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Conley, Hasay Set to Clash at Pacific 10,000m Pursuit

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Dec 3rd 2015, 3:50am
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Race Brings Together Big Names, Offers Opportunities

By Scott Bush

It’s rare professional track and field athletes jump on the track to compete in December in the United States, but distance fans will get a chance to see some very good talent race 26 laps at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento this Sunday at the Pacific 10,000m Pursuit.

Leading the way is Olympian Kim Conley and Nike Oregon Project’s Jordan Hasay. The two last met over the 10k distance at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2014, where Conley edged Hasay for the victory by just over a second on the same track the two will compete on this weekend.

For both Conley and Hasay, injuries slowed their 2015 seasons. The two gear up to end their 2015 on a high note, with the pacers set to take the lead back out in 15:50 for 5,000m and hopes they can continue the same pace the rest of the way. For Hasay, she’s been extremely quiet the last few months, so her sharpness is in question, but for Conley she comes off a strong fourth place showing at the .US National 12K last month, showing she’s ready for a fast pace.

Joining Conley and Hasay up front will undoubtedly be Sara Hall. While Hall’s 10,000m PR is over a minute slower than Hasay’s (31:39.67) and Conley’s (31:48.71), she is coming off of a runner-up effort at the .US National 12K, showing she’s plenty strong to handle Sunday race distance. It should be noted that Hall set her 32:50.96 best earlier this year at the Portland Track Festival, where she lost to Olympian Desi Linden by .03.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) High Performance team brings five challengers to the mix. Three-time Olympian and masters runner Jen Rhines looks to cap off a very good 2015 season and challenge for the win. While her personal best of 31:17.31 was set back in 2007, the 41-year old is still plenty fast to push the pace once the rabbits drop.

Rhines’ teammates including former NCAA 10,000m champions Emma Bates and Juliet Bottorff, along with Katie Matthews and Sarah Pagano. Pagano and Bates both finished top ten at the .US National 12K, while Bottorff and Matthews will look to improve upon their .US finishes and challenge for top five.

International athlete Natasha LaBeaud (Canada) can not be overlooked. LaBeaud placed third behind Linden and Hall at the Portland Track Festival in June, running 32:51.02. A controlled early effort should keep her in contention for a top five finish.

Rounding out the field are Chelsea Blaase of the University of Tennessee, who placed sixth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m last year, former U.S. indoor 3,000m champion Chelsea Reilly, HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite’s Rochelle Kanuho and former Butler All-American Mara Olson.

While the women’s race offers Olympic-level talent and plenty of depth, the men’s race isn’t quite as strong. However, Olympian Chris Thompson (GBR) leads the way, coming off a successful fall on the roads. While Thompson has yet to really test himself on the oval this season, his past experiences should put him on contention for the win.

Thompson’s chief competition comes from veteran Sean Quigley and Nick Hilton. Quigley owns a personal 10,000m best of 27:50.78 from 2013, while having plenty of success on the roads over the past few years. However, he’s raced sparingly since the spring, so he’s far from a sure challenger.

For Hilton, he’s testing his fitness on the track for the first time in 2015. After finishing in an impressive eleventh place in 2:16:20 at the Grandma’s Marathon back in June, Hilton is building up for the U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon and Sunday’s race is the perfect time to find out what sort of shape he’s in.

Noted middle distance star Ben Blankenship jumps into the race, testing his pre-season fitness over the 10,000m distance. While Blankenship is known as a 1,500m runner, he was an All-American cross country runner while at the University of Minnesota, meaning fans should not be surprised if he finishes near the front on Sunday.

Other accomplished runners entered are former Stanford runner Erik Olson, 28:42.56 runner Abbabiya Simbassa, Canadian Barry Britt, Great Britain’s Jake Shelley and 2:17 marathoner Eric Ashe.

It’s rare track and field fans have a chance to view some of their favorite stars compete this late in the season. With strong pacing expected, including former prep sub-4 minute miler Lukas Verzbicas leading the men, fast times and competitive races should take place, making the Pacific 10,000m Pursuit a race to follow.



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