Rudel, Hicks win U.S. 20km Titles

NEW HAVEN – Rachael Rudel waited until the USATF 20km Championships was three-quarters of the way finished before she made her move to the front. She passed Biruktayit Degefa at the 15-kilometer mark and opened up an insurmountable gap over the closing three miles of the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race in Connecticut. Rudel, 32, went on to claim her first U.S. title, continuing a season that has seen her emerge as one of the country’s most promising road racers.
 
In the early stages of the race, it was all Degefa after the first mile. She steadily increased her lead, going through the 10K alone in 32:34 and opening up a 17-second lead over the chase pack of Rudel, Amanda Vestri, Kassie Parker and Elena Hayday by mile eight. But at mile 9, Rudel began to pick up her pace, separating from the chase pack and quickly closing the gap. When she took the lead, Degefa couldn’t respond and faded to a seventh place finish as Rudel, the former Colorado State Ram, pulled away. Rudel broke the tape in 1:04:58. Hayday battled to second, nearly one minute back in 1:05:53  Vestri rounded out the top three in 1:05:58.
 
“It was amazing. Our plan was just to go in and have fun and see where I am at“, who set the American course record at the BOLDERBoulder 10K in May, “I think my fitness from the shorter races in the spring translated beautifully to the 20-K.”
 
The men’s race featured a closer battle between Eugene, Oregon based training partners. However it started with a massive pack refusing to separate for the first four miles. It wasn’t until the mile four marker when the Boston Athletic Association’s Robert Miranda made a break, but it was an ill-fated one. The pack, lead by Charles Hicks, swallowed up Miranda within a mile and then it was Hicks turn to command the pace. Hicks’ training partner Keiran Tuntivate went with him and the duo spent the next seven miles swapping the top spot. In the final stretch, it was Tuntitivate with the kick. Tuntivate, however, was not entered in the U.S. Championship and therefore, not eligible for the national title. Tuntivate represents Thailand internationally, but does have dual citizenship with the United States. So, even though he broke the tape in 58:03, it was Hicks who finished three-seconds back who took the American title. James Mwaura was third overall and second in the U.S. championship race in 58:20.
 
It was one of those races where the first couple miles we didn’t really know what to do. We were just kind of looking at each other,” said Hicks, who will be one of the top contenders at next month’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “It was just a really fun day to come out and race each other. Starting at mile five, we just kept the gas down the entire time.”
 
The USATF 20km Championship is the selection event for the 2027 World Road Running Championships in China. Hicks and Rudel will both be offered the opportunity to represent Team USA in the half marathon at that event next March.