Press Release: Olympians, National Record Holder highlight Men’s field for 2017 Sir Walter Miler
Olympians, National Record Holder highlight Men’s field for 2017 Sir Walter Miler
July 18, 2017 – Raleigh, North Carolina – First announced Monday on the Summer of Miles podcast, Sir Walter Running is excited to present a robust Men’s field of multiple Olympians, and a National Record Holder to compete at the 2017 Sir Walter Miler. The event returns in its fourth year to its standard first Friday night spot on August 4, 2017 at the Meredith College Track. The 2017 event will again feature Elite Men’s and Women’s Mile races, a local Run Club 4×400 meter Relay, and the Citius Mag presents the Raleigh Denim Mile. The Sir Walter Miler is free and open to the public, and will again be broadcast live internationally on FloTrack.org The deepest Women’s field to date was announced last week.
“We are pleased to bring a highly touted Men’s field back to Raleigh. Yet again, we’ve received such an outpouring of interest from the local to the national level, and it has made my job challenging. The level of talent in this year’s field is a testament to the support that the Triangle offers to the running community, and specifically the Sir Walter Miler. The fans are in for a special show on August 4th,” said Men’s Elite Coordinator, Logan Roberts.
Multiple time Olympians Lopez Lomong (USA) and Nate Brannen (Canada) highlight the field, with Mexican National Mile Record Holder, Daniel Herrera, solidifying a strong reprentation from all the major North American countries. Also headlining the fastest Sir Walter Miler field to date, recent Ole Miss graduate and North Carolina native, Craig Engels, will be looking to improve on his All American collegiate career with his first sub 4:00 mile. Engels recently signed a professional contract with Nike Running and discussed the event on the Summer of Miles podcast. “I want to break four minutes in front of my home state, and in front of my parents and friends. I’m training for 20 days (in St Moritz, Switzerland with the Nike Oregon Project) trying to get fit for Sir Walter.”
With Sir Walter Miler’s short history of producing fast times, Blowing Rock-based Zap Fitness / Reebok athlete, Joe Stilin, is looking forward to another quick one. “All I can say is, I can’t wait to ride that gravy train through the raucous tunnel of awesome fans for four laps.” This will be Stilin’s third time to Raleigh for the event.
In 2016, Kyle Merber led teammate Colby Alexander to the finish line in a North Carolina Outdoor State Record, and personal best time of 3:54.57. Alexander (3:54.94), Johnny Gregorek (3:55.27), Graham Crawford (3:56.05), Ford Palmer (3:56.58), Drew Hunter(3:57.15), Mikey Brannigan (3:57.58), Cory Leslie (3:58.5), and Jack Bolas (3:59.98) all finished under the four minute barrier.
Brannigan’s time of 3:57.58 was a T20 world record in the Men’s mile. Brannigan, who has autism, went on to win the Gold Medal for the United States in the 1500 meters at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. He was the first T20 athlete to ever break four minutes in the mile. Brannigan also became the 473rd American to break the 4:00 barrier.
Coming off of the record-setting 2016 Sir Walter Miler, the athletes will compete for an improved prize purse, including a $1000 ‘Stiner State Record Bonus’ (presented by Stiner Massage) for breaking the existing outdoor state record, currently held by Merber. Bonuses will be given for any first time sub 4:00 milers as well.
Races will start at 8:15pm at Meredith College, with the popular pre and post party again being held at Raleigh Brewing Company, where Bo’s Kitchen will be on hand, serving up Korean Street Food at the pre-party, and Longleaf Swine BBQ will be on hand for the post-party. Wicked Weed Brewing, Bond Brothers Beer Company, Brewery Bhavana, Lynnwood Brewing Concern, and Neuse River Brewing will be providing beer to raise funds for the North Carolina East Coast Greenway Alliance.
The Sir Walter Miler weekend kicks off Thursday night with a private dinner for the athletes at Trophy Tap & Table, then will offer multiple opportunities for fans to meet (and run with) the athletes. The ‘VIP and CorpEx Experience’ will allow fans to get one step closer the night of. The free ‘ElliptiGO Run with the Pros’ event will be held at 9am on Saturday, August 5th, at the Harrison Avenue entrance of Umstead Park. Fans are invited to come run 4+ miles with the Elite athletes, and will be treated to coffee and bagels afterwards. The Sir Walter “Extra” Miler will be held Saturday afternoon at Tasty Beverage Company, where Asheville’s Wicked Weed Brewing will have its “Summer of Miles Pale Ale,” that it brewed with Sir Walter Running staff, on tap starting at 2pm. Arrow Haircuts will provide complimentary cuts to all elite athletes competing.
Sponsors of the 2017 Sir Walter Miler are Great Outdoor Provision Co., Trophy Brewing Co., Stiner Massage, USATF North Carolina, ElliptiGO, Arrow Haircuts, Shop Local Raleigh, and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.
The official meet hotel is the Holiday Inn Downtown, located at 320 Hillsborough Street (about 2.5 miles from Meredith). A $99 “Sir Walter Running” rate will be available through July 28th by calling 855-914-1878, or by booking online.
The Sir Walter Miler is directed and promoted by Sir Walter Running, a Raleigh-based USATF club. Sir Walter Running also produces the Pop Up Miles series every June, the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile, the upcoming Pop Up Cross Country series this October, and a series of Strava Challenges.
Men’s Field
Andrew Dusing – Unattached
Drew Piazza – Virginia Tech
Daniel Herrera – HPW / Mexico
Trevor Dunbar – NIKE
Craig Engels – NIKE / Nike Oregon Project
Joe Stilin – Reebok / ZAP Fitness
Andrew Colley – Reebok / ZAP Fitness
Graham Crawford – HOKA NJNYTC
Drew Hunter – adidas
Izaic Yorks – Brooks Beasts TC
Lopez Lomong – NIKE / Bowerman TC
Nate Brannen – NIKE
Avery Martin – Pop Up Miles Champ
Cory Leslie – NIKE (Rabbit)
Social Media: #SirWalterMiler | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat
Podcast: Summer of Miles on Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | TuneIn | Stitcher | Player FM
Video: Sir Walter Running YouTube Channel | 2017 Promo Video
For more information, sponsorship information, or interview requests, contact Pat Price for Singlet Public Relations at sirwalterrunning@gmail.com and 919.260.8013