The TEN 10K Poised for a Lightning-Quick Showdown
For 4 years, Sound Operating’s ‘The TEN’ has been the gold customary for 10K racing. Quick fields, ideally suited Southern California climate, and cutting-edge pacing lights have created the proper setting for large performances.
Annually, high runners from world wide journey to San Juan Capistrano to chase Private Bests, Olympic requirements, and Nationwide Information. Because the occasion prepares for its fifth version, all indicators level to 2025 being the quickest 12 months but.
The Girls’s Race May Break Information
This 12 months’s discipline is deep, with skilled veterans and rising stars seeking to make historical past. Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu is the headliner. She is considered one of solely 20 girls to ever run beneath half-hour, and she or he enters this race in high form after an enormous half-marathon private greatest.
She gained’t be alone on the entrance. Elise Cranny, Lauren Ryan, Weini Kelati, and Dom Scott have all damaged 31 minutes, and so they did it proper right here at previous editions of ‘The TEN.’ They know the monitor, the tempo, and what it takes to run quick beneath the lights.

Just a few wild playing cards might shake issues up. Olympian Courtney Wayment, greatest identified for her steeplechase success, is stepping up in distance. Her teammate Ella Donaghu, who has by no means raced past 5000 meters, is making the same leap. In the meantime, street specialists Amanda Vestri, Taylor Roe, and Jessica McClain are coming right down to 10,000 meters and could possibly be surprises in a discipline stacked with monitor specialists.
With a lot expertise on the beginning listing, solely a handful of girls will actually be in competition when the ultimate laps arrive. However one factor is obvious—this discipline is constructed for velocity.
The Males’s Race Has No Clear Favourite
On the boys’s aspect, the entrance of the race will probably be led by two of the world’s greatest. South Africa’s Adrian Wildschuut (26:50) and Eritrea’s Habtom Samuel (26:53) are the one runners within the discipline with sub-27-minute credentials. However proper behind them is a deep group of contenders.
Seven males within the race have run beneath 27:25, and one other 9 have 5000-meter bests beneath 13:10. Ethiopia’s Telahun Haile Bekele, the ninth-fastest 5000-meter runner in historical past, will make his 10,000-meter debut. If his velocity interprets to the longer distance, he could possibly be an actual menace.

March 16 ,2024, picture by Kevin Morris
A powerful American group can be within the combine. Anthony Rotich (27:08), Sean McGorty (27:18), Drew Hunter (27:38), and Dillon Maggard (27:37) are all able to tackle the perfect on this planet. Patrick Dever and Charles Hicks from Nice Britain, together with Australia’s Morgan McDonald, add to the worldwide depth.
One runner to observe is Romain Legendere, a university star from Adams State. He has by no means raced this distance however just lately ran 13:02 for 5000 meters in Boston. If he handles the leap properly, he might have a breakout efficiency.
Why ‘The TEN’ Delivers Each 12 months
This occasion has turn into a must-watch for monitor followers. It’s quick. It’s aggressive. And it brings the perfect on this planet collectively on a monitor that has seen a few of the greatest performances in current reminiscence.
The circumstances in Southern California not often disappoint. The pacing is about up for fulfillment. And in a 12 months when runners want to hit Olympic qualifying occasions, each lap will matter.
Information might fall. Olympic goals could possibly be made. And one other chapter in ‘The TEN’s’ rising historical past will probably be written. Prepare for an evening of unbelievable racing.

To be taught extra about The 10k, offered by HOKA, please simply click on right here. FloTrack will probably be offering reside streaming video on the meet, and RunBlogRun will present nearly reside social media on FB, X and IG. Look ahead to our put up occasion story as properly.