2016 BolderBOULDER Team USA Should be Most Competitive Yet

BOULDER, Colo. - April 15, 2016 - PRLog -- The roster for the Men's Team USA in the 2016 BolderBOULDER (http://www.bolderboulder.com/) - America's All-Time Best 10K according to Runner's World - is now final, and the Women's squad is almost complete. Both look stronger than ever, with four of last year's top US men and women returning to compete in the International Team Challenge (http://www.bolderboulder.com/race-day-information/international-team-challenge/) (ITC), including the top two US men and top two women. They're expected to be joined by top American runners including Alisha WIlliams, Diego Estrada, and newly naturalized citizen Leonard Korir to go after the overall team victory.

Bobby Curtis, Jared Ward, Mattie Suver and Brianne Nelson - all of whom finished in the top 10 overall last year, as well as being the top Americans (respectively) - have committed to race for Team USA again in 2016 in the 38th annual BolderBOULDER on May 30th, 2016. In all, nine men and nine women will compete for Team USA on three teams with three runners each, against teams from the other participating countries.

The ITC features runners from all over the world racing on three person teams in a team-by-country format that compete for the largest non-marathon prize purse in the United States. After that highly successful 2015 ITC, the US teams hope to do even better in 2016. Many of America's fastest runners will be in Boulder racing against many of the world's best as training for the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Organizers feel the talent on the 2016 team is unprecedented.

"It's also a race within a race, with the Americans competing against themselves to be on the best US team, either Red, White or Blue respectively," says BolderBOULDER pro athlete coordinator, Don Janicki, referring to the competition within Team USA for spots on their three teams which are chosen according to results. "It promised to be a heck of a race too, as this will be the deepest American men's field we have ever had at the BB," adds Janicki. "Every one of these athletes has a legitimate shot of making the US track team for Rio."

Race Director Cliff Bosley agrees, but also expects especially tough international competition this year. "This is really an amazing group we've been able to sign for 2016's Team USA, and it'll be exciting to see who can land on the Red Teams. We think the timing of our event works perfectly with the Olympic Track & Field Trials starting July 1st; one month out should provide a perfect opportunity for one last all-out race effort before focusing on qualifying. Plus, with the always outstanding international fields, it'll also be a great race overall - we're really hopeful we can get some Americans on the podium!"

NOTE: These rosters are subject to change at any point before the race.

Women's Team USA:

Alisha Williams: Set course record at 2014 Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

Alia Gray: 2 personal bests so far in 2016 in Marathon and Half Marathon

Mattie Suver: 1st American Woman 2015 BB; 1st 2016 US National Cross Country Champs

Lindsey Scherf: 1st American Woman (2nd overall) 2015 Grandma's Marathon

Brianne Nelson: 3rd American Women 2015 BB

Renee Metivier Baillie: 1st American (8th overall) 2012 Chicago Marathon

Men's Team USA:

Bobby Curtis: 1st American (4th overall) 2015 BolderBOULDER; 1st American 2014 Chicago Marathon

Jared Ward: 2nd overall 2016 US Marathon Trials; 3rd overall 2015 LA Marathon

Ben Payne: 2015 BolderBOULDER Citizen's Race Champ

Diego Estrada: 2016 US Half Marathon Champ; 1st American 2015 Carlsbad 5000

Scott Fauble: 3rd 2016 Great Edinburgh Cross Country 8k

Jonathan Grey: 1st 2011 USATF Club Cross Country Champs

Patrick Smyth: 2015 US Mountain Running Champ; USATF Trail Half Marathon Champ

Sean Quigley: 1st American 2010 World Half Marathon Champs; 2014 USA 7-mile Champ

Leonard Korir: 2015 Crim 10-Mile Champ; 2015 NYC Half Champ

"This year will repeat the format we started at the 2015 event where the nine American men and women aren't placed on teams until they cross the finish line. The first three finishers in the men's and women's races will be placed on Team Red, then Team White and Team Blue respectively," says Janicki. "This made for a super exciting race last year, and we can't wait to see how things play out for American athletes again this year. We think it will be another highly competitive race!"

Other notable teams returning to the BolderBOULDER include perennial favorites and last year's men's and women's individual and team champions, Ethiopia. Their biggest rivals, Kenya, will also return, along with potential challengers Eritrea and nearby Mexico. More athletes and teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

About BolderBOULDER:

The BolderBOULDER (http://www.bolderboulder.com/), named America's All-Time Best 10K by Runner's World, is the 4th largest running race in the United States and the 7th largest in the world. The race attracts over 50,000 runners, joggers, walkers and wheelchair racers, and draws professional athletes from around the world to compete for one of the largest non-marathon prize purses in road racing. The 2016 race starts at 30th and Walnut and winds through Boulder neighborhoods with live music and entertainment at every corner. The race finishes at the University of Colorado's Folsom Field and attracts over 100,000 spectators. The 38th annual BolderBOULDER will be held on Memorial Day, May 30th, 2016. For more information please visit:www.bolderboulder.com