Moen to Race at Saturday's Run for Oromia

Josh Moen will try to burn up the streets of the Twin Cities one more time.

The Team USA Minnesota star, who ran the 5th-fastest 10 mile time in U.S. history at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile two weekend's ago, will compete in the Run for Oromia 10K 5K on Saturday at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.

Moen (pictured) clocked 46:38 at the TC 10, which served as the USA Championship for the distance, finishing second to four-time USA 10 Mile titleist Abdi Abdirahman who clocked 46:35.

According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, only Greg Meyer (46;13), Thom Hunt (46:15), and Bill Reifsnyder (46:32) top Abdirahman and Moen on the U.S. list for the event. (The ARRS's not-yet-updated U.S. 10 Mile list is HERE.)

Earlier in the fall, Moen was the runaway winner of the Victory 10K in 29:30.

The Run for Oromia 5K will serve as the 27-year-old Iowa native's final competitive preparation for the ING New York City Marathon on November 1, a race that will serve as the USA Men's Marathon Championships.

Last year, the Run for Oromia gathered a remarkably strong field. (We wrote about it HERE.) Race director Mary Anderson doesn't expect the same depth among the elites this year, however, since the event's prize purse has been reduced.

In 2008, 10K champion Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia earned $5000 for his 28:21 victory, the fastest road 10K ever clocked in Minnesota. On Saturday, the 10K winners will pocket checks worth $1000, while the 5K champs will take home $500 each.

You can also read the RW online chat with Josh HERE.

Photo by Gene Niemi.