Thousands participate in 2013 CVS Caremark Downtown 5K
PROVIDENCE, R. I. — More than 7,600 people from around the region and globe turned out on Sunday to participate in the 24th annual CVS Caremark Downtown 5K.
(The State House in Providence served as a backdrop to the start of the 2013 CVS Caremark Downtown 5K. Photo Credit: scottmasonphoto.com)
The event brought together a mix of elite and other competitive runners into Providence, along with recreational runners, wheelchair competitors, walkers and children. In addition to hosting the USA Men's and USA Women's 5k National Championships, the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K offered races and events for individuals of all ages and abilities, and raised funds for charities throughout Southern New England.
More than 4,600 people participated in the main 5K race, while nearly 1,600 children took part in the event’s youth races, which included 21 different races for children — pre-kindergarten through eighth grade — including a CVS Caremark “All Kids Can” Inspirational race for children of all abilities. The athletic activities offered through the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K included a 3K High School Inspirational event, sponsored by Tufts Health Plan, which drew nearly 1,400 students from the region.
Andrew Bumbalough of Portland, Ore., became the men’s overall and national 5K champion with a time of 13:45.9. Bumbalough, who grew up in Nashville, Tenn., and graduated from Georgetown University, was the second place winner of last year's CVS Caremark Downtown 5K. The women’s overall and national 5K champion was Molly Huddle of Providence, with a time of 15:29.6, defending her title from last year's race and making her a three-time winner of the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K. Huddle is an Olympian (London Olympics) who grew up in Elmira, N.Y., and graduated from Notre Dame University, where she was a record-breaking nine-time American. The two each won $8,000 in prize money, $5,000 for the USA Track & Field Championship and $3,000 for winning the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K Open Race.
Other top three 5K men's runners include Aaron Braun, who placed second with a time of 13:49.4, and Matt Tegenkamp who placed third with a time of 13:49.9. Braun grew up in Fort Collins, Colo., graduated from Adams State University and trains in Denver. Tegenkamp is a two-time Olympian (Beijing and London) who won the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K in 2009 and placed second in 2008.
Other top three 5K women's runners include Emily Infeld, who placed second with a time of 15:30.8, and Alexi Pappas who placed third with a time of 15:34.7. Infeld, who fought a tough race against Huddle, lives and trains in Portland under Coach Jerry Schumaker, who also coaches Bumbalough. Pappas, a graduate of Dartmouth University who lives and trains in Eugene, Ore., ran her first road race as a professional to finish in third place.