Shannon Rowbury, Brenda Martinez and Neely Spence-Gracey lead U.S. runners at one of road racing’s iconic events
Three-time U.S. Olympian Shannon Rowbury will headline the 32nd running of the world famous Carlsbad 5000 the weekend of April 1 -2, 2017. The other top entrants in a highly competitive field include Brenda Martinez and Neely Spence-Gracey.
Martinez, a World Championship bronze medalist, has twice finished as the top American in Carlsbad. Spence Gracey is coming off an impressive 2016 season. She made her marathon debut last year at Boston, finishing ninth overall and as the top American in 2:35. She recently finished third at the U.S. 15k National Championships in Jacksonville, Florida.
The American record-holder in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters, this will be Rowbury’s third appearance at Carlsbad.
“I’m looking forward to opening my 2017 outdoor season at Carlsbad,” said Rowbury, who was the runner-up in 2009. “It will be my third time competing on this beautiful course and I always cherish an opportunity to race in front of a home crowd in Southern California.”
Recognized as the ‘World’s Fastest 5k’ with a storied history of 16 world records, 8 U.S. records, along with numerous national and age-group marks have been set on the event’s scenic oceanfront course.
The Carlsbad 5000 is synonymous with great competition and a rousing good time for participants and spectators alike. The festivities encompass the entire weekend, beginning with the Junior Carlsbad on Saturday of the same weekend. There, kids 12 and under are the stars as they partake in 10 separate races designed for specific age and fitness levels. Every child receives a medal, T-shirt, and goodie bag in the event that is an annual highlight on family calendars.
On Sunday, the streets come alive as thousands of runners compete in the Carlsbad 5000. Runners and walkers alike find their niche in the seven separate People’s races, divided into age and gender categories. Race day begins at 7:05 a.m. with the Masters men’s 40 and over race, the first of seven races that will take place throughout the morning.
The ‘Party by the Sea’ gets started as soon as the first runners cross the finish line. After enjoying the scenic 3.1-mile course, runners aged 21 and over can step into the beer garden, sip two free beers from Pizza Port and enjoy a live band. For more information or to register for the event, please visit Carlsbad5000.com.
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