Simpson, Hall Ready to Clash at the USATF 10 Mile Championships

USATF Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three-time Olympian Jenny Simpson is ready to test her talents in longer road distances, while squaring off against 11-time USATF champion Sara Hall, as the duo headlines Sunday’s field set to compete at the USATF 10 Mile Championships presented by Toyota, hosted by the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. 

The USATF 10 Mile Championships are the sixth stop on the 2021 USATF Running Circuit presented by Toyota. The webcast for Sunday’s race will be streamed live on USATF.TV beginning at 7:10am ET, available with a +PLUS subscription.

For the past few weeks, there’s been growing excitement around Simpson jumping on the roads to test herself over the ten mile distance. Known for her winning exploits on the track, as well as her performances over the mile distance on the roads, Simpson steps into a new challenge. After finishing tenth in the 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field earlier this summer, Simpson seems poised to challenge for the win Sunday.

Simpson won’t be alone up front however, as USATF Running Circuit veteran Sara Hall returns to Washington D.C. looking for her fourth USATF 10 Mile title, having won the race from 2017-2019. Hall won the USATF 10 km Championships earlier this season, while running 1:08:44 over the half marathon distance last month in Oregon. In top shape heading into her fall marathon season, Hall will seek her 12th USATF Running Circuit victory.

A trio of others will vie for the top spot. Annie Frisbie was fifth at the 2019 USATF 10 Mile Championships, while placing third and sixth this year at the USATF 10 km and USATF 6 km Championships. Diane Nukuri placed fourth at the USATF 10 km Championships, while Natosha Rogers finished second at the 2017 USATF 10 Mile Championships and earned a seventh place finish in the 10,000m at the Olympic Trials.

This year’s race will serve as a test for many of the entered pros, using the ten mile distance to see how well fall marathon training is going. While Hall, Frisbie and other top contenders are focused on fall marathons, so are other top ten contenders such as Paige Stoner, Nell Rojas, Bria Wetsch, and Susanna Sullivan. 

Wetsch brings experience to the race Sunday, having placed sixth at the 2019 USATF 10 Mile Championships, while Sullivan earned a top ten finish earlier this season at the USATF 10 km Championships. Add veteran Carrie Verdon, who placed tenth in the 5000m at the Olympic Trials, and the women’s race is going to be incredibly competitive for a top ten finish.

On the men’s side, Abbabiya Simbassa enters seeking the win, coming off a runner-up performance at the USATF 15 km Championships last Monday in New Haven, as well as a runner-up finish at the 2019 USATF 10 Mile Championships. Simbassa currently sits second in the USATF Running Circuit overall standings with 30 points, a mere seven points behind leader Clayton Young. Simbassa is having a great 2021 campaign, including a seventh place finish in the 10,000m at the Olympic Trials. A top five performance Sunday moves him into first place in the USATF Running Circuit standings, but it’s clear he’s hoping to earn the victory.

Emmanuel Bor is another top challenger, as he looks to build off to top ten performances at the Olympic Trials earlier this summer. Bor has flashed plenty of track speed, while having experience on the roads, meaning he should be in contention throughout Sunday morning.

Three-time USATF Cross Country champion Chris Derrick is also entered, as he readies to race the Bank of America Chicago Marathon next month. Derrick placed ninth at the USATF 15 km Championships earlier in the season and has both the experience and fitness to vie for the win in Washington D.C.

As in the women’s race, the men’s race fields a number of top challengers who are in their main training blocks for fall marathon season. Noah Droddy, who placed second at the 2016 USATF 10 Mile Championships, is entered. As is Augustus Maiyo, who placed fifth at the 2019 USATF 10 Mile Championships. 

Other notable contenders include Elkanah Kibet, Matt Llano, Kiya Dandena, Shadrack Biwott, Reed Fischer, and Frank Lara, all in strong racing shape, many focused on heavy fall marathon training, each bringing veteran experience and an eye on a top three finish.

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 $26,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 10 Mile Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 10 Mile 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