Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.) return to the 32nd running of the Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K to defend their USA 20 km titles Monday.
On the men's side, Gotcher will face a strong field that includes 2010 USA 15 km champion Mo Trafeh (Duarte, Calif.), who was runner-up to Gotcher at this race in 2009. Joining them in the chase for the title will be 2008 20 km champion James Carney (Flagstaff, Ariz.), and 2010 USA Half Marathon runner-up Patrick Smyth (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.).
In the race for the women's title, 2004 Olympian De Reuck will face 2008 Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) as well as USA 7 Mile Championships runner-up Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.). Also in the mix will be 2009 Team USA World Championship marathoners Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.).
Video highlights
The USA 20 km Championships will be streamed live beginning at 8:40 a.m. EST in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com at www.USARunningCircuit.com.
About the USARC
The USA 20 km Championships is the eighth stop for men and the sixth for women on the 2010 USA Running Circuit (USARC) and will pay $40,000 in U.S. prize money with $8,000 going to the respective men's and women's champions.
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The circuit features ten events each for men and women. Antonio Vega (Minneapolis, Minn.) leads the men's standings with 44 points, while his Team USA Minnesota teammate Katie McGregor (Saint Louis Park, Minn.) leads the women with 30 points.
The 2010 USARC will once again see a record amount of circuit prize money for a non-Olympic year with total prize purse of $623,850 offered by host events. U.S. athletes will also have the opportunity to qualify for various Team USA events, including the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and the Chiba International Ekiden.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the 2010 USA 20 km Championships visit www.USARunningCircuit.com.
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