GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Betsy Saina and David Estrada remained patient throughout their races.

With just under 5 kilometers remaining at the USATF 25 km Championships, a sense of urgency kicked in for both racers, resulting in definitive wins and record-breaking performances on a breezy morning in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The USATF 25 km Championships hosted by Amway River Bank Run are the sixth stop on the 2024 USATF Running Circuit. Race videos and coverage are available and can be viewed with +PLUS subscription on USATF.TV.

Saina ran away from Annie Frisbie to capture her second consecutive women’s title in 1 hour, 22 minutes and 32 seconds and Estrada gapped the field on the men’s side to win his second USATF Running Circuit title in 1:13:10, resulting in two American records* being set.

Saina and Frisbie went to the front early when the women’s race got underway, creating separation from the rest of the field up to 10 seconds through the first 5 km.

Through six miles, Frisbie and Saina went through in 31:41, with Frisbie slightly ahead and Saina keying off of her.

Saina continued to stay in contact with Frisbie up until 20 km in when the defending champion made a definitive move that Frisbie wasn’t able to counter over the last few miles.

As they made their way into the final homestretch, Saina led by as much as five seconds, enough to pull away from Frisbie, who finished second in 1:22:36.

U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials bronze medalist Dakotah Lindwurm outkicked Emily Durgin for third in 1:23:07. Durgin trailed by a second in 1:23:08 for fourth.

Molly Bookmyer rounded out the top five, running 1:24:44.

Brittney Feivor collected sixth place in 1:27:52, with Allie Kieffer in seventh in 1:28:38, Annmarie Tuxbury in eighth in 1:29:20, English Tomlinson in ninth in 1:29:55 and Stephanie Sherman in 10th in 1:30:08.

Estrada was challenged throughout the men’s field by Nico Montanez, Biya Simbassa, Nathan Martin and Teshome Mekonen.

At seven miles, the pack of five went through in 32:27, with Mekonen doing most of the work out front.

As they approached 15 km, the pack shrunk to four with Estrada, Mekonen, Martin and Montanez remaining in the mix.

Surpassing 60 minutes, the race saw four lead changes from the lead pack. Estrada had enough.

Just like Saina in the women’s race, Estrada surged ahead of the field and put a significant gap on everyone else over the final kilometers.

Leading by as much as 50 meters, Estrada managed to cross the tape just 21 seconds ahead from second place when Montanez finished in 1:13:29.

Simbassa was another 14 seconds behind Montanez for third in 1:13:44, with Mekonen finishing fourth in 1:14:02 and Daniel Mesfun in fifth in 1:14:49.

Martin fell out of the lead pack the last few miles after being out front the majority of the race, settling for sixth in 1:15:01.

Rounding out the top 10 were JP Flavin in seventh in 1:16:08, Ben Kendell in eighth in 1:16:33, Jacob Thomson in ninth in 1:17:22 and Nadir Yusuf in 10th in 1:17:42.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money.

The first 10 U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 25 km Championships, scoring is set as 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners. 

Contributed by Keenan Gray

* pending ratification