Carlson, Moen Racing in Roads' Major Leagues

A pair of Team USA Minnesota runners are set to compete in two of American road racing's major league events on Saturday.

U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials surprise Andrew Carlson will be among the elite field at the Carlsbad 5000 in California, while Josh Moen, the fifth-fastest American 10 miler of all-time, will race in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in Washington, DC

The Carlsbad 5000 will be Carlson’s first race since finishing sixth at the Marathon Trials in Houston in January where he debuted at 2:11:24. The two-time national champion (15K and 25K) has a 5000 meter track best of 13:32. He is dropping down in distance as part of his preparations to compete in the 10,000 meters on the track this spring, team officials say.

The Carlsbad 5000 is celebrating its 27th year and is billed as the “World’s Fastest 5K” with 16 world records set on the seaside course in the Village of Carlsbad.

Moen will be making his first appearance at the 40th running of the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. The race is staged on the Washington Monument Grounds, is run on a course marked by the city’s storied cherry blossom trees.

The Team USA Minnesota distance runner has a best in the 10 mile of 46:38, set when he was the runner-up at the USA 10 Mile Championships in 2009.