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CONTACTS
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Chris Weiller
Senior Vice President, Media, Public Relations, and Professional Athletics
212.320.4046 / [email protected]
Lauren Doll
Director, Media and Public Relations
212.423.2271 / [email protected]
Stuart Lieberman
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
212.548.7332 / [email protected]
Laura Paulus
Youth and Community Services, Media and Public Relations
646.241.3527 / [email protected]
Athletes will be available for post-race interviews immediately following the race at the finish line mixed zone just past the finish on 5th Avenue at Grand Army Plaza. An awards ceremony will follow.
Information current as of August 23, 2016.
NYRR MISSION STATEMENT
OUR MISSION
HELP AND INSPIRE PEOPLE THROUGH RUNNING
Running takes your body, mind, and spirit to a better place. The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward can make you healthier, happier, and more confident.
Like the starting horn at a race, we want to be the “Go!” that gets people running for life. At New York Road Runners, it is our goal to give everyone on the planet both a reason to run and the means and opportunity to keep running and never stop.
Over the past 55-plus years, we have grown from a local running club to a global champion of the running movement. We are the world’s premier community running organization, and our efforts and events serve all runners and active individuals, from beginners to professional athletes: the young, the elderly, and the underserved of all abilities.
We impact the lives of over 430,000 people annually, from New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs to runners around the world, through a wide variety of events and programs for people of all ages and abilities.
It is our unique nonprofit model, which teams contributions from corporate, foundation, and individual donors with earned income from our best-in-class events, that makes all our efforts possible.
Together with the help of all of NYRR’s members, supporters, participants, and partners, we’re working hard to fulfill our mission of giving all people everywhere a reason to run. Today, tomorrow, and for life.
CONTENTS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
1 Schedule of Events2 NYRR Leadership2 Digital and Social Media2 Live Stream3 By the Numbers4 New Balance Partnership5 Event History Timeline8 Course9 Prize Purse10 Specialty Miles
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS
11 Entrant Lists13 Profiles
RACE STATISTICS AND RESULTS
23 Champions, 1981-201525 Multiple-Time Champions26 Top 10 Finishers, 2015 5th Avenue Mile Professional Races27 10 Fastest Milers, All-Time (Track)28 10 Fastest American Milers, All-Time (Track)29 10 Fastest Mile Performances, 2016 (Track)30 10 Fastest American Mile Performances, 2016 (Track)31 World and American Mile Records (Track)32 10 Fastest 5th Avenue Mile Performances, All-Time33 Sydney Maree’s 5th Avenue Mile Record
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
34 About New York Road Runners (NYRR)34 NYRR Youth and Community Services36 NYRR History
1NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WHEELCHAIRS AND HANDCYCLES 8:00 a.m.
OPEN CATEGORIES
Women 15–24 8:10 a.m.
Men 15–24 8:25 a.m.
Women 25–29 8:40 a.m.
Men 25–29 8:55 a.m.
Women 30–34 9:10 a.m.
Men 30–34 9:25 a.m.
Women 35–39 9:40 a.m.
Men 35–39 9:55 a.m.
Women 40–49 10:10 a.m.
Men 40–49 10:25 a.m.
Men and Women 50–59 10:40 a.m.
GEORGE SHEEHAN MEMORIAL MILE
Men and Women 60–69 11:00 a.m.
Men and Women 70+ 11:20 a.m.
SPECIALTY MILES
Kids’ Races (Age 2) 11:30 a.m.
Media Mile 11:45 a.m.
Kids’ Races (Ages 3–4) 11:50 a.m.
NYPD/FDNY Mile 12:00 p.m.
Kids’ Races (Ages 5–6) 12:10 p.m.
YOUTH
Youth Wheelchair Invitational 12:25 p.m.
Youth 7–14 12:30 p.m.
NYRR ROAD MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women 12:45 p.m.
Men 1:00 p.m.
The NYRR Road Mile Championships are invitation-only races for local competitive athletes.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
Women 1:15 p.m.
Men 1:30 p.m.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE2
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
NYRR LEADERSHIP
George Hirsch—Chairman, Board of Directors, NYRR
Michael Capiraso—President and CEO, NYRR
Peter Ciaccia—President, Events, NYRR and Race Director, TCS New York City Marathon
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Surrounding race day, the latest media coverage and images will be made available at
nyrr.org/mediacenter.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
New York Road Runners: facebook.com/NewYorkRoadRunners
@nyrr
@nyrrnews
@mcapiraso
@peter_ciaccia
@nyrr
@mcapiraso
@peter_ciaccia
Hashtag
#NB5thAveMile
Periscope
@nyrr
Snapchat
NYRRSnaps
LIVE STREAM
The New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will be available live on USATF.tv, the digital streaming
platform of USA Track & Field powered by RunnerSpace. A complete replay of the event will
be available soon after the conclusion of the live coverage and will be made available to sub-
scribers of the +Plus platform on USATF.tv. +Plus subscribers have access to hundreds of live
and on-demand events in track and field and road racing including training videos, athlete
profiles, and exclusive content. For information about becoming a subscriber, visit USATF.tv
or RunnerSpace.com.
3NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
BY THE NUMBERS
• 6,000 expected finishers in the 2016 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, running in
22 one-mile races throughout the day, plus 3 shorter-distance races for kids
• $32,000 prize purse for the professional athlete and local competitive races
• $5,000 prize to the winners of the men’s and women’s professional athlete races
• $1,000 prime bonus to the runners leading the men’s and women’s professional athlete
races at the half-mile mark, provided the runner finishes in under 4:00.00 (men) or
4:32.00 (women)
• 18 Olympians in the professional athlete field, including 16 athletes who competed in
the Rio 2016 Olympics
• 5 Olympic medalists in the professional athlete field, including 4 medalists from the
Rio 2016 Olympics
• 2 previous 5th Avenue Mile champions in the professional athlete field
• 11 men in the professional athlete field who have run under 3:55 in the mile
• 16 women in the professional athlete field who have run under 4:30 in the mile
• 3:47.52: Men’s event record set by Sydney Maree of South Africa in 1981
• 4:16.68: Women’s event record set by PattiSue Plumer of the United States in 1990
• 13 multiple-time champions in event history
• 2 four-time winners in event history: Isaac Viciosa of Spain (1995–1998) and Jenny
Simpson of the United States (2011, 2013–2015)
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE4
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
NEW BALANCE PARTNERSHIP
NYRR and New Balance have gradually launched a new relationship in 2016 that will reach
full engagement in 2017, covering a wide range of areas, including event sponsorship, youth
programming, global licensing, and e-commerce and retail rights for footwear and apparel.
This year, New Balance has become the title sponsor of both the New Balance 5th Avenue
Mile and the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and is also working together with NYRR on the
opening of a new NYRR running center, set to open in late 2016 near Columbus Circle.
In 2017, New Balance will become an NYRR Foundation Partner and the Official Athletic
Footwear and Apparel Partner of NYRR. The year-round engagement will feature spon-
sorship of the NYRR Five-Borough Series (United Airlines NYC Half, Airbnb Brooklyn
Half, NYRR Queens 10K, New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and NYRR Staten Island Half), NYRR
Heritage Races (NYRR New York Mini 10K, New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, and the NYRR
Midnight Run), and the TCS New York City Marathon.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following mission: Demonstrating re-
sponsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are
proud to create and communities are proud to host. New Balance is the only major company
to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA,
which represents a limited portion of our US sales. Where the domestic value is at least 70%,
we label our shoes Made in the USA. New Balance owns five factories in New England and
one in Flimby, UK. New Balance employs more than 5,000 associates around the globe, and
in 2015 reported worldwide sales of $3.72 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please
visit www.newbalance.com, and for the latest press information, please visit http://newbal-
ance.newsmarket.com.
5NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
EVENT HISTORY TIMELINE
Some of New York City’s most thrilling races have taken place on a stretch of 20 blocks on 5th Avenue. This tradition will continue on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, which has drawn a top-level field to Manhattan’s famous thoroughfare. Here are some highlights from the event’s storied history:
• 1981: The 5th Avenue Mile was inaugurated with a star-studded men’s field featuring
Sydney Maree, Steve Scott, John Walker, Steve Cram, Ray Flynn, Mike Boit, Eamonn
Coghlan, Tom Byers, and Thomas Wessinghage. Maree, of South Africa, broke the tape
a full two seconds ahead of runner-up Boit of Kenya. Maree’s time, 3:47.52, has endured
as the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile event record for 34 years.
• 1989: The men’s race was described by 1984 event winner John Walker of New Zealand
as “deeper than the Olympics.” The favorite was Abdi Bile of Somalia, the 1987 world
champion at 1500 meters. But Great Britain’s Peter Elliott, the 1987 5th Avenue Mile champ
and 1988 Olympic 1500-meter silver medalist, outran Bile to win in 3:52.95. Third went to
1988 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters winner Jeff Atkinson.
