Global Medalists, Returning Champions Highlight Professional Fields for 2023 B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile

The B.A.A. 5k and B.A.A. Invitational Mile have become a huge part of the Boston Marathon weekend. I have to admit that I enjoy both of the events. 

Global Medalists, Returning Champions Highlight Professional Fields for 2023 B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile

Patriots’ Day Weekend Events Begin on Saturday, April 15

BOSTON – Patriots’ Day Weekend will kick off with exciting competition as international and U.S. stars take to the roads for the 2023 B.A.A. 5K presented by Point32Health, and the 2023 B.A.A.A. Invitational Mile on Saturday, April 15.

Among the professional athletes entered in the B.A.A. 5K are reigning champions Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (Canada), Marcel Hug (Switzerland), and Jenna Fesemyer (USA), while recently crowned world cross country champion Beatrice Chebet of Kenya will make her Boston road racing debut. Local Bay State stars Johnny Gregorek and Ellie Shea will compete in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile, a three-lap race starting and finishing on Boylston Street.

“This year’s professional fields blend together experience with up-and-coming stars for the B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile,” said Mary Kate Shea, B.A.A. Director of Professional Athletes. “Participants, spectators, and running enthusiasts will get to witness world-class competition at shorter distances two days before the 127^th Boston Marathon.”

International standouts will be at the front of the B.A.A. 5K, led by Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen – an Olympic bronze medalist in the 3000m steeplechase from 2021—and Philibert-Thiboutot, who set a Canadian national record at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K en route to winning in 13:35. Philibert-Thiboutot’s countryman Ben Flanagan, a three-time Falmouth Road Race winner, as well as reigning B.A.A. Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Koech of Kenya are also entered. Leading the American contingent is Olympian Mason Ferlic, two-time World Cross Country participant Emmanuel Bor, U.S. Road Mile champion Eric Avila, and NCAA All-American Morgan Beadlescomb.

On the women’s side, 2023 World Cross Country champion Beatrice Chebet and bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) will take on World Athletics Championships 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Mekides Abebe (Ethiopia), all racing the B.A.A. 5K for the first time. The United States will be well represented in the women’s professional ranks, with reigning USA 5K national champion Weini Kelati, defending B.A.A. Invitational Mile winner Annie Rodenfels, 2022 USA Club Cross Country champion Bethany Hasz, Olympian Marielle Hall, and 2022 USATF 10,000m bronze medalist Natosha Rogers all racing. Rodenfels and Hasz are the B.A.A. High-Performance Team members, training in Boston under coach Mark Carroll.

In the wheelchair competition, Marcel Hug and Jenna Fesemyer will aim to defend their titles, joined by Boston Marathon champions Daniel Romanchuk (USA) and Ernst van Dyk (RSA), as well as 2022 Boston Marathon runner-up Susannah Scaroni (USA). Hug clocked a course record time of 10:05 last year, while Fesemyer finished the course in 12:34. Just 48 hours after the B.A.A. 5K, these wheelchair competitors will race the 127^th Boston Marathon.

The B.A.A. 5K starts and finishes in Boston Common at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, featuring 10,000 athletes from 87 countries and all 50 U.S. states. For the first time, the event is presented by Point32Health.

BAY STATERS HEADLINE B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE

Following the B.A.A. 5K, the B.A.A. Invitational Miles will take center stage at the historic Boylston Street finish line. The field will feature Massachusetts challengers, such as Seekonk’s Johnny Gregorek – the defending men’s champion – and Belmont’s Ellie Shea, the top high schooler in the state and a member of the USA’s U20 national team at February’s World Cross Country Championships, take to the starting line. Shea placed 10th overall –and first among Americans—at the World Cross Country U20 Championships in Australia and won national prep titles in the 2 mile and 5,000 meters this past indoor season.

Also in the field are 2022 B.A.A. Invitational Mile women’s runner-up Taryn Rawlings, 2021 NCAA Cross Country champion Whittni Morgan, and high school sub-four-minute miler Hobbs Kessler, who now runs professionally for adidas. Great Britain’s 3000m steeplechase national record holder Lizzie Bird is also in the women.’

A complete professional field list for the B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile can be found below. Preceding the professional divisions of the B.A.A. Invitational Mile will be a scholastic mile and middle school 1K featuring student-athletes from the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route. Entries for the high school and middle school events will be available on race weekend.

A schedule of 127^th Boston Marathon media events and the application for media credentials can be found here. Credential requests will be accepted through March 30.

B.A.A. 5K Professional Women’s Field

*Masters

i = Achieved indoors

NR = National Record

2023 B.A.A. 5K Professional Men’s Field