ANNOUNCEMENT: Pros Set to toe line at 2021 Sugar Run 5K

2021 Sugar Run Pro 5k Press Release


The Sugar Run 5K began 15 years ago and is a running event created to raise money to benefit the JDRF's Fund a Cure where all donations and money raised is used for diabetes mellitus research. Over the years, the Sugar Run has donated over $250,000.00. In 2019, the event has added elite sections for men and women but with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Sugar Run 5K looked different with a virtual format. However, the elite portion of the event continued with only a small field of elite women and men.

The 2021 Sugar Run 5K is happening both virtually and in-person on Saturday November 20th, in Memphis, TN. The race will take place at a very fast out-and-back course on Wolf River Boulevard!

In 2020, the race took place at Shelby Farms park on a rolling hill course with a strong uphill finish with only pro races. Keira D'Amato broke the tape in a race record 15:07 and ran away from a strong field that included Aisha Praught-Leer, Lauren Paquette, and Stephanie Bruce. Emmanuel Bor lead the men with a race record 13:36 to take the win over Sam Atkin, Craig Nowak, Girma Mecheso, and Jacob Thomson.  

For 2021, the fields have been expanded with 28 athletes scheduled to toe the line including four Olympians: Kim Conley (USA), Mason Ferlic (USA), Julie-Anne Staehli (CAN), and Maor Tiyouri (ISR). Three-time Olympian and World Champion in the 3000m steeplechase, Emma Coburn, will be the honorary starter for the general 5K race. 

Kim Conley is coming off a strong start to her Fall racing season, after battling some injuries in 2021, with an 8th place finish at the USATF 5K road championships on the difficult, net uphill, Manhattan course on November 6th. Conley is expected to have some company along Wolf River Boulevard from Canadian Olympian Julie-Anne Staehli and American, Josette Norris. Staehli and Norris are the only two women in the field with sub-15min clockings this year on the track. Norris has been on a tear in 2021 achieving personal bests at 1500m, Mile, and 5000m. Although these three may be the favorites, Maddie Alm and Sammy George both improved their personal bests to 15:19 in 2021 and are certainly expected to mix it up with the lead pack on race day. 

Also in the women's field is mile specialist, Rebecca Mehra. Mehra is no stranger to Memphis after a successful trip to the Bluff City in August for the Ed Murphey Classic. Mehra won the women's 1500m in a personal best time of 4:04.90 and came back the next day grabbing another personal best, this time in the 800m (2:00.82). In an email earlier this Fall, Mehra signed off with: "Ready to rip a big 5k PR in Memphis!". It might be wise to expect she will be leaving Memphis with yet another PB on November 20th. 

2021 Olympian in the 3000m steeplechase Mason Ferlic leads a strong men's field that includes three of the top 10 finishers at the 2021 USATF 5K road championships: Graham Crawford (4th), Brian Barraza (6th), and Willy Fink (10th). Crawford, like Mehra, has had success in Memphis with 3rd and 1st place finishes in the Murphey Classic 1500m in 2019 and 2020, respectively. He will continue his strong Fall season at the 5K distance joined by Murphey Classic 3000m runner-up (7:50), Jordan Gusman of Malta. Despite being a steeplechase specialist, Mason Ferlic dropped his 5000m personal best down to 13:24 this past season and his fearless running style will without a doubt make this race exciting. 

The race schedule and full fields are below. The pro races will be broadcasted live on the Sugar Run 5K Facebook page:


9:15am - Women's Pro Race

9:40am - Men's Pro Race


WOMEN

Josette Norris, 14:51

Julie-Anna Staehli, 14:57

Kim Conley, 15:05

Sammy George, 15:19

Maddie Alm, 15:19

Alycia Cridebring, 15:35

Emily Kearney, 15:39

Katie Rainsberger, 15:46

Ayla Granados, 15:48

Alexandra Lucki, 15:52

Maor Tiyouri, 16:08

Rebecca Mehra, 16:23

Maddie Strandemo, 16:50

MEN

Jordan Gusman, 13:21

Mason Ferlic, 13:24

Willy Fink, 13:29

Dillon Maggard, 13:30

Brian Barraza, 13:33

Kasey Knevelbaard, 13:34

Cam Griffith, 13:39

Alfred Chelanga, 13:42

Graham Crawford, 13:42

Payton Gleason, 14:19

Alejandro Ambrosio, 14:24

Brett Meyer, 14:26

Bryce Richards, 14:52

Carl Oberfeitinger, 14:57

Blake Haney, 14:57