April 9, 2026, Washington, DC: Organizers of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (CUCB) announced today this year’s invited elite field, as top American runners will compete against a fierce field of international competition on Sunday, April 12. The elite women will start first at 7:18 a.m., followed by the men and the masses at 7:30 a.m.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile will serve as the USATF National 10 Mile Championships. With the last four champions not competing, the men’s American field is wide open. Aidan Reed, Cole Sprout and Graydon Morris finished in sixth, seventh and eighth place at the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, GA, with times of 1:02:35, 1:02:38 and 1:02:49. With only 14 seconds separating the three in February, the rematch on Sunday could get exciting. Morris ran a 1:01:09 personal best half marathon in January at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Reed has a personal best of 1:01:50 at the 2025 Pittsburgh Half Marathon, showing they are both capable of faster times. Reed finished in sixth place at last year’s CUCB amid a record-breaking field in 45:58.
The Americans will have their hands full with a host of quick new international talent. Mohammed El Youssfi of Morocco looks to be in prime race condition, setting a new Moroccan half-marathon record of 59:21 and taking third place at the 2026 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. He followed that performance with a 15K personal best of 43:36 at the 2026 Gate River Run 15K in March in Jacksonville, FL. Kieran Tuntivate of Thailand will be coming off a 1:02:39 half marathon time run at the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon in March. Athana Kioko, Kenya, has a half marathon personal best of 1:01:01 and a 43:07 15K, both set in 2025. His 2026 Los Angeles Marathon seventh place finish in 2:17:43 shows that he may not be in the same race shape as last year but is capable of competing for the overall win.
On the American women’s side, 2025 USATF 10 Mile Championship Women’s second place and last year’s overall runner-up Emma Grace Hurley leads the field. She is coming off an overall win at the 2026 Shamrock Shuffle 8K, where she set the American Record with a time of 24:29. She will be joined by Weini Kelati, who recently set the women’s American half marathon record of 1:06:04, taking second place at the 2026 Barcelona Half Marathon in Spain in February. With consecutive back-to-back second place finishes at The TEN 10,000m in 2024 (30:33.82) and 2025 (30:38.60), she has the resume to challenge Hurley for the championship. Looking for a rematch, Karissa Schweizer will get to race against Hurley again, having finished in second place behind Hurley at the 2026 Shamrock Shuffle 8K in 24:56. The field also consists of the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Champion from the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon, Molly Born (1:09:43).
Asayech Ayichew returns to challenge the American women for the overall CUCB win. Ayichew was a late scratch from the field last year, but her 10-mile personal best of 50:56, run at the 2025 Dam tot Damloop 10 Mile, is among the best in the field. With that time, she bested her former 10-mile time of 51:18 set at the same event a year prior. Laura Galvan of Mexico enters the competition with a 1:07:31 half marathon personal best set at the 2026 Aramco Houston Half Marathon, finishing in eighth place. Kenya’s Everlyn Kemboi could be a spoiler, having two top three finishes in recent weeks under her belt, a win at the 2026 Cooper River Bridge Run 10K (31:14.31) and a third-place finish at the 2026 Gate River Run 15K (48:40).
“With three consecutive years of an American record being set as well as the women’s World Best just last year, the elite field continues to impress year-after-year, ,” expressed Event Director Phil Stewart. “We are thrilled to once again host the USATF 10 Mile Championship, setting the course for another exciting and fast weekend. This is the only USATF Road Championship where the top U.S. runners have to run against a tough international field, just like they will have to encounter at any international competition.”
In 2026, the guaranteed American prize purse totals $42,600, split evenly between men and women, and the guaranteed international purse is $32,000, also split evenly between men and women. American runners placing in the top 10 overall are eligible to receive both open and American-only prize money.
Additional prize money is available for eligible athletes who break a World, American or Event record: $5,000 for a World or an American record and $3,000 for an Event record. There are also time incentives of $1,000 for the first male to run sub-46 minutes and first female to run sub-52 minutes, with an additional $750 on the line should a second male and/or female achieve those same sub-46 and sub-52 minute milestones.
The 10 Mile will also serve as a stop on the 2025-2026 Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit, with the overall winners automatically qualifying for the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus to be awarded at the PRRO Championship at the Quad-City Times Bix 7 this July. Other top finishers will earn points toward qualifying for the PRRO Super Bonus. A full breakdown of the available prize money for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile can be found here.
The inaugural Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in 1973 was won by Sam Bair in a time of 51:22, and the women’s winner was Kathrine Switzer in a time of 1:11:19; 127 men and 12 women ran that first race. Bill Rodgers holds the honor of most victories, with four consecutive wins between 1978 and 1981. Three women have each won the race three times: Julie Shea (1975-77), Lisa Weidenbach (1985, ‘89 and ‘90) and Lineth Chepkurui (2008-10). Ben Beach leads all Cherry Blossom finishers with an active streak of 52 years. A comprehensive Media Guide detailing a wide variety of statistics from the first 52 CUCB races is available here.
