Preview of the GATE River Run 15k National Championship, by Carolyn Mather/Running Journal

PREVIEW OF THE GATE RIVER RUN 15K NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, by Carolyn Mather

The GATE River Run is the largest 15K race in the United States and will once again serve as the USA 15K Championship with America’s top athletes competing for $85,000 in prize money. “We have had record entries in the 15K signature event for the past 13 years,” race director Doug Alred said, “and so far 2015 is on pace for another record year for this 38th running of the race.

Last year more than 23,000 runners and walkers participated in the day’s five events, making the event Jacksonville’s largest participatory sporting event. This popular Jacksonville tradition starts and finishes at the Jacksonville Sports Complex. The event is hosted by the Jacksonville Track Club Running. As a new perk this year, Skechers shoes will be awarded to the fastest man and woman in each age group in addition to the finisher’s medal and the top 10% hats.

The GATE River Run attracts a top field of world-class American runners competing in the 15K National USATF Championship, and this year’s elite field is shaping up as one of the strongest yet, including the men’s defending champion, Olympians and former GATE champions . In spite of there being two USATF national championships on consecutive days (Gate on the 14th and LA Marathon on the 15th), elite athlete coordinator Richard Fannin has been working tirelessly over the past year to bring seasoned competitors and rising stars to race at Gate.

According to Fannin, “At Gate River Run, we have always tried to ‘nuture’ young runners .. back in 1984, while still at Virginia Tech (and still sunburned from spring break in Daytona) 22 year old Mark Stickley ran toe to toe with the Kenyans and ran 43:19 on a hot day .. in recent years, while still in college, Matt Llano and Craig Curley competed here .. beginning to make a name for themselves. It seems the ages of 22 to 24 are crucial for developing runners .. they are either going to ‘give it a shot’ or bag it and join the real world. Recently, a slew of young guns have entered the road circuit; most recently at the t Houston half marathon champs where 10 or 12 ‘youngsters’ qualified for the Trials. In an effort to continue to foster this, I am announcing the first ever “24 under 24” , 24 young men (under 24) and 24 young women whose recent times made the list .. the first finisher of these 24 men and women at Gate River Run will receive a special bonus.

After Ben True ran the last mile of the Gate last year in 3:58, Fannin thought it would be awesome to add an unique event within the event. Given the course topography, a large portion of the last mile is the downhill on the Hart Bridge aka “The Green Monster”. The Adecco Downhill Mile Challenge will award $1,000 to the fastest male and female in the last mile of the course.

The Equalizer Bonus will again award $5,000 to either the first male or female finisher to cross the finish line. The differential has been permanently set at six minutes by race director Alred. The GATE River Run is the site of both the men’s and women’s 15K American records, women’s Masters record, and is a Runner’s World ‘Top 100 Event.

Racing for the Tenbroeck Team cup and the team title, there are eight women’s teams and eight men’s teams. The BAA ladies will be the team to beat as the US Army WCP team will go off as the men’s favorite.

Ben True is returning to defend his past two Gate titles and will have a group of serious contenders. Christo Landry is coming off a stellar 2014 and having been belatedly given the 2012 Gate title after it was taken away from Mo Trafeh after drug charges , Landry is surely ready to take the title outright. Aron Rono, Ryan Vail and Sean Quigley are certain to be in the mix. One of the more interesting entrants in the field is Shadrack Kipchirchir who will be running his first road race at Gate. As a member of the US Army World Class Athletes program, he has the second fastest 10K time of 2014 with a speedy 27:36:79 on the track. Gate will certainly be a fantastic introduction to the roads.

 On the ladies side Laura Thweatt is on a run with her recent dominant performance taking the national cross country title. Olympian Amy Hastings had a spectacular Chicago Marathon and this is a step towards her debut at the Boston Marathon. Kellyn Taylor had an incredible debut at the Houston Marathon. I would never count out recently turned master three time Olympian Jen Rhines who is being inducted into the Gate River Run Hall of Fame the week of the race. Jen is one tough lady and knows the course well.

Given the depth of the field, it may be likely that the winner(s) come from the rest of the field. Fannin has set up a battle for the title of USA 15K champion.

Following are the runners entered in the race as of 2/15/2015.

FEMALES:

MALES

     Additions: Jim Spisak,Lex Williams,Kiya Dandena and Zach Baker