• 1990: Former #1 world-ranked 3000-meter runner PattiSue Plumer of the United States
sat back in fifth place before making a big move and running away to victory in 4:16.68, a
course record that still stands. On the men’s side Great Britain’s Peter Elliott became 5th
Avenue’s first three-time champion and threatened the course record with his 3:47.83;
fellow Briton Steve Cram followed in 3:48.39. Amazingly, 17 men broke four minutes.
• 1996: The New York running dream of Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe was to prevail on 5th
Avenue. Having lost in the final few yards to Ireland’s Sinead Delahunty in 1995, Radcliffe
again led through three-quarters, but this time she held on to win in 4:26.69.
• 1997: Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe was back again, and American star Suzy Favor
Hamilton was making her 5th Avenue Mile debut. Thinking of her relative lack of finishing
speed, Radcliffe again took the lead with a blistering 2:09 first half-mile and held on to
beat Ireland’s Sinead Delahunty by nearly two seconds in 4:22.96.
• 2005: In the men’s race, American Alan Webb set a fast early pace, but Australian Craig
“Buster” Mottram powered past Webb with 200 meters left to win in 3:49.9. The women’s
race was led early by Kim Smith of New Zealand, but she was reeled in by Canada’s
Carmen Douma-Hussar, just edging American Amy Rudolph in 4:28.0.
• 2006: Kevin Sullivan of Canada had been in Manhattan for less than three hours before
the start of the men’s race, but lined up to race unfazed by the quick turnaround. Sullivan
seemed to float effortlessly across the finish line in 3:54.1, ahead of New Zealand’s Nick
Willis (3:54.7) and American Matt Tegenkamp (3:54.8). In the women’s race, American Sara
Hall timed her finish perfectly, creating a gap between New Zealand’s Kim Smith and Erin
Donohue of the United States over the final 300 meters to win in 4:28.0.
(continued)
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE6
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
• 2007: U.S. mile record-holder Alan Webb held off challenges from 2006 winner Kevin
Sullivan of Canada and Jon Rankin of Chula Vista, CA, to win in 3:52.7. Carmen
Douma-Hussar of Canada won a similarly close race in 4:22.8 over Americans Amy
Mortimer and 2006 winner Sara Hall.
• 2008: Bernard Lagat of the United States, who had won both the 1500 meters and the
5000 meters at the 2007 IAAF World Championships, took the lead with a quarter-mile
remaining, but New Zealand’s Olympic 1500-meter silver medalist Nick Willis challenged
with 200 yards left. In a photo finish, Willis edged Lagat by one-tenth of a second to win
in 3:50.5.
In the women’s race, Great Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey and Shannon Rowbury of the United
States, both 2008 Olympic 1500-meter finalists, fought for the win. Dobriskey edged
ahead to record the second-fastest time in race history, 4:18.6; Rowbury followed in 4:19.2.
• 2009: Lisa Dobriskey and Shannon Rowbury staged a sequel that measured up to the
original. In the last 50 yards, Rowbury found a final gear and outran Dobriskey to win
in 4:23.3. Dobriskey and the next two finishers, Americans Sara Hall and Kristin Wurth-
Thomas, all recorded times of 4:23.9.
At the same late stage in the men’s race, five runners were still in contention. Great Brit-
ain’s Andy Baddeley produced a surprise move to relegate Kenya’s Boaz Lalang and the
United States’ Leo Manzano to second and third, winning in 3:51.8.
• 2010: First-time 5th Avenue Mile competitor Amine Laalou of Morocco made a late move
past American 1500-meter record-holder Bernard Lagat to deny Lagat the title again.
Laalou ran 3:52.83; Lagat edged defending champion Andy Baddeley of Great Britain for
second place by four-hundredths of a second.
In the women’s race, Shannon Rowbury led an American podium sweep, cruising past
Erin Donohue in the final meters to repeat as champion in 4:24.12. Donohue outlasted
2006 champion Sara Hall of the United States for second; less than three-tenths of a
second separated the three.
• 2011: American Bernard Lagat finally won the race in his third try—at age 36—with classic
sit-and-kick tactics, producing a nonpareil last 100 meters to put more than a full second
on defending champion Amine Laalou of Morocco; David Torrence of the United States
took third. American Jenny Simpson followed her gold-medal performance in the 2011
IAAF World Championships 1500 meters by running away from Sally Kipyego of Kenya
and Great Britain’s Hannah England, who had taken the Worlds silver medal behind Simpson.
• 2012: American Matthew Centrowitz followed up great 1500-meter debuts at the World
Championships (bronze medal, 2011) and the Olympics (fourth, 2012) by outsprinting
defending champion Bernard Lagat and Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano, both of the
EVENT HISTORY TIMELINE continued
7NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
United States, to win his 5th Avenue Mile debut. Brenda Martinez of the United States, who
had finished 18th in 2010, outlasted a field that included seven Olympians to break the tape
in the women’s race in 4:24.2.
• 2013: Five years after his 2008 win, New Zealand’s Nick Willis became the event’s fifth
multi-time men’s winner, again by outsprinting American Bernard Lagat. Jenny Simpson
of the United States matched that accomplishment by reprising her 2011 victory to
become the seventh double-winner among women.
• 2014: American Jordan McNamara sat mid-pack at 65th Street, but surged in the final
quarter-mile to nip fellow American Garrett Heath at the tape; both men recorded a time
of 3:51.0. Jenny Simpson of the United States led wire-to-wire, crossing the finish line in
4:19.4 to become the first three-time women’s champion in event history.
• 2015: In a close sprint finish, Jenny Simpson of the United States won her third-
consecutive title, running 4:29.0 and joining Spain’s Isaac Viciosa as the only four-time
winners in event history. New Zealand’s Nick Willis earned his third title on 5th Avenue,
breaking away in the final 200 meters to claim victory in 3:54.8.
Some material adapted from “In a New York Mile,” by Peter Gambaccini, New York Runner,
Fall 2005.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE8
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
110th St.
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East 85th St.
East 90th St.
East 96th St.
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East 110th St.West 110th St.110th St.
Adam ClaytonPowell Jr. Blvd. Lenox Ave.
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7th Ave. 6th Ave.
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ColumbusCircle Grand
Army PlazaCentral Park SouthCentral Park South
The Reservoir
Great Lawn
Zoo
MineralSprings
The Ramble
WollmanRink
LoebBoathouse
The Lake
Turtle Pond
Bandshell
North MeadowBallfields
HarlemMeer
ThePool
StrawberryFields
MetropolitanMuseum
of Art
Tavernon theGreen
EastParkDrive
WestParkDrive
EastParkDrive
WestParkDrive
AmericanMuseum of
Natural History
GuggenheimMuseum
START
FINISH
BaggageDrop-off
Baggage Pick-up
CURRENT AS OF 8/1/16
SheepMeadow
New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
Race Route
Water Stations
Medical AidStations
Baggage
September 3, 2016
Information
VolunteerCheck-In
Bathrooms
Start
Finish
COURSE
The starting line crosses 5th Avenue near
its intersection with East 80th Street, and
the race proceeds south to Grand Army
Plaza at East 60th Street. There are 20
north-south blocks to the mile in Manhat-
tan, so runners can check their progress
by looking at any street sign, as well as by
checking their quarter-mile splits at digital
clocks placed every five blocks.
First Quarter-Mile: East 80th Street to
East 75th Street is slightly downhill, which
can make the race open at a quicker pace.
Second Quarter-Mile: East 75th Street
to East 70th Street balances the early
downhill out with a moderate uphill. The
finish line can be seen from the top of the
incline, but runners still have half of the
race left to run.
Third Quarter-Mile: Another gentle
downhill helps keep the pace quick as
the course approaches East 65th Street.
Fourth Quarter-Mile: Past East 65th Street,
runners are encouraged loudly by thick
crowds on both sides of the road. It’s a flat
final five blocks to the finish line at East
60th Street.
9NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
PRIZE PURSE
The 2016 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile prize purse totals a guaranteed $32,000, with potential bonuses.
The professional athlete races feature a prize purse of $30,000. The men’s and women’s
champions will each receive $5,000.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE RACESMEN/WOMEN:
1 $5,000
2 3,500
3 2,500
4 1,500
5 1,000
6 750
7 500
8 250
A $1,000 prime is payable to the runner who is leading at the half-mile mark in each professional race, provided that the runner finishes the race in 4:00.00 or faster (men) or 4:32.00 or faster (women).
NYRR ROAD MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS*MEN/WOMEN:
The NYRR Road Mile Championships features a prize purse of $2,000.
1 $400
2 300
3 200
4 100
* Prize money is limited to New York Road Runners members whose membership was activated at least three months prior to race day.
Athletes who have been suspended for doping by a governing body are not eligible to participate in, and should not apply for entry in, NYRR races. Extenuating circumstances may be reviewed by the NYRR Race Director.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE10
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE
SPECIALTY MILES
In addition to the age-group and professional races, the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
hosts a number of specialty races for local competition.
Youth Wheelchair Invitational MileReturning this year is the Youth Wheelchair Invitational Mile, featuring athletes from
wheelchair racing teams in the New York tri-state area, which will precede the professional
athlete races.
