PROVIDENCE, R.I. - (September 17, 2006) - U.S. Olympian Anthony Famiglietti (New York, NY) and former NCAA All-American Sara Hall (Woodside, CA) each finished second in the Open division as the pair won their first national road titles Sunday at the USA 5K Championships hosted by the CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence.

Richard Kiplagat of Kenya was the overall men's champion running 13:50 to Famiglietti's 13:51, while Olga Kravtsova of Belarus successfully defended her Open title, holding off Hall 15:40 to 15:40 respectively (same time after converting tenths and hundredths).

Warm, humid conditions met the field for the 17th annual race as it marked the fifth consecutive year that the CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K has hosted the USA Championships for men and the second for women.

An opening mile of 4:23 saw a field of nearly twenty men running in tight formation with Kiplagat and Famiglietti content to let Emmanuel Chamer and Patrick Cheruiyot of Kenya handle the early pacing duties. Also making their presence know to the lead pack were Fasil Bizuneh (Bristol, VA), two-time USA Running Circuit champion Ryan Shay (East Jordan, MI) and former Georgetown University star Rod Koborsi (Washington, DC).

As the field slowed to 4:33 pace over the second mile, Bizuneh and Shay moved to the lead with Hansons-Brooks athlete Ryan Sheehan in tow before turning on to Canal Street at two and a half miles, where Famiglietti, 27, made his move to the front with only Kiplagat, Shay and Bizuneh able to maintain contact.

With about one kilometer to go, Shay took his turn at the lead but it was short-lived as Bizuneh bridged him with Famiglietti and Kiplagat only a step behind. As the foursome turned onto Memorial Boulevard, Shay and Bizuneh looked to be poised to take the title, but with about 600 meters remaining Kiplagat and Famiglietti began their duel to the finish leaving Bizuneh and Shay in their wake.

Kiplagat then opened a small gap on Famiglietti just before turning on to Francis Street to head to the finish. With less than 200 meters to go, the pair climbed the only significant hill on the course as Famiglietti made one last push for the win but as the pair charged down the final slope to the finish Kiplagat managed to stay one step in front for the victory.

Bizuneh held on for third overall and second American, running 13:56 and Shay finished fourth to wrap up the top three U.S. finishers in 13:59.

In the women's race, defending race champion Kravtsova jumped to an early lead passing the mile in 4:42 and only Rose Kosgei of Kenya went with her. Defending U.S. champion and hometown favorite Amy Rudolph led a chase pack that included Hall, Carrie Tollefson (St. Paul MN) and her Team USA Minnesota teammate Jenelle Deatherage (Minneapolis, MN).

As the leaders passed two miles in 9:45, the race for the overall title looked to be set between Kravtsova and Kosgei, but Hall and Rudolph began to work together, reeling in Kosgei as she faded from the early pace.

As Rudolph and Hall crested the final hill just past three miles, Hall, 23, began her kick to the finish, the former Stanford standout produced a small lead over Rudolph to clinch her first U.S. title - never realizing that she was in striking distance of Kravtsova and the overall win.

"I was so focused on being the first American that I didn't realize I was that close to her," said Team Running USA's Hall. "It would have been nice to catch her, but I'm just happy to win the title."

Rudolph was timed in 15:41 for third overall and second U.S., while fellow Olympian Tollefson was fourth overall and rounded out the top three Americans in 15:51.

The CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K featured $30,000 in national championship prize money with $5000 going to both Famiglietti and Hall as U.S. champions plus an additional $2000 each for their runner-up finishes. Kiplagat and Kravtsova each won $3000 for the overall wins.

The race was also a stop on the 2006 USA Running Circuit (USARC). For more information on the USARC, visit: USATF.org

17th CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K: USA Championship Providence, RI, Sunday, September 17, 2006

MEN
1) Richard Kiplagat, Kenya, 13:50, $3,000
2) Anthony Famiglietti, NY, 13:51, $7,000
3) Fasil Bizuneh, VA, 13:56, $4,000
4) Ryan Shay, MI, 13:59, $2,000
5) Rod Koborsi, DC, 14:00, $1,500
6) Simon Sawe, NM, 14:07, $1,000
7) Josh Moen, MI, 14:09, $900
8) Andrew Carlson, MN, 14:11, $700
9) Max King, OR, 14:13, $500
10) Ryan Sheehan, MI, 14:16, $300
13) Patrick Tarpy, ME, 14:19, $100

WOMEN
1) Olga Kravtsova, Belarus, 15:40, $3,000
2) Sara Hall, CA, 15:40, $7,000
3) Amy Rudolph, RI, 15:41, $4,000
4) Carrie Tollefson, MN, 15:51, $2,000
5) Rehima Kedir, Ethiopia, 15:55
6) Rose Kosgei, Kenya, 16:03
7) Marie Davenport, Ireland, 16:11
8) Meskerem Legesse, Ethiopia, 16:20
9) Clara Peterson, NJ, 16:20, $1,500
10) Jenelle Deatherage, MN, 16:25, $1,000
11) Erin Donohue, NJ, 16:30, $900
13) Renee Gunning, PA, 16:32, $700
14) Ann Alyanak, OH, 16:34, $500
16) Kristin Price, NC, 16:37, $300
17) Lucinda Hall, NC, 16:48, $100

More results at: CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K www.cvsdowntown5k.com