Lokedi wins Carlsbad 5000 in professional debut

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Kansas track & field and cross country alum Sharon Lokedi made her professional debut on Sunday, April 7, in the Carlsbad 5000 road race in Carlsbad Village on the North Coast of San Diego, California, where she won the women’s elite race.

Known as the World’s Fastest 5K, Lokedi won the women’s race with a time of 15:48. After early pressure, Lokedi took the lead shortly after the one-mile mark, and never looked back to win the race by 12 seconds. In a rare feat at the race due to an uphill gradient after the initial mile, Lokedi’s second mile split (5:05) was faster than her first mile (5:07).

After exhausting her collegiate eligibility with the 2019 indoor track & field season, Lokedi remains in Lawrence to complete her coursework to attain her degree from the University of Kansas, and is also still training with the KU distance squad.

Kansas track & field will host the 92nd Kansas Relays presented by RCB Bank, April 17-20 at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.