George Sheehan Memorial MileConcluding the age-group races will be the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for men
and women ages 60–69 and ages 70-plus. The races are named in honor of Dr. George
Sheehan, a public speaker and writer of eight books on health and fitness, who was also
the first man over age 50 to run a mile in under five minutes.
Kids’ RacesFollowing the George Sheehan Memorial Mile, a series of three dash races for children
ages 2–6 will give young athletes the chance to cross the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
finish line at Grand Army Plaza.
Media MileThe Media Mile features runners from a variety of New York media outlets, from television
and radio producers and on-air talent, to newspaper and magazine writers and photogra-
phers. The Media Mile, in its sixth year, has featured more than 100 participants from media
outlets such as WABC-TV, Channel 7; Runner’s World; and The Wall Street Journal.
NYPD/FDNY MileFollowing the Media Mile, the NYPD/FDNY Mile will have New York’s Finest face off with
New York’s Bravest in a one-mile duel.
NYRR Road Mile ChampionshipsPrior to the professional athlete races, NYRR will host top local competitors in the NYRR
Road Mile Championships, offering a total of $2,000 in prize money.
11NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—MEN
ENTRANT LISTS MEN COUNTRY AGE MILE PR 1500m PR TWITTER
Colby Alexander USA 25 3:54.94 3:34.88 @okaycolby
Robby Andrews USA 25 3:53.16 (i) 3:34.78 @RA_Andrews
Ben Blankenship USA 26 3:53.13 (i) 3:35.02 @benfblankenship
Nate Brannen CAN 33 3:52.63 3:34.22 @natebrannen
Donn Cabral USA 26 3:56.41 (i) 3:40.03 @DonnCabral
Matthew Centrowitz USA 26 3:50.63 3:30.40 @MattCentrowitz
Mason Ferlic USA 23 4:00.50 (i) 3:44.67 @masonferlic
Johnny Gregorek USA 24 3:55.27 3:36.04 @JohnnyGregorek
Cory Leslie USA 26 3:53.44 3:34.93 @cory_leslie
Leo Manzano USA 31 3:50.64 3:30.98 @Leomanzano
Riley Masters USA 26 3:56.15 (i) 3:36.49 @riley_masters
Kyle Merber USA 25 3:54.76 3:34.54 @TheRealMerb
Clayton Murphy USA 21 3:57.11 (i) 3:36.23 @Clayton_Murph
Chris O’Hare GBR 25 3:52.91 (i) 3:34.83 @chrisohare1500
Ford Palmer USA 25 3:56.58 3:36.98 @gofordpalmer
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot CAN 25 3:54.52 3:34.23 @charlespt
Jake Wightman GBR 22 3:54.20 3:35.49 @JakeSWightman
Daniel Winn USA 25 3:56.73 3:37.56 @DanielWinn
Athletes whose names are in bold type are profiled in the following pages.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE12
ENTRANT LISTS WOMEN COUNTRY AGE MILE PR 1500m PR TWITTER
Stephanie Brown USA 25 4:29.06 4:07.55 @misspurplebrown
Emma Coburn USA 25 4:29.86 (i) 4:05.10 @emmajcoburn
Amanda Eccleston USA 26 4:25.64 4:03.25 @AmandaEcc
Stephanie Garcia USA 28 4:28.47 (i) 4:05.39 @steph_steeples
Kate Grace USA 27 4:28.30 (i) 4:05.65 @fastk8
Ashley Higginson USA 27 4:30.16 (i) 4:08.13 @AshleyHigz
Shelby Houlihan USA 23 4:28.71 (i) 4:03.39 @shelbo800
Emily Infeld USA 26 4:31.50 (i) 4:07.77 @emily_infeld
Lauren Johnson USA 29 4:25.04 4:04.17 @JohnsonRunning
Heather Kampf USA 29 4:27.23 4:04.46 @HeatherRaeKampf
Alison Leonard GBR 26 4:38.37 (i) 4:09.59 @LENrun800
Katie Mackey USA 28 4:25.48 4:03.81 @KatieFMackey
Eilish McColgan GBR 25 4:03.74 @EilishMccolgan
Cory McGee USA 24 4:28.55 4:06.67 @CoryMcGeeRuns
Laura Muir GBR 23 4:19.12 3:55.22 @lauramuiruns
Shannon Osika USA 23 4:30.62 4:11.28 @osikashannon
Stephanie Schappert USA 23 4:30.07 4:09.41 @stephschapp
Rachel Schneider USA 25 4:28.50 (i) 4:06.90 @rachschneid18
Nicole Sifuentes CAN 30 4:27.93 (i) 4:03.97 @ndsifuentes
Jenny Simpson USA 30 4:22.18 3:57.22 @trackjenny
Nicole Tully USA 30 4:29.78 4:05.89 @NicoleSchappert
Morgan Uceny USA 31 4:27.99 (i) 4:00.06 @MUceny
Sara Vaughn USA 30 4:34.29 4:08.34 @MomVaughn
Athletes whose names are in bold type are profiled in the following pages.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
13NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ROBBY ANDREWS
Country: United States
Age: 25
Date of Birth: March 29, 1991
Residence: Manalapan, NJ
Personal Best: 3:53.16 (i), New York, NY, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m 2nd 3:34.88
2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships 1500m 4th 3:44.77 (i)
2016 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 4th 3:53.16 (i)
2015 IAAF World Championships 1500m 11th 3:38.29
2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships 800m 1st 1:44.71
Andrews qualified for his first Olympic team this summer, moving from fifth place to sec-
ond over the final 300 meters of the U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters. His strong finishing
kick is one of his trademarks: In the 2011 NCAA Championships 800 meters, he surged
from last place to first over the final 200 meters to claim his second national title. The
University of Virginia graduate also anchored the United States’ 4x800-meter relay team
to victory at the 2015 IAAF World Relays.
BEN BLANKENSHIP
Country: United States
Age: 26
Date of Birth: December 15, 1989
Residence: Eugene, OR
Personal Best: 3:53.15 (i), Boston, MA, 2015
5th Avenue Mile History: 2014: 15th, 3:57.8; 2013: 10th, 3:55.7
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 1500m 8th 3:51.09
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m 3rd 3:36.18
2016 Prefontaine Classic Mile 7th 3:53.83
2016 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships 1st 3:55.8
2015 USATF Outdoor Championships 1500m 4th 3:38.78
Injuries forced Blankenship to take a break from competitive running during his senior year
at the University of Minnesota. The following summer, he became inspired by watching the
London 2012 Olympics and returned to the sport in 2013. He made his Team USA debut
in 2015, anchoring the distance medley at the IAAF World Relays to a gold medal and a
world-record 9:15.50. Blankenship made his first Olympic team this summer and qualified
for the 1500-meter final in Rio; there, he placed eighth, finishing only 1.09 seconds behind
gold medalist and U.S. teammate Matthew Centrowitz.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—MEN
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE14
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—MEN
MATTHEW CENTROWITZCountry: United States
Age: 26
Date of Birth: October 18, 1989
Residence: Portland, OR
Personal Best: 3:50.53, Eugene, OR, 2014
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 4th, 3:56.1; 2014: 6th, 3:52.4;
2012: 1st, 3:52.4
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 1500m 1st 3:50.00
2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships 1500m 1st 3:44.22
2013 IAAF World Championships 1500m 2nd 3:36.78 (i)
2012 London Olympic 1500m 4th 3:35.17
2011 IAAF World Championships 1500m 3rd 3:36.08
Centrowitz won the 1500 meters at the Rio 2016 Olympics leading virtually wire to wire,
closing his final lap in 50.62 seconds to take the gold medal. He became the first American
man to win the Olympic 1500 meters since 1908. In February, he won the NYRR Millrose
Games Wanamaker Mile in a world-leading 3:50.63. In March, he won the 1500 meters at
the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, OR. The University of Oregon graduate
grew up in Arnold, MD; his father, Matt, ran the 1500 meters at the Montreal 1976 Olympics.
LEO MANZANOCountry: United States
Age: 31
Date of Birth: September 12, 1984
Residence: Austin, TX
Personal Best: 3:50.64, London, GBR, 2010
5th Avenue Mile History: 2013: 11th, 3:56.0; 2012: 3rd, 3:53.1;
2010: 5th, 3:54.17; 2009: 3rd, 3:52.2
Career Highlights
2015 IAAF World Championships 1500m 10th 3:37.26
2014 Monaco Diamond League 1500m 8th 3:30.98
2014 USATF Outdoor Championships 1500m 1st 3:38.63
2012 London Olympic 1500m 2nd 3:34.79
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m 1st 3:35.75
In 2012, Manzano became the first American to medal in the 1500 meters at the Olym-
pics since Jim Ryun’s silver medal at the 1968 Games in Mexico City. Sitting in 10th at the
bell—and sixth with 100 meters to go—he blazed down the homestretch to claim the silver.
