top miler, Andrew Baddeley (PR of 3:49.38), returns to defend his 2010 win in the Invitational Mile.  The men's mile will also include Americans Craig Miller and Kyle Miller, and high school great Lukas Verzbicas.  We're excited to see if Verzbicas is ready to hang with the big boys over the mile distance!

Men's Mile

ANDREW BADDELEY (GBR) 3:49
BRIAN GAGNON (USA) 4:05
CRAIG MILLER (USA) 3:58
KYLE MILLER (USA) 4:00
LUKAS VERZBICAS (USA) 4:03

Anna Pierce (2009 champion) returns to lead the women’s section, which includes Brie Felnagle, Treniere Moser, and a host of sub 4:35 milers.

Women's Mile

ANNA PIERCE (USA) 4:28
BRIE FELNAGLE (USA) 4:32
CHARLOTTE BROWNING (GBR) 4:31
MARINA MUNCAN (SRB) 4:33
ERIN BEDELL (USA) 4:43
TRENIERE MOSER (USA) 4:29

“These athletes have helped quickly grow our Sunday events in three years,” said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk. “Our 5K has proven to be a boost of running energy that primes spectators and competitors alike for Marathon Monday. We can’t wait for the competition to begin.”

The Men’s and Women’s elite miles are the last of six races in the annual B.A.A. Invitational Mile.  Preceding the elite races will be mile competitions between area high school athletes.

We will be in Boston all weekend, from media-day on Friday until after Marathon Monday is finished, so check back for interviews, results and complete Boston Marathon weekend coverage!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

8:00 a.m. - B.A.A. 5K
9:30 a.m. - Middle School 1K
9:45 a.m. - Scholastic Mile
10:00 a.m. - Professional Mile