Erika Kemp, a Rancocas Valley graduate racing for Boston Athletic Association, placed 5th Saturday in the USATF 15K Championships in Jacksonville, Fla.
Kemp ran 50:10 in windy conditions on the 9.3-mile Gate River Run course. Emily Sisson won in 48:09. Kemp was also 5th last year but ran 17 seconds faster this year. Kemp won the 2019 race in 50:54 on the same course.
For those of you who keep track of these things, Kemp’s time ranks her No. 5 in the world this year on the IAAF 15K list and No.61 in U.S. history for a woman on a 15,000-meter road course and is No. 4 by a New Jersey runner, behind Anne Marie Lauck (Letko) of North Hunterdon (48:43 in 1994), Mount Laurel native and Haddonfield graduate Marielle Hall (48:52 in last year’s USATF 15K) and Amy Van Alstine of Midland Park High School (49:49).
Kemp has PRs on the track of 15:28.69 for 5,000 meters and 31:35.63 for 10,000 meters.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 