Hailu, Ayichew, Warner-Judd, and Galvan headline women’s field at inaugural event

Walnut, CA (April 17, 2025) - The magic of the 10,000m will be in full force on May 3, as the inaugural Save the 10,000 with Des & Kara gets underway at Mt. SAC. Multi-time Olympians Des Linden and Kara Goucher are ready to welcome fans for what promises to be a fun-filled, action-packed evening of racing, shining a spotlight on the 25-lap race.

Leading the entries in the women’s field, Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu is poised to challenge the 30-minutes barrier and enters with a PR of 29:59.15 in the event. The 23 year-old won the 3000m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2022 and placed sixth in the same event in 2024. She’s already run a 1:08:07 half marathon this season, in addition to winning the Carlsbad 5000 in 15:13, besting the field by 17 seconds.

Hailu’s compatriot Asayech Ayichew is another top entry seeking to break 30 minutes. The 20-year old phenom placed second in the U20 race at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships. She owns a 14:38.73 personal best in the 5000m and while she’s debuting in the 10,000m distance on the track, she did run 29:43 for 10k on the roads in Valencia, Spain in January.

Olympian Jessica Warner-Judd of Great Britain heads into the contest seeking to challenge her 30:35.93 personal best, as she races the 10,000m for the first time since being diagnosed with epilepsy last year. The 30-year old is one of the preeminent 10,000m runners in the world, competing in the Tokyo Olympics 10,000m final and more recently placing eighth in the event at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Warner-Judd has run three half marathons already this year, running 1:10:25 or faster each time, including a 1:09:37 effort at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January.

Adding even more international intrigue to Save the 10,000 with Des & Kara, Mexican national record holder Laura Galvan seeks some redemption over the 10,000m distance. The two-time Olympian competed at The TEN earlier this season, finishing well off her personal best of 31:04.08, a mark she should challenge on May 3. Galvan placed second to Hailu at the Carlsbad 5000 in early April, showing she’s in excellent form heading to Mt. SAC.

Fans who attend Save the 10,000 with Des & Kara are in for a treat. Not only is admission free, but they’ll have a chance to interact with Des and Kara on-site, along with two-time world champion and NBC announcer Trey Hardee, who will be leading on-field coverage during the event.

Those unable to make the trip to Mt. SAC can watch the broadcast live and for free, courtesy of Brooks, on RunnerSpace beginning at 7:30pm PT. 

For more meet information, updates, and coverage, visit www.savethe10000.com.