The elite runners will be joined by over 19,000 other participants for the “Runner’s Rite of Spring.” Additionally, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K presented by ASICS, recently named the Best 5K Race by the USA Today 10Best readers for the second consecutive year and third time overall, will run on Saturday, April 11. Due to Easter falling on the event’s traditional weekend, the organizing committee elected to push the event to this coming weekend. Because of this, the 5K presented by ASICS will run on a one-time only course in Arlington, VA, starting and ending at Virginia Highlands Park. Of the over 7,000 5K runners, 2,400 of them are Double Blossom participants, who complete the 3.1 mile distance on Saturday and the 10 Mile on Sunday. Following the 5K on Saturday is the Kids Run, which will begin at 9:45 a.m. for ages four to 10.
Race participants and the general public are invited to the Health and Fitness Expo presented by Wegmans at the National Building Museum, where there will be series of clinics on Saturday, headlined by Keira D’Amato. D’Amato raced competitively at American University, took 8 years off to start a family and roared back in her late 30s to set several American Records. She tells her remarkable story as the author of Don’t Call It a Comeback. Click here for the full line-up of speakers at the Expo.
Again this year, Metrorail will be opening early for weekend participants to utilize for travel to the events. On Saturday April 11, Metro will open at 6 a.m. On Sunday, April 12, Metro will open at 5 a.m. Race participants and spectators are strongly encouraged to take Metro.
This year’s event will also serve as a career celebration for longtime Event Director Phil Stewart, who will be retiring after being at the helm of the event since 1991. Under his leadership, the event has grown to welcome over 20,000 participants for the 10 Mile and an additional 8,000 for the 5K presented by ASICS annually. The 10 Mile has also hosted the USATF National 10 Mile Championships six times and been the site of numerous World and American Records during his tenure. The event has had had two long-term title sponsors, during which time the event has provided increased prize money and raised millions in charity donations — Northern Telecom (Nortel) from 1991-2001 and Credit Union Miracle Day (2002-present).
Thanks to Credit Union Miracle Day’s title sponsorship since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run has raised over $12 million for the Children’s Miracle Network, including $460,000 in 2025. The 2026 fundraising total will be announced at a special check presentation moments before the start of the 10 Mile.
2026 Event Timetable
Friday, April 10
National Building Museum
1:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Health and Fitness Expo presented by Wegmans
(Packet pickup for 10 Mile, 5K, Double Blossom and Kids Run closes at 7:45 P.M.)
Saturday, April 11
Virginia Highlands Park, Arlington, VA
5K presented by ASICS
6:00 A.M.
Metro opens for travel to the race
6:30 A.M.
5K race bib and t-shirt pickup
7:55 A.M.
Opening Ceremonies for Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K presented by ASICS
7:58 A.M.
Presentation of the colors by the NROTC Capital Battalion Color Guard and singing of the National Anthem by The Choral Arts Society of Washington
8:00 A.M.
5K Starts
9:00 A.M.
5K Awards Ceremony
9:15 A.M.
5K Course Closes
8:15 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.
Kids Run Packet Pickup
9:40 A.M.
Opening ceremony for the Kids Run
9:43 A.M.
Singing of the National Anthem by Choral Arts Society of Washington
9:45 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kids Run
National Building Museum
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Health and Fitness Expo presented by Wegmans
(Packet pickup for 10 Mile closes at 4:45 P.M.)
10:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Speakers Program in National Building Museum Auditorium
Sunday, April 12
Washington Monument Grounds
5:00 A.M.
Metro opens for travel to the race
7:00 A.M.
Deadline for check in at media tent for anyone seeking press truck access — first come, first served
7:13 A.M.
Presentation of the colors by the Naval District of Washington Ceremonial Color Guard and singing of the National Anthem by Anna Stewart
7:18 A.M.
Advance start for elite and seeded women
7:20 A.M.
Wheelchair and Duo Racers start
7:24 A.M.
Credit Union Miracle Day Children’s Miracle Network check presentation at start line
7:30 A.M.
10 Mile start for elite international and U.S. men as well as the first of six mass start waves
8:00 A.M.
Starting line closed; no late starters allowed
8:09 A.M.
Expected arrival time of female winner
8:15 A.M.
Expected arrival time of male winner
9:45 A.M.
Formal awards ceremony begins. Prize money winners recognized along with winning teams in the DMV Club Championship (age group and other team awards are not given out on race day)
8:00 P.M.
Results posted at www.CherryBlossom.org