Simbassa, Kemp Headline Strong Fields at the USATF 25 km Championships

USATF Release

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – USATF Running Circuit standings leader Abbabiya Simbassa headlines a talented men’s field, while two-time USATF champion Erika Kemp leads a strong women’s field ready to race Saturday morning at the USATF 25 km Championships presented by Toyota, hosted by the Amway River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

The USATF 25 km Championships are the seventh stop on the 2021 USATF Running Circuit presented by Toyota. On demand race videos for Saturday’s race will be available on USATF.TV shortly after the races conclude, available with a +PLUS subscription.

Simbassa lines up Saturday morning coming off his first USATF title at the USATF 10 Mile Championships last month. With runner-up finishes at the USATF 20 km Championships and USATF 15 km Championships, Simbassa currently leads the USATF Running Circuit with 52.5 points, well ahead of second place Clayton Young, who holds 37 points. 

Sam Chelanga, the reigning USATF 10 km champion, will provide a strong challenge up front. Chelanga is having an excellent 2021 campaign, including an eighth place showing in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field this summer. Having won the USATF 25 km title in 2018, Chelanga knows the course in Grand Rapids and will certainly use that knowledge to his advantage.

Perhaps the most surprising name in the top five of the USATF Running Circuit standings is Frederick Huxham. Huxham currently sits fifth overall with 19.5 points, having placed second behind Chelanga by one second at the USATF 10 km Championships in July. In September, Huxham placed sixth at the USATF 20 km Championships, using that performance to build into Saturday’s contest.

A number of top returnees from the 2019 USATF 25 km Championships look to repeat their performances this weekend. Kiya Dandena placed third in 2019, while Tyler McCandless and Will Nation placed fourth and sixth respectively. Top five challenger Nathan Martin is also entered, all hoping their experience on the course will give them an advantage. 

Futsum Zienasellassie, USATF Running Circuit veterans Haron Lagat and Lawi Lalang, and Jacob Thomson should all vie for top five finishes, as well. 

Kemp enters Saturday’s contest in fine form, having won the USATF 20 km Championships, while finishing fifth at the USATF 15 km Championships earlier this season. She currently ranks third in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 28.5 points. While she’s 20.5 points behind standings leader Emily Durgin, a win in Grand Rapids would catapult Kemp into the lead.

Sitting in fourth in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 26.5 points, Lindsay Flanagan is also eyeing victory in Grand Rapids. The veteran placed fourth at the USATF 20 km Championships and second at the USATF 15 km Championships this year, but she’s coming off a tenth place showing at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon a mere two weeks ago. She’s in great shape, but recovery coming off a marathon performance is a looming question.

Makena Morley is another headlining runner in the women’s race. Morley sits sixth in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 25 points, having finished second at the USATF 20 km Championships and fourth at the USATF 15 km Championships. She finished second in the half marathon at the Philadelphia Distance Run a month ago in 1:11:36.

Two other notable contenders are Allie Kieffer and Jaci Smith. Kieffer is healthy and back racing, having won the Blue Cross Blue Shield Broad Street Run Ten Miler in a course record time of 52:57 earlier this month. She’s joined by Smith on the start line, as the Air Force runner seeks to build off her tenth place finish in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field this summer.

Molly Grabill and Molly Bookmyer are also entered in Grand Rapids. The duo finished well at the 2019 USATF 25 km Championships. Bookmyer placed third overall, while Grabill was fourth. Bringing their experience to Saturday’s race gives them a leg up on the competition and should serve them well in the later stages of the race.

Rounding out the women’s field, Annmarie Tuxbury looks to build on her strong 2021 campaign while eyeing a top five finish, while USATF Running Circuit veteran Lindsey Scherf is also entered.

On demand race videos, results, and post-race interviews will be available shortly after the race in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #USARC.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF 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 $42,600 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 25 km Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 25 km Championships, scoring is set as 22.5 for first, 18 for second, 15 for third, 10.5 , 9, 7.5, 6, 4.5, 3 and 1.5, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners. 

Contributed by Scott Bush