A race renowned for fast runners and  world records once again welcomes a stellar field for the elite invitational at  the 27th annual Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday, April 1, 2012 in Carlsbad California.

Headlining the men’s field is Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel,  the defending champion and last year’s 5,000-meter bronze medalist at the World  Championships; Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, the 2011 Carlsbad  runner-up who was ranked No. 1 in the world over 5,000 meters in 2010 and has  silver and bronze medals in the 5,000 from the past two Olympic Games; and  Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele, a former world champion over 3,000  meters indoors and with a best of 12:54.45 over 5,000 meters.

Don’t count out American Anthony Famiglietti (pictured above) on Sunday when  he faces some of the world’s top long-distance runners at the Carlsbad 5000.  It’s not in his DNA. Famiglietti believes he’s in a good place now and can  contend with the world’s best.

“I’m happy to be healthy and confident to be able to go to the starting line  with the best in the world,” said Famiglietti, 33, of Davidson, N.C. “I don’t  get intimidated. I feel like I can run with the best in the world when I’m on.  I’m not backing down.”

Famiglietti’s forte is not the 5K, it’s the 3,000-meter steeplechase, an  event in which he has twice been an Olympian. However, he has raced and mastered  distances ranging from 1,500 meters to the half-marathon. His 10,000-meter best  of 27 minutes, 37.74 seconds and his mile PR of 3:55.71 were set within four  weeks of each other. Two weeks ago, he won the 49er 5K Classic at UNC Charlotte  in his first outdoor track race of the season, and the following day, he won an  8K road race in 23:56.

He is a six-time U.S. champion, including road titles at 5K, 8K and 15K, he  was also the steeplechase gold medalist at the 2001 World University Games and  the steeplechase bronze medalist at the 2003 World University Games. In 2007, he  ran 13:11.93 for 5K, the fastest by an American on U.S. soil.

“This is the strongest field we’ve had in the last four years,” said Matt Turnbull, elite athlete coordinator for the Carlsbad 5000. “It should be a very closely contested race. So many guys are capable of  breaking 13 minutes on the track, but when it comes to Carlsbad, it just hasn’t  happened. It shows how good the world record is. It’s been there since  2001.”

The world record for 5K on the roads of 13:00 was set by Kenya’s Sammy Kipketer at Carlsbad in 2000. He matched that time a year  later.

“Gebremeskel has done some amazing things since winning last year,” said  Turnbull. “If he and Kipchoge, who’s in great shape, can help each other, maybe  we can get the world record. But it’s all about racing, not necessarily times.  I’ll be happy with a 13:01 or 13:02, if we get a close race down to the  finish.”

Famiglietti was in shape to break the American record in 2009, but just  missed the American mark of 13:24 set by Marc Davis at Carlsbad  in 1996. This time, Famiglietti could take down the record if he tries to keep  pace with the elite internationals.

“He’s up against the world’s best,” Turnbull added. “He and Alistair  Cragg (of Ireland) are front-runners and should hang on as long as they  can.”

Famiglietti’s front-of-the-pack tactics earned him the nickname of “Iron Man” earlier in his career “because I went out so fast,” he said. “I’ve learned to  adapt over time. Winning is good, but running fast is better.”

Earlier in the day are other open races including the Masters Men 40 and over, Masters Women 40 and over plus other age-group races.  The day before is the Junior Carlsbad for kids 12 and under.  The Carlsbad 5000 is an unique event.

This will be Bob Anderson's 19th Carlsbad.  This year is special because this will be his 15th race of the year.  He is running 50 in 2012 to celebrate 50 years of running.  Bob founded Runner's World magazine in 1966 and published it for 18 years before selling it to Rodale Press.  Last year he ran 19:53 and placed third in his division.