Jemal Yimer and Buze Diriba Lead Men's and Women's Elite Fields at Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run

By Adam Kopet

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is set to take place Sunday in the nation's capital. The 10-mile road race attracts top talent from around the world.

The race will be broadcast live on RunnerSpace.com beginning at 7:10 am (EDT).

The men's elite field is led by defending Cherry Blossom champion Jemal Yimer, of Ethiopia. He sports a 10-mile best of 44:46 and is one of the world's top half marathoners. He placed fourth at last year's IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and last fall set a personal half marathon best of 58:33, equal to third on the world all-time performer list.

Yimer will not be the only man who has run under 60 minutes in the half marathon in the field. Josphat Tanui of Kenya owns a 59:22 best. He will be joined by fellow Kenyan, Stephen Sambu, who is based in Tuscon, Ariz.

The Americans are led by Stanley Kebenei, fresh off his 35th-place finish at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships last week. Other top Americans competing include Kiya Dandena, Matt McClintock, Scott Smith and Futsum Zeinasellassie.

The women's elite field also features a defending champion. Buze Diriba of Ethiopia returns. She also finished second in 2016 and 2017. She is coming off a third-place finish at the United Airlines NYC Half. She is joined in the race by fellow Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase and Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru, both of whom have strong road racing credentials.

Emma Bates leads the American contingent at Cherry Blossom. She finished one spot behind Diriba last month at the United Airlines NYC Half. She also was the 2018 USATF Marathon Championships winner in her debut at the marathon distance. Other top Americans in the race include Maddie Van Beek, Meghan Peyton, Bethany Sachtleben and Grayson Murphy.

Deena Kastor is also racing. She recently set an American and world best for 46-year olds for 8K at the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago.

Prize money for the race totals at least $65,000. The top-10 runners across the line split a pot of $20,000 for each gender, including $8,000 to the winners. Additionally, there is an American only prize purse for the top-10 Americans of both genders. American athletes who finish in the overall top-10 will be eligible for both prizes.

Men

Jemal Yimer (Ethiopia)

Josphat Tanui (Kenya)

Stephen Sambu (Kenya)

Yeneblo Biyazen (Ethiopia)

Ambrose Bore (Kenya)

Alfred Barkach (Kenya)

Stanley Kebenei (USA)

Edwin Kibichiy (Kenya)

Mohamed Hrezi (Libya)

Kiya Dandena (USA)

Matt McClintock (USA)

Scott Smith (USA)

Futsum Zeinasellassie (USA)

Mark Leininger (USA)

Ben Beach (USA)

Haron Lagat (USA)

Tim Young (USA)

Reed Fischer (USA)

Johnny Crain (USA)

Willia Milam (USA)

Evan Gaynor (USA)

Danny Docherty (USA)

Tyler Jermann (USA)

Pardon Nshlovu (Zimbabwe)

Jackson Neff (USA)

Caleb Kerr (USA)

Dick Beardsley (USA)

Birhanu Dare (Ethiopia)

Paul Thistle (USA)

Michael Wardian (USA)

Women

Buze Diriba (Ethiopia)

Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia)

Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya)

Emma Bates (USA)

Hiwot Gebrekidan (Ethiopia)

Hiwot Ayalew (Ethiopia)

Iveen Chepkemoi (Kenya)

Vicoty Chepngeno (Kenya)

Stephanie Twell (Great Britain)

Maddie Van Beek (USA)

Meghan Peyton (USA)

Bethany Sachtleben (USA)

Katy Jermann (USA)

Grayson Murphy (USA)

Samantha Palmer (USA)

Alexis Zeis (USA)

Allison Cleaver (USA)

Kelsey Bruce (USA)

Amanda Marino (USA)

Margaret Muringi (Kenya)

Joanna Thompson (USA)

Hiruni Wijayaratne (Sri Lanka)

Lauren Martin (USA)

Deena Kastor (USA)

Lisa Bentley (Canada)

Nuhamin Bogale (Ethiopia)

Mary Wangui (Kenya)

Margaret Muruiki (Kenya)