Press Release: Brannigan, Cliff, Derrick, and McGee added to 2016 Sir Walter Miler fields

July 26, 2016 – Raleigh, North Carolina – Mikey Brannigan, Rachel Cliff, Chris Derrick, and Cory McGee have been added to the 2016 Sir Walter Miler. All four athletes bring international experience to the 3rd annual event, which will be held next Friday, August 5th, at Meredith College.

Mikey Brannigan, who was diagnosed with Autism when he was 18 months old, has been profiled by Sports Illustrated, NBC Nightly News, and ESPN. Mikey graduated from Northport High School in June 2015, where he set the New York State 3200 meter record of 8:42.92. Since graduation, Brannigan has gone on to compete professionally for the New York Athletic Club, and is the reigning IPC world champion and world record holder in the 1500-meters (3:50.05), entering the 2016 Paralympic Games as a favorite to medal in Rio.

Rachel Cliff will be Sir Walter Miler’s first Canadian athlete. Cliff made waves recently by hitting the Olympic Standard in the 5000 meters, then finishing fourth in the Canadian Olympic Trials. Only two athletes ahead of her had the Olympic Standard, but Team Canada chose to leave her off the roster. She’ll look to rebound with a big performance in Raleigh.

Chris Derrick is a multiple time United States Cross Country Champion, and was part of the 2013 US Men’s team that defeated Kenya to finish second at the World Cross Country Championship. He recently came back from an injury riddled 2016 to finish 5th in the 10,000 meters at the Olympic Trials. He’ll be targeting his first sub 4:00 mile outdoors. Derrick is sponsored by Nike and runs for the Bowerman Track Club, out of Portland, Oregon.

Cory McGee burst on the national scene in 2013 in qualifying for the US World Championship team in the 1500 meters. She was recently followed by FloTrack on a workout before running a 4:07.34 1500 meters in Belgium, and a 4:28.55 personal best mile at the Morton Games in Dublin, Ireland. McGee is sponsored by New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.

The 2016 Sir Walter Miler will once again be held at the Meredith College track, with pre-party and post party at Raleigh Brewing Company. Races start at 8:30pm with the USATF NC Mile Championship, that includes a “Raleigh vs. Durham” team competition. At 8:40pm, the Run Club 4×400 relay will crown the fastest coed run club in the Triangle. Craig Thompson of local bluegrass band, Old Habits, will sing the National Anthem at 9:00pm. The elite races start at 9:05pm with the Women, and 9:15pm with the Men. An awards ceremony will follow. The event will be broadcast live on FloTrack.org For more information on the event, please visit SirWalterMiler.com

The Sir Walter Miler is promoted by Sir Walter Running, a Raleigh-based USATF club composed of Sandy Roberts, Logan Roberts, and Pat Price; with additional help from Jeff Caron, Greg Dame. Sir Walter Running also produces the Pop Up Miles series in Raleigh every June, and the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile.

2016 Sir Walter Miler Elite Athletes (click name for more information)

Men’s Field
Colby Alexander – Hoka One One / NJ-NY Track Club
Jack Bolas – NJ-NY Track Club
Mikey Brannigan – NYAC
Donnie Cowart – Saucony
Chris Derrick – Nike
Graham Crawford – SWHP
Johnny Gregorek – Asics
Brandon Hudgins – Vasculitis Foundation
Drew Hunter – adidas
Cory Leslie – Nike / Furman Elite
Kyle Merber – Hoka One One / NJ-NY Track Club
Ford Palmer – Hoka One One / NJ-NY Track Club
Morgan Pearson
Blake Williams – Pop Up Miles Champ
Lex Williams – Saucony
Craig Forys – Furman Elite (pace)

Women’s Field
Stephanie Brown – Nike
Rachel Cliff – Asics
Amanda Eccleston – Brooks
Lianne Farber – New Balance NorCal
Brook Handler – Saucony
Lauren Johnson
Heather Kampf – Asics / Team USA MN
Cory McGee – New Balance
Shannon Osika – Saucony
Sarah Rapp – Pop Up Miles Champ
Rachel Schneider – Under Armour
Nicole Tully – Hoka One One / NJ-NY Track Club
Morgan Uceny – adidas
Sara Vaughn – Brooks / Boulder Track Club
Steph Herrick – Central Park Track Club New Balance (pace)

Social Media: #miler16 | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Video: 2013 Sandman Mile | 2014 Women’s Race | 2014 Men’s Race | 2015 Coverage |  2016 Trailer

For more information, sponsorship information, or interview requests, contact Pat Price at sirwalterrunning@gmail.com and 919.260.8013