Padilla, Mosqueda Join Field for San Clemente Race Sunday

World-class runners Doug Padilla and Sylvia Mosqueda have been added to the invitational portion of the San Clemente 5,000 Sunday.

The elite 5K race, with a total of $6,000 in prize money, is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. An open race will start at 8.

Padilla, a 32-year-old resident of Orem, Utah, is a two-time Olympian, a five-time national champion at 5,000 meters, and the U.S. record-holder for 3,000 meters.

Tuesday night, Padilla returned from a three-week trip through Europe, running in the prestigious--and often exhausting--track circuit there. Asked why he would travel to Orange County so soon for a race, Padilla said: “I need the money.” Winners of both men’s and women’s portions of the race will receive $2,000. Runner-ups receive $1,000.

“It takes a few days to get over jet lag,” said Padilla, whose competition will include Samson Obwocha, a native of Kenya, Derrick May, a native of South Africa, and Mark Junkermann, a former star at Los Alamitos High School and UCLA.

“But I find there’s some advantages to running a race after a long trip. Something about running hard helps you adjust to the time zones.”

Mosqueda, also recently returned from racing in Europe, was the NCAA 10,000-meter champion last June while running for Cal State L.A. She holds the collegiate record in the event at 32 minutes 28 seconds. Her best 5K time is 15:24.

Mosqueda’s entrance should pose a threat to Lisa Weidenbach, who recently set women’s U.S. records for 15K and 10 miles and has a best 5K time of 15:44.

Sunday marks a day when two world-class races will hit Orange County at the same time. In Newport Beach, the Bastille Day 8K will feature a large field that included William Musyoki of Kenya. In April, Musyoki came within three seconds of establishing a world record for a 5K road race.