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The last time that the Carlsbad 5000 was run was pre-pandemic in 2019. That year, “King” Edward Cheserek won the men’s race in the time of 13:29. Fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi claimed the women’s victory and clocked a 15:48 finish time. Sunday, thousands gathered for the return of San Diego’s iconic road race event.

Cheserek defended his title with a 13:44 finish time. Ethiopian Biruktayit Degefa took the women’s race in the time of 15:29.

The Carlsbad 5000 is considered the world’s fastest 5K with 16 world records or bests achieved at the iconic event.

Men’s race

Reid Buchanan who took third in 2019, did one better in the 2022 edition and was edged by Cheserek by one second. It was home turf for Buchanan who is from the area. Finishing third was Australian Jack Bruce in 14:04.

Cheserek told the Times of San Diego newspaper, “I’m excited to return to the Carlsbad 5000. Last time in 2019 was a lot of fun and after everything our running community has been through since then, I’m really looking forward to being back at the beach in sunny Southern California.”

The 28-year-old owns a best of 13:04.44 on the track, and the 2019 running of Carlsbad at 13:29 is his road best.

For Buchanan, Sunday’s race represents a new road personal best for the 29-year-old improving upon his 2016 San Jose best of 13:51. He has run the distance in the time of 13:27.83 on that track. Buchanan has had a good start to his year, finally cracking the 28-minute barrier over 10,000m in March with his 27:52.74 performance. With his 10-mile performance in April at 46:57, makes it three new personal bests in 2022 for Buchanan. For Bruce, he narrowly missed matching his own road best of 14:03.

Women’s race

Ethiopian Biruktayit Degefa also known as Biruktayit Eshetu took the women’s race in the time of 15:29.

Finishing in second and third place was a pair of South Africans in Dominique Scott in 15:48, who was followed in by Carina Viljoen in the time of 16:00.

The 29-year-old Scott has run as fast as 15:36 eight years ago. However, she is enjoying a resurgence in her career with three new personal best times in 2022. To start the year off on the right foot, she ran the Houston half-marathon in 67:32, in January. In April she clocked a new road 10K best in Charleston, South Carolina with a 31:59 performance. In March she ran the 10,000m in the time of 31:00.10. Scott is prolific indoors as she holds seven South African records from 800m (2:06.05) to the 5000m event (15:20.84). It was a new personal best for Viljoen.

Full results are available here>>