Tuliamuk, defending champion Nelson ready for Freihofer's Run for Women 5K

By Chris Lotsbom, Dyestat Editor

Aliphine Tuliamuk has been on a roll recently, having won the USATF 25K National Championship this past weekend and was third at the USATF Half Marathon Championships last month.

She’ll take on defending champion Brianne Nelson and a host of others at the Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K on June 3 in Albany, N.Y., according to race organizers. 

Race organizers announced a strong field for the 5K through New York’s state capital, one that includes Amy van Alstine and Ashley Higginson, in addition to Tuliamuk and Nelson. The favorite, though, has to be Tuliamuk since she’s been so consistent on the roads; she's also the reigning national champion at the 5K distance.

The Freihofer’s Run for Women is one of the most iconic road races in the northeast, having been around since 1979, and has played host to a boatload of strong performances including the U.S. Championships in the 1990s and early 2000s. Among past winners are Lynn Jennings, Marla Runyan, and 2010 Boston Marathon champion Teyba Erkesso.

Look for this to be a mini-U.S. championships of sorts. It’s usually a tactical race, and traditionally comes down to a sprint down Washington Avenue (a severe decline) to the finish.