Press Release: Olympians and Past Champions headline 2015 Sir Walter Miler fields
Olympians and Past Champions headline 2015 Sir Walter Miler fields
July 10, 2015 – Raleigh, NC – Last August, Raleigh saw something it had not seen in 40 years; a sub four minute mile. Nearly 1000 people lined the Meredith College track and witnessed not one, but three men dip under the hallowed barrier. New Jersey-New York Track Club’s Ford Palmer led the way in 3:57.61, with Donnie Cowart (3:58.43) and Isaac Presson (3:59.77) close behind. Palmer’s mark was just off Ken Popejoy’s state record of 3:57.3, set on May 12, 1973. In the Women’s race, Heidi (Gregson) See, won in a state record time of 4:34.05. All four will be back in 2015, with Austin, TX-based, FloTrack, broadcasting the event live. The official hashtag for the event is #miler2015
Building on the success of the inaugural event, the Sir Walter Miler has expanded its elite fields in 2015, which include past Olympians, Morgan Uceny and former UNC standout, Erin Donohue; as well as returning 2014 champions, Palmer and See. Earlier this year, See won the Australian National Championship at 1500 meters, commonly known as the metric mile, and will compete in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China. Athletes will compete for a prize purse of $4500, including a $250 ‘Stiner State Record Bonus’ (presented by Stiner Massage) for breaking the existing outdoor state records. CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson will be the live announcer for the races.
The 2015 Sir Walter Miler will be held on Friday, August 7th, and will once again be hosted at the Meredith College track. Races start at 8:30pm. The popular pre and post party will again be held at Raleigh Brewing Company. Trophy Brewing, Unknown Brewing, Small Batch Beer Co., Big Boss Brewing and Raleigh Brewing have donated lower alcohol “Interval Sessions” beers to raise money for the Umstead Coalition, who is “dedicated to the appreciation, use, and preservation of the William B. Umstead State Park,” a popular running venue in the Triangle. Cockadoodlemoo and 2014 favorite, Hanu, food trucks will be in the Raleigh Brewing parking lot as well.
The 2015 Men’s race will feature a one of kind “North Carolina vs. The USA” mile, where top athletes from North Carolina will square off against some the best athletes in the nation. Team NC will be distinguishable by special North Carolina flag shorts, with the Hayes Barton Cup going to the team with the lowest scoring places (top 4) in a cross country-style scored race. The 2015 logo is based upon the deer that sits atop the reverse of the Raleigh flag. The deer on Sir Walter’s crest is significant in that the name Raleigh is derived from two Anglo-Saxon words meaning “meadow of the deer.” Deer once thickly populated the forest that became Raleigh, as they did the Hayes Barton region of England, Sir Walter’s birthplace. The race is also supported by NC USATF, and is the State Track Mile Championship.
Fans will have a chance to run and interact with this years fields, as well as compete! The ticketed pre-race ‘Eat with the Pros’ dinner will be on Thursday, August 6th at the Busy Bee Cafe. Fans will be able to enjoy the company of the competitors on the eve of the event, as well as indulge an excellent meal and beverage, provided by Trophy Brewing. The inaugural ‘Running Store Battle’ Mile will kick off Friday’s events, and will allow 25 people a chance to represent their local running store, while chasing personal records. The ‘Sir Walter Miler VIP Experience’ will allow fans to get one step closer. Great Outdoor Provision Co. and Sir Walter Running will provide a one of a kind swag bag (shirt, mug, goodies) and VIP lanyard , with finish line viewing, and an up close and personal look at the athletes post-race, as they give their interviews to FloTrack in the mixed zone. The free ‘Run with the Pros’ event will be held at 8am on Saturday, August 8th, at the Harrison Avenue entrance of Umstead Park. Fans are invited to come run 4+ miles with the athletes, and will be treated to coffee and bagels afterwards, and an opportunity to try out an Elliptigo. Also, on race day, Arrow Haircuts (& Pedro Williams) will provide complimentary cuts to all elite athletes competing.
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, Keri Celeste and Alex Boseman. Sir Walter Running also promoted the Pop Up Miles series in Raleigh this June. These events could not happen without generous donations from individuals and companies in the community. To donate or learn more, check out SirWalterMiler.com
Men’s Field
Team NC
Jack Bolas – NJ-NY Track Club (Chapel Hill High grad – 3:53.5 Road)
Donnie Cowart – Saucony (Winston-Salem-based – 3:58.43)
Kyle Graves (Wake Forest grad – 4:00.39)
Brandon Hudgins – Loaded Anarchy (Boone-based – 4:01.64)
Jake Hurysz (Eastern Alamance High grad – 3:58:13)
Isaac Presson – (Asheville High, UNC grad – 3:58.67)
Joe Stilin – Reebok/Zap Fitness (Blowing Rock-based – 3:58.66)
John Simons (pacer) – Reebok/Zap Fitness (Blowing Rock-based – 3:59.32)
Team USA
Robby Andrews – Adidas (3:57.15)
Christian Brewer (Pop Up Miles Champ)
Jake Edwards – Brooks (3:58.09)
Craig Forys – Asics/Furman Elite (4:01.87)
Cory Leslie – Nike/Furman Elite (3:53.44)
Kyle Merber – Hoka One One/NJ-NY Track Club (3:54.76)
Ford Palmer – Hoka One One/NJ-NY Track Club (2014 Sir Walter Miler Champ – 3:56.79)
Shawn Roberts – NJ-NY Track Club (4:01.16)
Lex Williams – Brooks (4:00.17)
Women’s Field
Annie Beck – Strava TC (4:38.60)
Christy Cazzola – Oiselle (2014 Mag Mile Champ/Record Holder – 4:33.97)
Ericka Charles – Speed Factory (Pop Up Miles Champ)
Andie Cozzarelli – Oiselle/Salming USA (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
Erin Donohue – NJ-NY Track Club (2008 Olympian – 4:26.48)
Amanda Eccleston – Brooks/Run Gum (4:30.40)
Stephanie Garcia – New Balance/Furman Elite (2015 World Champs Qualifier – 4:31.26)
Emily Lipari – Adidas/BAA Elite (4:32.40)
Sarah Pease – Rogue AC (3x Olympic Trials Qualifer)
Heidi See – Asics/Furman Elite (2014 Sir Walter Miler Champ – 4:34.05)
Morgan Uceny – Adidas/BAA Elite (2012 Olympian – 4:29.89)
Victoria Voronko – Asics/Furman Elite (4:37)
Heather Wilson – NJ-NY Track Club (4:32.70)
*Personal Records are in parentheses. Fields subject to change.
Social Media: #miler2015 | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Video: 2013 Sandman Mile | 2014 Women’s Race | 2014 Men’s Race | 2015 Trailer
For more information, sponsorship information, or interview requests, contact Pat Price at sirwalterrunning@gmail.com and 919.260.8013
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Is there a watch party for the IAAF World Championships tomorrow night (Saturday, August 29) somewhere in Raleigh?
Crafty Beer Shop at 5 Points for Women’s Marathon at 7:30pm