Bor Continues Dominance, Durgin Wins Big at the USATF 10 Mile Championships

USATF Release

WASHINGTON, DC – It was a morning to remember on Sunday for Hillary Bor and Emily Durgin at the USATF 10 Mile Championships in the nation’s capital, as Bor earned his third consecutive championship title, while Durgin claimed her first USATF crown in dominating fashion.

The USATF 10 Mile Championships, hosted by the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, are the fourth stop on the 2024 USATF Running Circuit. Race videos and coverage are available and can be viewed with a +PLUS subscription on USATF.TV.

Early on in the men’s race Sunday, Bor jumped to the lead early, stringing the field out and setting a tenacious pace only a half dozen fellow Americans would follow. 

For the first 5 km, Bor and Andrew Colley would take turns leading up front, with Nathan Martin, Abbabiya Simbassa, Teshome Mekonen, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and Daniel Mesfun keeping pace, passing through the split in 14:12.

By 10 km, the lead pack had shrunk to Bor leading the group through in 28:35, with only Mekonen, Simbassa, and Martin in tow. 

The lead quartet would continue to run together until two miles to go, when Bor started to ratchet down the pace. At that point only Martin would maintain contact, with Mekonen and Simbassa trying their best to keep form.

With half a mile to go, Bor squeezed the pace, putting a few strides on Martin. While Bor continued to glance over his shoulder to make sure Martin wasn’t gaining ground, he glided to the finish line, crossing in 45:56 to win his third straight USATF 10 Mile title and unofficially breaking his American 10 Mile record in the process.

Martin hung tough over the final stages of the race, executing one of his finest races in his lengthy USATF Running Circuit career, garnering runner-up in 46:00.

Behind the lead duo, Simbassa closed well to claim third in 46:17. Mekonen and Colley held on over the last two miles to take home fourth and fifth respectively, Mekonen crossing the finish in 46:33, Colley crossing in 46:38.

The battle for sixth was fierce all the way to the end, with Jacob Thomson outlasting Shadrack Kipchirchir, as both crossed in 47:45. Sam Chelanga placed eighth a few seconds behind in 47:49, while Ben Kendell and Cody Baele also eclipsed the 48-minute barrier placing ninth in 47:54 and tenth in 47:58.

While the men’s race packed up early, the women’s race was far different. Durgin shot to the lead from the start and dominated the field from her first steps to her last.

Durgin’s early pacing built her a sizeable lead as the women came through 5 km. Durgin split 15:43, while Annie Frisbie grouped together and paced through the 5 km in 15:56.

Durgin continued to build her lead with each passing mile and as she charged through the course, at points her lead was so significant her competition couldn’t see her. Durgin kept form through 10 km, passing through the split in 31:45, 24 seconds ahead of Frisbie and Smith, and well over a minute ahead of the next chase pack. 

With less than a mile to go, Durgin continued her charge, challenging herself with the competition well out of sight. With arms raised, Durgin crossed the finish, claiming her first USATF title and earning a time of 51:26.

Smith continued her impressive 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish. Over the final mile and a half of the race, Smith pulled away from Frisbie. She made up sizeable ground over the final mile to Durgin, crossing the finish in 51:40. Frisbie maintained form and easily held off the competition to place third in 52:01.

After the lead trio crossed the finish, it was a battle for fourth with Jacqueline Gaughan separating from the chase pack over the final two miles to claim fourth in 54:02. Elena Hayday took fifth in 54:18, while Tristin van Ord claimed sixth in 54:31.

Former American record holder and two-time Olympian Molly Huddle placed seventh in 55:08, while Sydney Bowman earned an eighth place finish in 55:54, English Tomlinson placed ninth in 56:00, and Carter Norbo earned tenth in 56:40.

The next stop on the 2024 USATF Running Circuit takes place on the evening of April 23, as the USATF 1 Mile Championships bring together some of the top middle distance runners in the United States in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted by the Grand Blue Mile. Tune-in and watch the action unfold only on USATF.TV.

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. A total of $42,600 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 10 Mile Championships

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 10 Mile 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 Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush