Rotich and Rowbury Win Close Races at the USATF 5K Championships – Runner’s World

• On November 2, Anthony Rotich won the men’s USATF 5K Championships in 13:48, while Shannon Rowbury won the women’s race in 15:43.
• The 5K in New York City, held the day for the NYC Marathon, saw surprise second-place finishers in both fields. Aaron Templeton placed second for men in his pro debut and unsponsored runner Jessica Tonn finished runner-up for women.

A talented field of Americans had a crisp, 40-degree morning for this year’s USATF 5K Championships on Saturday in New York City. The course began near the corner of 1st Avenue and 44th Street, then made three right turns before entering Central Park for the final mile, where runners make a dash toward the same finish line that the marathon runners will cross on November 3.

In the men’s race, a dominant pack of four runners—including Anthony Rotich, Eric Jenkins, Stanley Kebenei, and Shadrack Kipchirchir—led through most of the course, holding just under 4:30 mile pace. Kipchirchir and Kebenei came into the race as favorites to win, as they placed second and third, respectively, behind Paul Chelimo in last year’s race.

As the runners entered Central Park, an unknown fifth man, Aaron Templeton, made a massive surge from a distant pack to join the lead group. With 400 meters to go, Templeton sped into the lead. But Rotich, who trains with the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, was able to react and pass him in the final stretch, winning in 13:48. Templeton came in second in 13:49, and Jenkins finished third in 13:50.

“At the [final] corner, I was leading the race, and then I thought to myself, ‘Let’s do it,’” Rotich said. He earns $12,000 for the win.

“I was happy that I went when I went,” Templeton said. “I came into this race thinking that top five was a possibility. It was hard moving up from the chase pack to get to the lead pack, but I’m happy I did.”

A former distance standout at Furman University, Templeton, 23, joined the Boulder-based Tinman Elite team in September. Today’s 5K was his first race as a pro runner.

“There’s been a lot of change for me lately, as I picked up my life, moved across the country, and joined a new team,” he said. “It’s my first time living at altitude, which was kind of tough for the first two weeks.

“ feels like a college team all over again—it’s this group of rag-tag dudes getting together in Boulder and just training hard. I think the guys that were behind me today might beat me in a couple months. This was just my day.”

For Jenkins, today was a comeback race. Earlier in June, he tore his plantar fascia during the Prefontaine Classic and has been rehabbing the injury since then. “My foot felt great today, and the race went as well as I could’ve hoped for,” he said.

In the women’s race, former American 5,000-meter record holder Shannon Rowbury led from start to finish, breaking the tape in a time of 15:43. In the final kilometer of the race, Rowbury and Emily Infeld of the Bowerman Track Club were in first and second, but unsponsored runner Jessica Tonn made a surprise last-minute surge to briefly take the lead. At the end, Rowbury reclaimed the top spot while Tonn finished second in 15:44 and Infeld took third in 15:47.

“I was getting challenged in the last mile by the other ladies, and that was good for me to really have to work for it,” Rowbury said. “When [Tonn] pulled up beside me, I was like, ‘Okay, she’s going for it. Let’s start moving.’” Rowbury also takes home $12,000 for the win.

Formerly a member of the Brooks Beasts pro team, Tonn now runs unsponsored and coaches at Arizona State University in Phoenix. After dealing with a string of injuries earlier in her career, she said she has been healthy and consistently training throughout 2019, splitting her time between running in Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona.

“That’s the first race I’ve felt super strong and solid the whole time, so I’ll take it,” Tonn said. “Last year, I went out with the leaders, and by the time I got to the park I was toast. This year, I wanted to get out more conservatively while keeping my eye on the lead pack. I’ve been practicing running fast at the end of runs, so I think that paid off in the park.”

For Infeld, who won bronze in the 10K at the 2015 World Championships, this was her first time racing a 5K since undergoing hip surgery in January.

“I’m happy with it, but I wish I was a little fitter,” Infeld said. “I have to remind myself that it takes a long time to get back to where I was before and I’m happy with my progress. I’m just excited to be racing again. You can work really hard in workouts, but there’s something about competing and really pushing yourself that’s totally different.”

Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner’s World and Bicycling magazines.