WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Olympian Janet Bawcom breezed to a strong victory Sunday morning, winning the USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile.
The USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship is the third stop on the USA Running Circuit (USARC), which will conclude this fall with the .US National Road Racing Championships. The top ten finishers from today’s race qualified to compete in the .US National Road Racing Championships.
A steady pace set the tone early, as a lead pack of four athletes formed, working together through the first few miles of the race. Bawcom, Brianne Nelson, Sarah Crouch and Kellyn Johnson led the field at the half-way point, crossing the five mile split in 26:46. Three-time U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines and Katie DiCamillo followed less than one hundred meters behind.
Aiming for her third straight USA 10 Mile title, Bawcom used a strong surge just before the six mile mark, pulling to the lead, while putting six seconds on runner-up Brianne Nelson by the 10 km mark. Bawcom continued to distance herself from the field, charging over the final miles of the race, crossing the finish line in 53:28.
Bawcom’s winning mark broke the single-sex American 10 Mile record of 54:38, set by the late Sally Meyerhoff in 2009. Nelson, Crouch and Johnson all dipped under the record with their performances, as well.
Nelson ran a courageous race, building on her strong start to the 2013 racing season, pulling away for second in 54:01. Crouch and Johnson battled fiercely over the final four miles, with Crouch edging Johnson by four seconds for third in 54:15.
Three-time Olympian Jen Rhines ran well, not quite able to maintain contact with the chase pack, but finishing fifth in 54:54. Katie DiCamillo was sixth in 55:19.
Along with her victory at the USA 15 km Championships in early March, Bawcom now leads the USA Running Circuit standings with 30 points. Runner-up Nelson moves into second with 19 points, while USA Cross Country champion Shalane Flanagan resides in third with 15 points.
About the USARC
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $14,400 in prize money will be awarded at the USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship.
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 those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.
The mission of the USARC is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.
Contributed by Scott Bush