Manzano placed fourth in the 1500 meters at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, ending his 10-
year streak of finishing in the top three in that event at the national championships. Born
in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico, Manzano moved to Texas when he was four years old. He later
attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he won four NCAA individual titles.
15NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
KYLE MERBERCountry: United States
Age: 25
Date of Birth: November 19, 1990
Residence: Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Personal Best: 3:54.76, Dublin, IRL, 2014
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 9th, 3:57.6; 2014: 8th, 3:53.5
Career Highlights
2016 Dublin Morton Games Mile 2nd 3:55.79
2015 USATF Indoor Championships 1000m 2nd 2:22.39 (i)
2014 Falmouth Mile 1st 3:56.45
2014 Dublin Morton Games Mile 5th 3:54.76
2012 Swarthmore Last Chance Meet 1500m 1st 3:35.59
The streets of New York City are familiar ground for Merber: He attended Columbia Univer-
sity, and while there he ran an American collegiate record of 3:35.59 for 1500 meters. The
breakout performance came after Merber had missed the entire 2011 season with an injury.
At the IAAF World Relays last May, he ran the 1200-meter leg of the distance medley for
the U.S., contributing to the team’s world record of 9:15.50. Originally from Long Island,
Merber now trains with Frank Gagliano’s New Jersey-New York Track Club.
CLAYTON MURPHYCountry: United States
Age: 21
Date of Birth: February 26, 1995
Residence: New Paris, OH
Personal Best: 3:57.11, Akron, OH, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 800m 3rd 1:42.96
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 800m 1st 1:44.76
2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships 1500m 1st 3:36.38
2016 NCAA Indoor Championships 800m 1st 1:46.68 (i)
2015 Pan American Games 800m 1st 1:47.19
After his junior year at the University of Akron, where he won NCAA titles indoors and out-
doors, Murphy turned pro and made an immediate impact: He ran a personal-best 1:44.76
to win the U.S. Olympic Trials 800 meters, moving from sixth place to first over the final
200 meters. He set another personal best in Rio, running 1:42.93 to earn the bronze medal
and become the third-fastest American in history. Murphy lives and trains in his hometown
of New Paris, OH, where he grew up on his family’s farm raising show animals.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—MEN
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE16
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS
CHRIS O’HARECountry: Great Britain
Age: 25
Date of Birth: November 23, 1990
Residence: Boston, MA
Personal Best: 3:52.91 (i), New York, NY, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 2nd, 3:55.9
Career Highlights
2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships 1500m 8th 3:46.50 (i)
2016 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 3rd 3:52.91 (i)
2015 European Indoor Championships 1500m 3rd 3:38.96 (i)
2014 European Championships 1500m 3rd 3:46.18
2013 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 4th 3:52.98 (i)
The 2015 runner-up returns to 5th Avenue looking to take one step up to the top of the
podium. In February, O’Hare lowered his own Scottish indoor mile record to 3:52.91 at the
NYRR Millrose Games. At the 2013 NYRR Millrose Games, O’Hare set a what was then the
collegiate record in the mile with a 3:52.98; he was also the 100th man to break four min-
utes in the Wanamaker Mile. O’Hare won the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships mile title
while at the University of Tulsa. Originally from West Linton, Scotland, the Rio Olympian
currently trains with the Boston Athletic Association.
17NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
EMMA COBURNCountry: United States
Age: 25
Date of Birth: October 19, 1990
Residence: Boulder, CO
Personal Best: 4:29.86 (i), New York, NY, 2013
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 3000m Steeplechase 3rd 9:07.63 (AR)
2016 Prefontaine Classic 3000m Steeplechase 3rd 9:10.76
2015 IAAF World Championships 3000m Steeplechase 5th 9:21.78
2012 London Olympic 3000m Steeplechase 8th 9:23.54
2011 IAAF World Championships 3000m Steeplechase 10th 9:51.40
The 3000-meter steeplechase specialist kicked off her 2016 season with an American
record in that event, running 9:10.76 in May. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, she won her
fifth-consecutive national title in the steeplechase. She lowered her record to 9:07.63 at
the Olympics, taking the bronze medal and becoming the first American woman to medal
in the event. Originally from Crested Butte, CO, Coburn attended the University of Colo-
rado Boulder, where she won two NCAA steeplechase titles. This year, she was included in
ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue,” becoming the first runner featured since 2012.
AMANDA ECCLESTONCountry: United States
Age: 26
Date of Birth: June 18, 1990
Residence: Ann Arbor, MI
Personal Best: 4:25.64, Raleigh, NC, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 9th, 4:32.5
Career Highlights
2016 Sir Walter Miler Mile 2nd 4:25.64
2016 London Diamond League 1500m 6th 4:03.25
2016 Padua Meeting 1500m 1st 4:04.90
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m 4th 4:06.19
2016 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 3rd 4:26.63 (i)
Eccleston placed fourth in the U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters this summer—missing the
team by just three hundredths of a second—but since then she has rebounded to lower her
1500-meter best twice in July and set a new personal best in the mile in August. Eccleston
grew up in Adrian, MI, and attended Hillsdale College, where she won three NCAA Division
II national titles before pursuing a postgraduate degree in public health at the University of
Michigan.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE18
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
KATE GRACECountry: United States
Age: 27
Date of Birth: October 24, 1988
Residence: Sacramento, CA
Personal Best: 4:28.30 (i), New York, NY, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 800m 1st 1:59.10
2016 Hoka One One Middle Distance Classic 1500m 1st 4:05.65
2016 New Balance Games Mile 2nd 4:28.30 (i)
2013 USA 1 Mile Road Championships 1st 4:43.02
2013 USATF Outdoor Championships 800m 4th 2:00.10
In June 2015, Grace moved to Sacramento, CA, to begin training with the NorCal Distance
Project; in just over a year, she’s shown how the change has paid off: This year, she has set
new personal bests for 1500 meters indoors (4:06.75) and outdoors (4:05.65), as well as
in the mile indoors (4:28.30). In July, Grace won the 800 meters at the 2016 U.S. Olympic
Trials in a personal-best 1:59.10. In Rio, she ran a new best of 1:58.79 in the semifinals and
placed eighth in the finals. Grace graduated from Yale University with a degree in environ-
mental studies, where she was also a four-time NCAA All-American.
ASHLEY HIGGINSONCountry: United States
Age: 27
Date of Birth: March 17, 1989
Residence: New Brunswick, NJ
Personal Best: 4:30.16 (i), New York, NY, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2015 Pan American Games 3000m Steeplechase 1st 9:48.12
2015 USATF Outdoor Championships 3000m Steeplechase 5th 9:35.55
2014 USATF Outdoor Championships 3000m Steeplechase 2nd 9:27.59
2013 USATF Outdoor Championships 3000m Steeplechase 2nd 9:46.25
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials 3000m Steeplechase 4th 9:38.06
Higginson, primarily a steeplechaser, has shown she’s ready for the New Balance 5th
Avenue Mile, having set a new mile best of 4:30.16 at the NYRR Millrose Games in Febru-
ary and a new 1500-meter best of 4:08.13 in May. After finishing fourth in the 3000-meter
steeplechase at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, Higginson returned to this year’s Trials and
placed ninth in 9:38.55. In between Trials, she made the podium at the national champion-
ships twice, finishing second in 2013 and 2014. The Princeton University graduate has also
been training while earning her law degree from Rutgers School of Law.
19NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
SHELBY HOULIHANCountry: United States
Age: 23
Date of Birth: February 8, 1993
Residence: Portland, OR
Personal Best: 4:28.71 (i), Fayetteville, AR, 2015
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 5000m 11th 15:08.89
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 5000m 2nd 15:06.14
2016 Prefontaine Classic 1500m 7th 4:03.39
2016 NYRR Millrose Games 5000m 5th 15:06.22
2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships 1500m 1st 4:18.10
Houlihan graduated from Arizona State University in 2015 as a 12-time NCAA All-American,
having won the NCAA Outdoor title in the 1500 meters her junior year and having placed
second the following year. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, she ran a personal best in the
5000 meters to make her first Olympic team. In Rio, she was the only American to qualify
for the 5000-meter final, where she finished 11th. Houlihan was raised in Sioux City, IA, and
currently trains with the Bowerman Track Club in Portland, OR.
