ATLANTA — Masters athletes return to Atlanta to contend for a 2023 USATF Masters 5 km Championships title. Scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 25, temperatures are forecast in the upper 50s with a chance of occasional showers. Despite the conditions, the racing will be fierce and fiery. In the women’s race, Jessica Hruska, Jill Braley, and Michelle Rohl are back to defend their 1-2-3 finish last year. Hruska, hailing from Dubuque, Iowa, will try to make it two in a row as Braley, the hometown racer, will try to turn the tables from last year. Rohl, at 57 years of age, is a phenomenon. An elite race walker in her younger years, she has recently been burning up the track and the roads. She owns the 55-59 outdoor records for the 800m and 1500m and recently cracked the indoor mile mark with a 5:16.7 at the Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile. She could not chase down the youngsters last year but will renew her efforts this year. New contenders include Hidi Gaff who edged Braley on the track last summer, Elizabeth Wakeling, and Jennifer Weston. On the men’s side, the race is wide open; no one of last year’s top three is entered. The chief contenders for the title are Benjamin Kassell, Bradley Merner, Luke Mortensen, John Poray, and Brendan Prindiville. North Carolina’s Kassell ran a 15:45 5K last November in his home state. Merner, a Canadian citizen, is not eligible for awards but will make things interesting up front. The Auburn University professor has a 15:46 5K in Ohio on his resume from 2021. Mortensen, from Athens, GA, won the Community 5K last year in a time that would have earned him seventh place overall in the Masters championship. Poray, out of greater Indianapolis, took second at the Masters 10 km Championships in Dedham, Massachusetts last year; he clocked a 15:52 5 km last April. Prindiville, who runs for the Boston Tracksmith Hares, finished third in the 2019 edition of the 10 Km championships. Age division national championships are also contested. The most illustrious competitor is Betty Lindberg, 98, who aims to lower the 95-99 5 Km world record she set last year. Rohl, a favorite for the overall podium will get a strong challenge in her 55-59 age division from Fiona Bayly. Sara Girotto, last year’s 45-49 champion, has Weston to contend with. Abby Dean will try to defend her 50-54 title despite losing training time to a hamstring tear. Doreen McCoubrie is a strong favorite in 60-64, while Kitty Musante, the defending 65-69 champion will have to beat off a challenge from a newly minted 65-year-old, Patrice Combs. Red Lizard teammates, Jeanette Groesz and Suznne Ray, out of Oregon will battle for the 70-74 win, while Myrna Barnett is favored to retain her 75-79 title against two challengers. Christian Cushing-Murray, a 3:54 miler in his heyday, finished in the top ten overall here last year at the age of 54. He ran 16:27 in the Carlsbad 5000 last year and looks to snag the 55-59 division crown. Mark Andrews is the favorite in 50-54. Rick Lee, Steve Schmidt, and John Van Danacker renew their rivalry in 60-64. They last met at Club Cross in San Francisco where Schmidt took the honors. Roger Sayre is favored in 65-69 while Robert Qualls looks to add yet another 70-74 championship to his growing collection. Dave Glass is a heavy favorite in 75-79 and Hall of Famer, Doug Goodhue, returns from knee surgery, the favorite for 80-84. Submitted by Paul Carlin Photo credit: World Masters Athletics.