Weini Kelati and Drew Hunter Aim to Defend Titles at 2022 USATF 5K Championships on Saturday, November 5
More than 10,000 runners to follow in footsteps of professional athletes by racing the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K
New York, October 27, 2022 – Weini Kelati and Drew Hunter will return to New York aiming to defend their titles at the 2022 USA Track & Field (USATF) 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 5. The event will take place in Midtown Manhattan the day prior to the TCS New York City Marathon and will be broadcast live on USATF.TV. Abbott will return as the title partner of the event which features a $78,000 prize purse – the largest of any 5K race in the world.
At the last USATF 5K Championships in Central Park in 2021, two-time NCAA champion Kelati smashed the event record, taking the tape in 15:18 to win her first U.S. title. Since then, she has gone on to finish in the top three in the Millrose Games 3,000 meters, and second at both the USATF Cross Country Championships and B.A.A. 5K. She will be challenged for the women’s title by Olympic and World Championships medalist Jenny Simpson, World Championships medalist Emily Infeld, and national champions Katie Follett, Erika Kemp, Emily Lipari, Natosha Rogers, and Taylor Werner.
“Last year’s USATF 5K Championships for me marked my first U.S. title of my career, five months after becoming a U.S. citizen, and what started all the success I’ve had over the past year,” Kelati said. “I’m excited to return to Central Park to compete against the best athletes across the country and defend my title.”
Hunter, who last year jumped into the lead with 100 meters remaining to win the men’s race in 13:53 and claim his second national title, will also return. He will line up this year alongside Olympians Hillary Bor and Mason Ferlic, and two-time NCAA champion Abdihamid Nur.
“I’ll never forget the thrill of breaking the tape last year, beating Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz by seven tenths of second – that was such an incredible feeling,” Hunter said. “I cannot wait to see what magic happens in Central Park this year.”
Following in the footsteps of the professional athletes will be more than 10,000 runners participating in the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, including top local athletes and many runners participating in the marathon the following day.
Abbott, the title sponsor of the…
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