The USA 5 km Championships, held Sunday, Sept. 11 at the CVS/ Downtown 5 km in Providence, R.I., boasts strong fields and intense competition. The men's lineup includes a trio of Olympians and a former marathon world record holder, while the women's field features an Olympian and several national champions.

Olympians Anthony Famiglietti, Adam Goucher and Jonathan Riley are among the favorites for the 2005 title in the men's race, but will likely have company in former marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi. This is Khannouchi's first appearance in a USA championship. Goucher, who is making his road racing debut, is considered to be the race favorite based on a clocking of 13:10.19 on the track at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium on July, 23.

Leading the women's field will be two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph. In addition to leading all U.S. 10,000 meter performers in 2005 with a clocking of 31:18.96, Rudolph also owns several USA titles including the 1998 USA 8 km and two USA short-course cross country championships. Rudolph's main competitors for the 5 km title look to be former NCAA champion Kara Goucher, who ran 15:17.55 at the same meet as her husband Adam and 2004 USA 10 km champion Amy Yoder-Begley.

The USA 5 km Championships is the seventh stop for the men and fifth for the women on the USA Running Circuit (USARC) a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The eleventh edition for the men and tenth for the women, the 2005 circuit has nine events for men and seven events for women.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled. Abdi Abdirahman currently leads the men's circuit with 48 points and Colleen DeReuck leads the women's with 34.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the USA 5 km Championships and the 2005 USARC visit www.usatf.org.