Elite Field Announced for the 2015 Vulcan Run 10K

The starting line of the 41st running of the Vulcan Run 10K will have a truly international flavor. Former Olympians and Olympic hopefuls from around the globe will toe the 19th Street starting line on November 7.  Elite athletes from five continents will lead over 1500 runners.

 

Carmen Hussar (Canada) returns to reclaim the top spot in the women’s field.  She is the 2011 and 2012 Vulcan Run champion.  Justyna Mudy-Mader (Poland) is a five-time NAIA collegiate national champion and a two-time winner of The Rocket City Marathon.  Gisela Olalde (Mexico) is new to the Vulcan Run but as course record holder of the Mercedes Marathon, she knows the streets of Birmingham quite well.  Victoria Veronko (Russia) is a steeplechase track runner and will be making her road debut at the Vulcan Run.  Abgael Wanjiku (Kenya) is only 18 years old but is unafraid of her more experienced competitors.  She recently won Cedar Rapid, Iowa’s Fifth Season Health Solution 8K in 26:55.  

Rounding out the women’s elite field are Jennifer Dunn (Birmingham, AL), Elena Kidd (Homewood, AL), Elizabeth Laseter (New York, NY) and Megan Williams (Homewood, AL).  Dunn, Kidd and Laseter each posted top 10 finishes in the 2014 race while Williams will be making her first competitive start at the event.

Elizabeth Laseter

American men will look to be favored in the men’s elite field.  Sean Brown (Denver, CO) is a 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier.  Austin Duckworth (Austin, TX) returns to Birmingham with hopes of improving upon his third place finish in the 2014 race.  Matt Hammersmith (Greenville, SC) will attempt to match the pace of his wife, Victoria Veronko, in the women’s field. Cory Leslie (Greenville, SC) another steeplechase racer, won the bronze medal at the recent 2015 Pan American Games.  Samuel Mueller (Auburn, AL) is fresh off a win at the Richard S. Caliguiri Great Race 10K in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania while clocking a time of 31:22.  Wilkerson Given (Greenville, SC) has just returned from altitude and is ready to test his race legs.  Jay Stephenson (Rome, GA) finished fifth in last year’s race and indicates his fitness level is now better. Local athletes Scott Fuqua, Mark Pepin and Michael Niezgoda will add strength to the field of American hopefuls.

Austin Duckworth

Samuel Mueller

Kane Grimster (Australia) and Martin Muriithi (Kenya) will add the international flair to the elite men’s field.

Austin Duckworth believes the competition will be strong.  “I am very excited to come back to race against a fantastic field in my hometown.”  A native of Birmingham, Duckworth is glad for an opportunity to find a high caliber local race so his local friends and family can watch him complete.   

“While East Africans have been considered the epitome of distance runners for several decades, I see the gap getting tighter” says Kile Putman, Elite Athlete Coordinator for this year’s event.  “We really wanted to showcase everyone and not just fast kids from one region.  Especially with the Olympic Games next year” he added.  

   

The female and male winners of the 41st annual Vulcan Run each receive $1,000.  Total payout goes five places deep with the first American in each division receiving a $100 bonus.  

The Vulcan Run 10K will start at 8:00 a.m. on November 7.  Registration and additional information can be found at www.birminghamtrackclub.com