EMILY INFELDCountry: United States
Age: 26
Date of Birth: March 21, 1990
Residence: Portland, OR
Personal Best: 4:31.50 (i), New York, NY, 2013
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 10,000m 11th 31:26.94
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m 2nd 31:46.09
2015 IAAF World Championships 10,000m 3rd 31:43.49
2015 USATF Outdoor Championships 10,000m 3rd 31:42.60
2012 NCAA Indoor Championships 3000m 1st 9:15.44
After missing most of 2014 due to injury, Infeld returned to racing in 2015, taking the bronze
medal in the IAAF World Championships 10,000 meters. Her podium finish was the United
States’ first in that event since Kara Goucher took third in 2007. This season, Infeld made her
first Olympic team by placing second in the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 meters; she also took
fourth in the 5000 meters at the Trials. In Rio, she ran a personal best by nearly 12 seconds
to finish in 11th place. Originally from University Heights, OH, Infeld was a 10-time NCAA All-
American at Georgetown University and now trains with the Bowerman Track Club.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE20
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
HEATHER KAMPFCountry: United States
Age: 29
Date of Birth: January 19, 1987
Residence: Minneapolis, MN
Personal Best: 4:27.23, Raleigh, NC, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 4th, 4:30.2; 2014: 4th, 4:21.4; 2013:
8th, 4:27.8; 2012: 6th, 4:27.8; 2011: 13th, 4:33.0; 2010: 12th, 4:30.09
Career Highlights
2016 Sir Walter Miler Mile 3rd 4:27.23
2016 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships 1st 4:34.2
2016 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 4th 4:27.26 (i)
2015 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 6th 4:30.07 (i)
2014 Ryan Shay Mile 1st 4:21.39
Kampf has become known for her road-mile racing prowess, having won the past three
USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, in addition to her first title in 2012. Her fastest road
mile to date came at the 2014 Ryan Shay Mile in Charlevoix, MI, where she ran 4:21.39. This
June, she set a new 1500-meter best of 4:04.46, and in August she recorded a new mile
best of 4:27.23. Kampf graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she
was a nine-time NCAA All-American and the 2006 NCAA Indoor 800-meter champion.
KATIE MACKEYCountry: United States
Age: 28
Date of Birth: November 12, 1987
Residence: Seattle, WA
Personal Best: 4:25.48, Dublin, IRL, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2013: 9th, 4:28.1
Career Highlights
2016 Morton Games Mile 1st 4:25.48
2016 Monaco Diamond League 3000m 7th 8:46.58
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 5000m 6th 15:18.60
2015 Stockholm Diamond League 3000m 1st 8:52.99
2014 USATF Outdoor Championships 1500m 3rd 4:07.70
Mackey finished one place away from an Olympic spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials 5000 meters,
but she bounced back quickly to set new personal bests over 3000 meters and one mile in
the weeks that followed. In August, she became the first three-time winner of the women’s
race at the Falmouth Mile. Last year, she became the fourth American in history to win an
IAAF Diamond League distance event. Originally from Fort Collins, CO, Mackey attended the
University of Washington and now trains in Seattle with the Brooks Beasts Track Club; her
husband, Danny Mackey, coaches the group.
21NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
LAURA MUIRCountry: Great Britain
Age: 23
Date of Birth: May 9, 1993
Residence: Glasgow, SCO
Personal Best: 4:19.12, Oslo, NOR, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: Debut
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 1500m 7th 4:12.88
2016 London Diamond League 1500m 1st 3:57:49
2016 Oslo Diamond League Mile 2nd 4:19.12
2015 Oslo Diamond League 1500m 1st 4:00.39
2015 IAAF World Championships 1500m 5th 4:11.48
In her lead-up to the Rio Olympics, Muir broke the British 1500-meter record before a
home crowd, running 3:57.49 at the London Olympic Stadium in July. In the finals in Rio,
she made a brave run to challenge Genzebe Dibaba’s 57-second third lap, placing herself
in third at the bell; Muir would finish seventh overall. In addition to training for Rio, the
Milnathort, Scotland native has also spent the past four years working toward a degree in
veterinary medicine from Glasgow University
NICOLE SIFUENTESCountry: Canada
Age: 30
Date of Birth: June 30, 1986
Residence: Winnipeg, MB, CAN
Personal Best: 4:27.93 (i), Boston, MA, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2010: 11th, 4:29.14
Career Highlights
2016 Furman Elite 1500m 2nd 4:03.94
2015 Pan American Games 1500m 2nd 4:09.13
2014 Commonwealth Games 1500m 4th 4:10.48
2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships 1500m 3rd 4:07.61 (i)
2014 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 3rd 4:28.97 (i)
Sifuentes earned a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Cham-
pionships, setting a new Canadian record of 4:07.61 in the process. This year, she’s lowered
her outdoor 1500-meter best to 4:03.94. She made her second Olympic team this summer,
where she competed in the semi-finals of the 1500 meters. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native
attended the University of Michigan, where she was a 12-time NCAA All-American.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE22
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS—WOMEN
JENNY SIMPSONCountry: United States
Age: 30
Date of Birth: August 23, 1986
Residence: Boulder, CO
Personal Best: 4:22.18, Brussels, BEL, 2015
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 1st, 4:29.0; 2014: 1st, 4:19.4; 2013: 1st,
4:19.3; 2012: 10th, 4:29.9; 2011: 1st, 4:22.3
Career Highlights
2016 Rio Olympic 1500m 3rd 4:10.53
2014 Paris Diamond League 1500m 2nd 3:57:22
2013 IAAF World Championships 1500m 2nd 4:02.99
2011 IAAF World Championships 1500m 1st 4:04.50
2009 IAAF World Championships 3000m Steeplechase 5th 9:12.50
Simpson is the defending 5th Avenue Mile champion and will attempt to become the first
five-time winner in event history. A former American record-holder at the 3000-meter
steeplechase, Simpson placed ninth in that event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and fifth
at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. Since shifting her focus to the 1500 meters, she’s
earned two IAAF World Championship medals in that event, following her gold medal
from 2011 with a silver medal in 2013. At the Rio Olympics, she took bronze in the 1500
meters, making her the first American woman in history to medal in that event.
NICOLE TULLYCountry: United States
Age: 29
Date of Birth: October 30, 1986
Residence: Englewood, NJ
Personal Best: 4:29.78, Raleigh, NC, 2016
5th Avenue Mile History: 2015: 8th, 4:32.2
Career Highlights
2016 Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational 5000m 2nd 15:04.08
2015 IAAF World Championships 5000m 13th 15:27.42
2015 USATF Outdoor Championships 5000m 1st 15:06.44
2015 Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational 5000m 3rd 15:05.58
2012 Morton Games Mile 1st 4:30.65
Tully won the NYRR Road Mile Championships in 2011 and 2013, and will line up in the pro
field this year alongside her sister, Stephanie Schappert. Tully ran her first 5000 meters on
the track last year at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, and followed that by winning
the USATF Outdoor Championships 5000 meters. In only her fourth time racing the event,
she placed 13th in the finals of the IAAF World Championships. This season, she’s lowered
her 5000-meter best to 15:04.08. Originally from Delray Beach, FL, Tully graduated from
Villanova University, and balances her running career with a full-time role in marketing at
Canon Solutions.
23NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
5TH AVENUE MILE CHAMPIONS, 1981–2015
YEAR MEN COUNTRY TIME1981 Sydney Maree RSA 3:47.52*
1982 Tom Byers USA 3:51.35
1983 Steve Scott USA 3:49.77
1984 John Walker NZL 3:53.62
1985 Frank O’Mara IRL 3:52.28
1986 Jose-Luis Gonzalez ESP 3:53.52
1987 Peter Elliott GBR 3:53.52
1988 Steve Scott USA 3:53.43
1989 Peter Elliott GBR 3:52.95
1990 Peter Elliott GBR 3:47.83
1991 Matthew Yates GBR 3:56.75
1992 Itamar Da Silva BRA 4:00.37
1993 Ron Harris USA 3:58.0
1994 Jason Pyrah USA 3:52.3
1995 Isaac Viciosa ESP 3:47.8
1996 Isaac Viciosa ESP 3:53.67
1997 Isaac Viciosa ESP 3:53.66
1998 Isaac Viciosa ESP 3:55.59
1999 Ben Kapsoiya KEN 4:05.4
2000 Jason Lunn USA 4:03.9
2001 John Itati KEN 4:02.3
2002 Leonard Mucheru KEN 3:55.2
2003 John Itati KEN 3:56.0
2004 Elarbi Khattabi MAR 4:10.0
2005 Craig Mottram AUS 3:49.9
2006 Kevin Sullivan CAN 3:54.1
2007 Alan Webb USA 3:52.7
2008 Nick Willis NZL 3:50.5
2009 Andy Baddeley GBR 3:51.8
2010 Amine Laalou MAR 3:52.83
2011 Bernard Lagat USA 3:50.5
2012 Matthew Centrowitz USA 3:52.4
2013 Nick Willis NZL 3:52.1
2014 Jordan McNamara USA 3:51.0
2015 Nick Willis NZL 3:54.8
*Event record
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE24
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
5TH AVENUE MILE CHAMPIONS, 1981–2015
YEAR WOMEN COUNTRY TIME1981 Leann Warren USA 4:25.31
1982 Debbie Scott CAN 4:23.96
1983 Wendy Sly GBR 4:22.66
1984 Maricica Puica ROU 4:24.35
1985 Lynn Williams CAN 4:25.03
1986 Maricica Puica ROU 4:19.48
1987 Kirsty Wade GBR 4:22.70
1988 Mary Slaney USA 4:20.03
1989 Paula Ivan ROU 4:28.25
1990 PattiSue Plumer USA 4:16.68*
1991 Alisa Hill USA 4:31.57
1992 Alicia Kelly USA 4:43.07
1993 Lauren Gubicza USA 4:37.9
1994 Regina Jacobs USA 4:27.8
1995 Sinead Delahunty IRL 4:25.2
1996 Paula Radcliffe GBR 4:26.69
1997 Paula Radcliffe GBR 4:22.96
1998 Regina Jacobs USA 4:20.8
1999 Alisa Harvey USA 4:41.3
2000 Kim McGreevy USA 4:38.9
2001 Kim McGreevy USA 4:39.8
2002 Grace Njoki KEN 4:37.7
2003 Theresa Du Toit RSA 4:53.0
2004 Andrea Haver USA 4:51.0
2005 Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN 4:28.0
2006 Sara Hall USA 4:28.0
2007 Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN 4:22.8
2008 Lisa Dobriskey GBR 4:18.6
2009 Shannon Rowbury USA 4:23.3
2010 Shannon Rowbury USA 4:24.1
2011 Jenny Simpson USA 4:22.3
2012 Brenda Martinez USA 4:24.2
2013 Jenny Simpson USA 4:19.3
2014 Jenny Simpson USA 4:19.4
2015 Jenny Simpson USA 4:29.0
*Event record
25NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
MULTIPLE-TIME CHAMPIONS
MEN
ATHLETE COUNTRY WINS YEARS
Isaac Viciosa ESP 4 1995–1998
Peter Elliott GBR 3 1987, 1989–1990
Nick Willis NZL 3 2008, 2013, 2015
Steve Scott USA 2 1983, 1988
John Itati KEN 2 2001, 2003
WOMEN
ATHLETE COUNTRY WINS YEARS
Jenny Simpson USA 4 2011, 2013–2015
Maricica Puica ROM 2 1984, 1986
Paula Radcliffe GBR 2 1996–1997
Regina Jacobs USA 2 1994, 1998
Alisa [Hill] Harvey USA 2 1991, 1999
Kim McGreevy USA 2 2000–2001
Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN 2 2005, 2007
Shannon Rowbury USA 2 2009–2010
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE26
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
TOP 10 FINISHERS, 2015 5TH AVENUE MILE PROFESSIONAL RACES
MEN
PLACE ATHLETE COUNTRY TIME
1 Nick Willis NZL 3:54.8
2 Chris O’Hare GBR 3:55.9
3 Henrik Ingebrigtsen NOR 3:56.1
4 Matthew Centrowitz USA 3:56.1
5 Ryan Gregson AUS 3:56.2
6 David Torrence USA 3:56.5
7 Charlie Grice GBR 3:57.0
8 Garrett Heath USA 3:57.3
9 Kyle Merber USA 3:57.6
10 Daniel Huling USA 3:58.0
WOMEN
PLACE ATHLETE COUNTRY TIME
1 Jenny Simpson USA 4:29.0
2 Shannon Rowbury USA 4:29.3
3 Susan Kuijken NED 4:29.9
4 Heather Kampf USA 4:30.2
5 Heather Wilson USA 4:31.7
6 Treniere Moser USA 4:31.9
7 Genevieve LaCaze AUS 4:32.0
8 Nicole Tully USA 4:32.2
9 Amanda Eccleston USA 4:32.5
10 Aisha Praught JAM 4:35.0
27NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
10 FASTEST MILERS, ALL-TIME (TRACK)(as of August 23, 2016)
MEN
RANK ATHLETE TIME COUNTRY VENUE DATE
1 Hicham El Guerrouj 3:43.13 MAR Rome, ITA July 7, 1999
2 Noah Ngeny 3:43.40 KEN Rome, ITA July 7, 1999
3 Noureddine Morceli 3:44.39 ALG Rieti, ITA September 5, 1993
4 Steve Cram 3:46.32 GBR Oslo, NOR July 27, 1985
5 Daniel Komen 3:46.38 KEN Berlin, GER August 26, 1997
6 Vénuste Niyongabo 3:46.70 BDI Berlin, GER August 26, 1997
7 Saïd Aouita 3:46.76 MAR Helsinki, FIN July 2, 1987
8 Alan Webb 3:46.91 USA Brasschaat, BEL July 21, 2007
9 Bernard Lagat 3:47.28 KEN Rome, ITA June 29, 2001
10 Ayanleh Souleiman 3:47.32 DJI Eugene, OR May 31, 2014
WOMEN
RANK ATHLETE TIME COUNTRY VENUE DATE
1 Svetlana Masterkova 4:12.56 RUS Zürich, SUI August 14, 1996
2 Genzebe Dibaba 4:13.31 (i) ETH Stockholm, SWE February 17, 2016
3 Paula Ivan 4:15.61 ROU Nice, FRA July 10, 1989
4 Natalya Artyomova 4:15.8 URS Leningrad, URS August 5, 1984
5 Mary Slaney 4:16.71 USA Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
5 Faith Kipyegon 4:16.71 KEN Brussels, BEL September 11, 2015
7 Doina Melinte 4:17.14 (i) ROU East Rutherford, NJ February 9, 1990
8 Sonia O’Sullivan 4:17.25 IRL Oslo, NOR July 22, 1994
9 Maricica Puica 4:17.33 ROU Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
10 Zola Pieterse 4:17.57 GBR Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
(i) = indoors
Source: International Association of Athletics Federations (www.iaaf.org)
Note: This list includes only the fastest lifetime performance from each athlete.
2016 NEW BALANCE 5TH AVENUE MILE28
RESULTS AND STATISTICS
10 FASTEST AMERICAN MILERS, ALL-TIME (TRACK)(as of August 23, 2016)
MEN
RANK ATHLETE TIME VENUE DATE
1 Alan Webb 3:46.91 Brasschaat, BEL July 21, 2007
2 Steve Scott 3:47.69 Oslo, NOR July 7, 1982
3 Bernard Lagat 3:48.38 Oslo, NOR July 29, 2005
4 Sydney Maree 3:48.83 Rieti, ITA September 9, 1981
5 Joe Falcon 3:49.31 Oslo, NOR July 14, 1990
6 Jim Spivey 3:49.80 Oslo, NOR July 5, 1986
7 Todd Harbour 3:50.34 Oslo, NOR July 11, 1981
8 Steve Holman 3:50.40 Oslo, NOR July 4, 1997
9 Matthew Centrowitz 3:50.53 Eugene, OR May 31, 2014
10 Leonel Manzano 3:50.64 London, GBR August 14, 2010
WOMEN
RANK ATHLETE TIME VENUE DATE
1 Mary Slaney 4:16.71 Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
2 Shannon Rowbury 4:20.34 Rieti, ITA September 7, 2008
3 Regina Jacobs 4:20.93 Uniondale, NY July 20, 1998
4 Ruth Wysocki 4:21.78 London, GBR September 7, 1984
5 Jenny Simpson 4:22.18 Brussels, BEL September 11, 2015
6 Suzy Favor Hamilton 4:22.93 Uniondale, NY July 20, 1998
7 Sue Addison 4:23.93 Nice, FRA July 15, 1986
8 Mary Cain 4:24.11 (i) Boston, MA January 24, 2014
9 Lynn Jennings 4:24.14 Oslo, NOR July 14, 1990
10 Kim Conley 4:24.54 (i) New York, NY January 25, 2014
(i) = indoorsSource: International Association of Athletics Federations (www.iaaf.org)Note: This list includes only the fastest lifetime performance from each athlete.
