Defending USA 20 km Champion, Ryan Shay leads the list of American men as the USA Running Circuit (USARC) resumes with the New Alliance New Haven Road Race, host of the USA 20 km Championships in New Haven Conn. next Monday, September 5.

Shay, two-time defending USARC Grand Prix Champion, will look to win his second USA title of 2005. His stiffest challenge most likely will come from 2004 20 km runner-up and 2003 USA 10 mile champion Chris Graff. Shay also could see pressure from last year's third-place finisher, Matt Downin.

The women's race will see 2005 USA Outdoor Track & Field 10,000 meter champion Katie McGregor return to New Haven, with her eye on the title. McGregor, who was the 2003 third-place finisher, will see her most serious challenge come from 2002 champion Colleen DeReuck. DeReuck is the 2002-2004 USARC Grand Prix champion and will look to win her second USA title of 2005 after winning the USA 25 km Championship in May.

In addition to $ 30,000 in U.S. prize money, athletes will be competing for selection to the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton, Canada on October 1.

The USARC is 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 now leads the men's circuit with 33 points and Jen Rhines leads the women's with 27.

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.