Kenya’s Edwin Kurgat and Mexico’s Olympian Laura Galvan on Sunday defended their Carlsbad 5000 titles of 2023 on the new out-and-back course.
The 38th edition of the “World’s Fastest 5” hugged scenic Coast Highway 1, providing runners nonstop views of the Pacific Ocean.
Kurgat, 27, won in 13 minutes, 47 seconds, a three-second improvement over last year — beating New Zealand’s Matt Baxter to the tape by one second.
On the women’s side, Galvan, 32, clocked 15:19, winning by 20 seconds ahead of American Marissa Howard, 31, of Pasco, Washington.
Galvan has qualified for this summer’s Paris Olympics in the 5,000, and the taxing portion of her training lies ahead in late spring and summer. She came to Carlsbad to ease into the season and soak up the Carlsbad 5000 vibe.
“I’d rather run a road race at this time,” she said. “It’s just different. You don’t have to worry about every lap. You don’t have to think too much. You just run and you feel the running.”
With the crowd more condensed at the start and finish, Galvan, spurred by fans waving Mexican flags, raved about the new course.
“It was crazier than last year,” she said. “People were somewhere else on the course (in the past). Now, with everyone at the start and finish, it was like crazy. The crowd, it was nice.”
Local favorite Steven Martinez, a two-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, echoed Galvan’s sentiments.
“This course is way better than the other one,” said Martinez, fifth in the men’s race. “It’s a lot more beautiful, a lot fewer turns, and no trains, no delays. I mean, the crowds today speak for themselves. It felt like hundreds of thousands of people. Whether they know you or not, they’re cheering for you, rooting you on. The whole town comes out.”
Veteran masters runner Roosevelt Cook of Hesperia added another winning medal to his haul. The 44-year-old took the men’s masters race in 15:15 for an 18-second win. Local Meriah Earle of Escondido, 45, won the women’s masters title in 17:21, a 38-second victory.
Boulder’s Karley Rempel, who won the women’s 39-and-under race in 16:36, said: “What is sea level? Sea level is amazing. There’s no snow. There’s no humidity. There’s oxygen.”
Standing near the finish line after taking third in the women’s 39-and-under field, Las Vegas’ Ellie Stevens could barely contain her joy.
“Oh, my god, it’s just incredible,” she said. “It’s so beautiful to run by the ocean. There are so many people here. And the talent in this group of women was incredible. I looked back at the turn and there were 20 women who could have passed me at any point. I was just like running for my life.
“An amazing atmosphere. There are so many girls that you recognize. It feels local, but it’s a big, big race. It’s just awesome.”