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RESULTS AND STATISTICS RESULTS AND STATISTICS
10 FASTEST MILE PERFORMANCES IN 2016 (TRACK)(as of August 23, 2016)
MEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE COUNTRY VENUE DATE
1 3:50.63 (i) Matthew Centrowitz USA New York, NY February 20
2 3:51.06 (i) Nick Willis NZL New York, NY February 20
3 3:51.48 Asbel Kiprop KEN Oslo, NOR June 9
4 3:51.54 Asbel Kiprop KEN Eugene, OR May 28
5 3:51.96 Abdalaati Iguider MAR Eugene, OR May 28
6 3:52.04 Elijah Manangoi KEN Oslo, NOR June 9
7 3:52.24 Taoufik Makhloufi ALG Oslo, NOR June 9
8 3:52.26 Nick Willis NZL Oslo, NOR June 9
9 3:52.39 Elijah Manangoi KEN Eugene, OR May 28
10 3:52.59 Ryan Gregson AUS Oslo, NOR June 9
WOMEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE COUNTRY VENUE DATE
1 4:13.31 (i) Genzebe Dibaba ETH Stockholm, SWE February 17
2 4:18.60 Faith Kipyegon KEN Oslo, NOR June 9
3 4:19.12 Laura Muir GBR Oslo, NOR June 9
4 4:24.39 (i) Shannon Rowbury USA New York, NY February 20
5 4:24.98 (i) Guduf Tsegay ETH Stockholm, SWE February 17
6 4:25.04 Lauren Johnson USA Raleigh, NC August 5
7 4:25.26 Meraf Bahta SWE Oslo, NOR June 9
8 4:25.34 Sofia Ennaoui POL Oslo, NOR June 9
9 4:25.39 Angelika Cichocka POL Oslo, NOR June 9
10 4:25.48 Katie Mackey USA Dublin, IRL July 22
(i) = indoorsSource: International Association of Athletics Federations (www.iaaf.org)
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RESULTS AND STATISTICS
10 FASTEST AMERICAN MILE PERFORMANCES IN 2016 (TRACK)(as of August 23, 2016)
MEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE VENUE DATE
1 3:50.63 (i) Matthew Centrowitz New York, NY February 20
2 3:53.16 (i) Robby Andrews New York, NY February 20
3 3:53.83 Ben Blankenship Eugene, OR May 28
4 3:53.87 (i) Cory Leslie New York, NY February 20
5 3:53.89 (i)* Izaic Yorks Seattle, WA February 27
6 3:53.95 (i)* Sean McGorty Seattle, WA February 27
7 3:54.02 (i) Matthew Centrowitz Winston-Salem, NC January 30
8 3:54.21 Evan Jager Eugene, OR May 28
9 3:54.57 Kyle Merber Raleigh, NC August 5
10 3:54.94 Colby Alexander Raleigh, NC August 5
WOMEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE VENUE DATE
1 4:24.39 (i) Shannon Rowbury New York, NY February 20
2 4:25.04 Lauren Johnson Raleigh, NC August 5
3 4:25.48 Katie Mackey Raleigh, NC August 5
4 4:25.64 Amanda Eccleston Raleigh, NC August 5
5 4:26.01 (i) Shannon Rowbury Winston-Salem, NC January 30
6 4:26.18 (i) Kerri Gallagher New York, NY February 20
7 4:26.63 (i) Amanda Eccleston New York, NY February 20
8 4:26.88 (i) Amanda Eccleston Boston, MA February 12
9 4:27.23 Heather Kampf New York, NY February 20
10 4:27.26 (i) Heather Kampf Raleigh, NC August 5
(i) = indoors* = run on an oversized trackSource: International Association of Athletics Federations (www.iaaf.org)
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RESULTS AND STATISTICS
WORLD AND AMERICAN MILE RECORDS (TRACK)
MEN
World Record
3:43.13 Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco) Rome, ITA July 7, 1999
American Record
3:46.91 Alan Webb Brasschaat, BEL July 21, 2007
WOMEN
World Record
4:12.56 Svetlana Masterkova (Russia) Zürich, SUI August 8, 1996
American Record
4:16.71 Mary Slaney Zürich, SUI August 21, 1985
Note: Mary Slaney’s American record of 4:16.71 also stood as the IAAF-ratified world record until July 10, 1989, when Paula Ivan of Romania ran 4:15.61.
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RESULTS AND STATISTICS
10 FASTEST 5TH AVENUE MILE PERFORMANCES, ALL-TIME
MEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE COUNTRY PLACE YEAR
1 3:47.52 Sydney Maree RSA 1 1981
2 3:47.80 Isaac Viciosa ESP 1 1995
3 3:47.83 Peter Elliott GBR 1 1990
4 3:48.20 Stephen Kipkorir KEN 2 1995
5 3:48.39 Steve Cram GBR 2 1990
6 3:49.59 Mike Boit KEN 2 1981
7 3:49.77 Steve Scott USA 1 1983
8 3:49.90 Craig Mottram AUS 1 2005
9 3:50.10 Ross Donoghue USA 2 1983
10 3:50.48 Thomas Wessinghage FRG 3 1981
WOMEN
RANK TIME ATHLETE COUNTRY PLACE YEAR
1 4:16.68 PattiSue Plumer USA 1 1990
2 4:17:49 Natalya Artyomova URS 2 1990
3 4:18.6 Lisa Dobriskey GBR 1 2008
4 4:19.2 Shannon Rowbury USA 2 2008
5 4:19.3 Jenny Simpson USA 1 2013
6 4:19.4 Jenny Simpson USA 1 2014
7 4:19:43 Yvonne Mai GDR 3 1990
8 4:19.48 Maricica Puica ROM 1 1986
9 4:19.6 Brenda Martinez USA 2 2014
10 4:20.03 Mary Slaney USA 1 1988
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RESULTS AND STATISTICS
MEN’S RUNNING RECORDS THEN AND NOW: THE DURABILITY OF SYDNEY MAREE’S 5TH AVENUE MILE RECORD
The 5th Avenue Mile event record of 3:47.52, set by Sydney Maree in the inaugural race in 1981, is one of the longest-standing marks in all of running. Its quality can be illustrated by the changes in other records since the time when Maree’s record was set:
RECORD 1981 2016
World Mile 3:47.33 Sebastian Coe 3:43.13 Hicham El Guerrouj
USA Mile 3:49.68 Steve Scott 3:46.91 Alan Webb
World 5000m 13:06.20 Henry Rono 12:37.35 Kenenisa Bekele
USA 5000m 13:15.06 Marty Liquori 12:53.60 Bernard Lagat
World 10,000m 27:22.47 Henry Rono 26:17.53 Kenenisa Bekele
USA 10,000m 27:29.16 Craig Virgin 26:44.36 Galen Rupp
World Marathon 2:08:34 Derek Clayton 2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto
USA Marathon 2:09:28 Bill Rodgers 2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi
5th Avenue Mile 3:47.52 Sydney Maree 3:47.52 Sydney Maree
Winning the race was a huge challenge itself. Maree had to defeat one of the strongest
fields of milers ever assembled anywhere, in any era. The entrants included a past Olympic
Champion and outdoor mile world record-holder (John Walker), a future World Champion
and outdoor mile world record-holder (Steve Cram), and the indoor mile world record-
holder (Eamonn Coghlan). Runners in the field held the national records for Great Britain,
Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, Sudan, the United States, and West Germany.
Here are the full results of the race:
1 Sydney Maree South Africa 3:47.52
2 Mike Boit Kenya 3:49.59
3 Thomas Wessinghage West Germany 3:50.48
4 Steve Cram Great Britain 3:50.78
5 Ray Flynn Ireland 3:51.49
6 John Walker New Zealand 3:53.26
7 Steve Scott United States 3:53.84
8 Tom Byers United States 3:56.24
9 Eamonn Coghlan Ireland 3:57.23
10 Ross Donoghue Ireland 3:58.74
11 Omar Khalifa Sudan 3:59.5
12 Vince Draddy United States 4:01.0
13 Craig Masback United States 4:08.3
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NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
ABOUT NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS (NYRR)
New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 58 years, NYRR has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running orga-nization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s mission-focused approach centers on getting people of all ages and abilities to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness—to Run for Life.
NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, commu-nity events, youth running programs and events, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. More than 215,000 students are served locally and nationally through NYRR’s free youth running programs, events, and resources, including more than 120,000 in New York City’s five boroughs.
NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the 26.2-mile race runs through the five boroughs of New York City—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan—and features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recre-ational, and charity runners. The race is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series featuring the world’s top marathons—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.
Headquartered in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model that teams contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.
NYRR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
More than 215,000 students are served locally and nationally through free NYRR youth running programs, events, and resources. Approximately 120,000 of those students are in New York City’s five boroughs. They participate in a variety of initiatives at approximately 600 NYC schools and community centers.
NYRR supports free community programming for people of all ages—from kids to seniors—designed to get them moving toward a healthier lifestyle, including neighborhood runs and walks, high school training programs, and Running 101 sessions.
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NYRR Mighty Milers, NYRR Young Runners, NYRR Open Run, and a number of NYRR youth and community running programs, events, and resources are sup-ported by NYRR’s Premier Partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon and Official Youth and Community Services Partner.
• NYRR Mighty Milers is NYRR’s flagship youth running program, and the largest free youth running program in the U.S. This program provides primarily pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students the opportunity to run during the school day and develop a love for physical fitness. Each Mighty Miler strives to run a total of 26.2 miles or more over the course of a school year, in effect running their own marathon of miles. Nationwide, NYRR Mighty Milers reaches more than 188,000 students in approximately 900 schools and community centers who collectively ran more than six million miles over the 2014-2015 school year. This school year, over 87,000 kids in New York City collectively logged more than 2.6 million miles.
• NYRR Young Runners is an after-school program where kids learn to run distances up to four miles while training together as a team. More than 3,000 students in more than 100 schools throughout New York City’s five boroughs participate in this distance running program.
• NYRR Youth Running Series is a three-season program designed for youth with events throughout the school year, including cross country, indoor track, and road running, as well as seasonal Youth Jamborees. Nearly 6,500 runners participated in the nine events comprising the NYRR Youth Running Series.
• NYRR Open Run is a community-based initiative that brings free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks in New York City by working with com-munity leaders and volunteers. NYRR Open Run launched in St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx in the summer of 2015, and since then, more than 5,000 participants have attended an NYRR Open Run across the 10 park locations. NYC Parks’ Community Parks Initiative goes hand-in-hand with NYRR Open Run to bring programming to smaller public parks with the greatest needs throughout New York City.
• The Armory Foundation has a long-standing partnership with NYRR, which hosts events year-round in support of the 100,000 kids it serves annually. Additionally, through the partnership, NYRR supports activities at the Armory such as the NYRR Youth Jamborees Presented by Tata Consultancy Services and other annual youth running events.
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NYRR HISTORY
New York Road Runners has a rich history. Over the past 58 years, we’ve grown from a local running club to become the world’s premier community running organization with a mission to help and inspire people through running.
Early YearsNew York Road Runners was founded in 1958 in Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx as a running club with about 40 members who, led by African American Olympian Ted Corbitt, opened their ranks to all: men and women, white and black, fast and slow. Growth was gradual; there were about 250 members in 1970, the year that NYRR staged the first New York City Marathon in Central Park.
1970sMarathon co-founder Fred Lebow took over as NYRR president in 1972 and helped lead the “running boom” that was sweeping the country. In 1976, NYRR took the marathon to the five boroughs of New York City. Also launched between 1972 and 1981 were the NYRR New York Mini 10K (the first all-women road race), the Midnight Run, the Empire State Building Run-Up, and the 5th Avenue Mile. By 1980, NYRR membership had topped 20,000.
1980sNYRR recruited the world’s top runners to our events, including Grete Waitz, who won the New York City Marathon nine times between 1978 and 1988. NYRR races were among the first to offer open prize money to the top finishers. Mem-bership soared to nearly 30,000 by the end of the decade.
1990sAlong with continued successes and growth, the 1990s brought heartbreak, as Lebow was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1990 and passed away in 1994. While in remission, he ran the 1992 New York City Marathon in 5:32:34 with Waitz by his side. Allan Steinfeld, the longtime marathon technical director, took over as race director and NYRR president and CEO.
In 1998, NYRR began a commitment to youth fitness by launching running programs in several NYC middle schools. Today, NYRR Youth and Community Services reaches well over 200,000 kids in New York City, across the United States, and around the world. Also in late 1998, NYRR hired Mary Wittenberg, an attorney, as its first vice president and chief operating officer to oversee business, administration, and operations.
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2000sNYRR helped heal a shattered city and country when the 2001 New York City Marathon was held less than two months after the September 11 attacks. In 2003, NYRR signed a multi-year deal with financial services company ING as the title sponsor of the marathon. Membership topped 40,000 in 2005, the same year that Wittenberg succeeded Steinfeld as president and CEO. NYRR staged the U.S. Cross Country Championships in 2006, inaugurated the NYC Half through the streets of Manhattan the same year, hosted the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials in November 2007, and continued to stage the world’s largest marathon.
2010sA highlight of NYRR’s history since 2010 has been a tremendous expansion of NYRR youth programs and services. As of early 2016, NYRR now serves more than 200,000 students locally and nationally through free NYRR youth running programs, events, and resources. This includes approximately 120,000 in NewYork City’s five boroughs who participate in a variety of initiatives at approxi-mately 600 schools and community centers across the five boroughs.
A performance management initiative surrounding the 2014-2015 school year titled “Impact Framework” revealed that NYRR youth running programs help increase kids’ comfort with—and engagement in—physical activity. Youth runners told NYRR that Mighty Milers and Young Runners, NYRR’s two largest youth running programs, make being active fun, and teachers reported that active kids are more focused and productive in the classroom. NYRR youth programs, events, and resources are supported by our premier partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
In 2015, Mighty Milers expanded to more schools, community centers, and after-school programs, creating a network that includes private and parochial schools, as well as after-school sites from all corners of NYC. Young Runners now serves more than 3,300 students in more than 100 schools throughout the five bor-oughs. Other key NYRR youth running programs include the NYRR Youth Run-ning Series—a three-season program with events throughout the school year, including cross country, indoor track, and road running—as well as the seasonal Youth Jamborees.
NYRR supports additional free community programming for people of all ages—from kids to seniors—designed to get them moving toward a healthier lifestyle. These initiatives include neighborhood walks, high school training programs, Running 101 sessions, and more. NYRR has a long-standing partnership with the
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
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NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
Armory Foundation and sponsors events year-round at the Armory in support of the 100,000 kids it serves annually. Additionally, through the partnership, NYRR supports numerous youth running activities at the Armory.
Other highlights of the period 2010-2016 include:
2010: NYRR launched Running Start, a free collection of online fitness videos developed by NYRR to help teach youth the fundamentals of running through age-appropriate games, activities, and drills.
2011: NYRR introduced the Official NYRR New York City Marathon Training Program, a revolutionary, customized online plan.
2012: NYRR signed a five-year deal with ESPN/WABC-TV, Channel 7, for a comprehensive year-round national and local television package, the corner-stone of which is the New York City Marathon, which in 2013 was televised nationally for the first time in almost 20 years.
In 2012, for the first time in event history, the New York City Marathon was can-celed due to the effects of Superstorm Sandy. Thousands of runners gathered in Central Park for informal marathons on November 4, and many assisted with recovery efforts in Staten Island and Coney Island. NYRR made a donation of $1 million and, together with its partners, a $1.2 million donation of New York City Marathon supplies to the Mayor’s Fund for the Advancement of New York City, to be used for Sandy relief and recovery efforts.
2013: NYRR remained focused on helping the city recover in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy; efforts included creating and staging Staten Island Day (October 13) and donating more than $100,000 to Sandy relief efforts after the event. In the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, NYRR donated $146,000, raised through the sale of “I Run for Boston” T-shirts, to The One Fund Boston. NYRR also worked with one of the world’s top security firms, the NYPD, and state and federal partners to provide enhanced security measures at all our events.
2014: The NYC Half kicked off the year’s NYRR Five-Borough Series, which show-cases NYRR’s commitment to the individuals and communities in each borough. More than just five races, the Five-Borough Series—the United Airlines NYC Half, the Airbnb Brooklyn Half, the Queens 10K, the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and the Staten Island Half—is a celebration of what makes each borough unique, inspiring, and an amazing place to get out and get moving! The 2014 Brooklyn Half was the country’s largest half-marathon of the year, with 25,642 finishers.
NYRR HISTORY continued
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In its first year with new title sponsor Tata Consultancy Services, the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon broke the previous year’s record with 50,530 finish-ers—the largest field of any marathon worldwide—and celebrated the event’s one-millionth finisher. TCS also became the first year-round premier partner in NYRR history.
2015: NYRR inaugurated the NYRR Times Square Kids’ Run at the United Air-lines NYC Half with more than 700 kids running through the heart of Midtown Manhattan over a 1500-meter course.
After 17 years at NYRR, Mary Wittenberg stepped down as president and CEO and as TCS New York City Marathon race director. COO Michael Capiraso was promoted to president and CEO, and Peter Ciaccia was promoted to NYRR president, events and TCS New York City Marathon race director.
A record 26,482 runners crossed the finish line at the 2015 Airbnb Brooklyn Half, again making the race the year’s largest half-marathon in the country.
On National Running Day, June 3, 2015, at St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx, NYRR launched NYRR Open Run, a community-based initiative aimed at bringing free weekly runs to local neighborhood parks in New York City by working with community leaders and volunteers. NYRR Open Run operates in 10 parks across all five boroughs, in coordination with NYC Parks’ Community Parks Initiative to bring programming to smaller public parks throughout New York City.
At the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, nearly 600 kids ran the final 1.8 miles of the course on Sunday morning at the NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon. The event was televised on WABC-TV, Channel 7. In addition, more than 1,000 NYC school kids and 75 TCS New York City Marathon pro athletes participated in the TCS Run with Champions by running one mile or 400 meters on the race course during race week.
2016: A record-breaking 27,434 runners crossed the finish line at the 2016 Airbnb Brooklyn Half on May 21, making the race the largest in event history and the largest half-marathon to date in the United States in 2016. The second edition of the NYRR Kids’ Boardwalk Run at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half, a one-mile out-and-back race on the Coney Island Boardwalk for youth runners ages 7 to 18, started and finished at the Airbnb Brooklyn Half finish line, welcoming a total of 897 finishers, including many from NYRR’s free youth running programs, NYRR Mighty Milers and NYRR Young Runners.
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Global Running Day and the first-ever Million Kid Run took place on June 1, 2016, with more than 2.5 million people pledging to run, including almost 700,000 kids. NYRR held events and activities across the five boroughs, including free runs and walks for all ages and abilities, hydration stations in parks, and giveaways. More than 2,000 New York City public school students who take part in NYRR’s free youth running program, Mighty Milers, took part in the Mighty Milers Fun Run alongside local professional athletes including Ashley Higginson, Kyle Merber, and Nicole Tully. The First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, presented a proclamation to NYRR from Mayor Bill de Blasio, declaring June 1, 2016, as Global Running Day in New York City.
On June 11, the 45th running of the NYRR New York Mini 10K featured 17 Rio 2016 Olympic marathoners in the professional athlete field. The event also included the first-ever Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K, a 2.25-mile race for girls ages 7-18.
NYRR HISTORY continued
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS