Meet the Competitors: Raleigh’s Finest Mile

Raleigh’s Finest Mile

This staggered race will be a true game of cat and mouse. Be there at 9:15 for the first event of the evening!

Former Mayor Meeker & Friends		Charles Meeker has competed in 20 marathons, including 10 Boston’s and has a personal best marathon time of 2:43:36. Meeker will be joined by his two friends/running buddies. Chuck Lysaght is the owner of Lysaght and Associates, a structural engineering firm here in Raleigh, a regional triathlon age group champ, and has a marathons best of 2:49. John Montgomery is the owner of Montgomery Violins, can string a violin as fast as anyone, and is the fastest of the group. The three men will do their best to hold off “Raleigh’s Finest” runners from local running clubs, running organizations, running stores, and more!
Gary Kikaya		Did you know the former African Record Holder in the 400m lives in Raleigh? Until a month ago, Gary Kikaya‘s 44.10 at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final was the fastest non-American time in the event. Gary is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and competed for the University of Tennessee, and then professionally for Nike, where he was a two-time Olympian. He’s now an ambassador for Sport 4 Peace, who travel to war torn countries and installs sport as means to bring peace. He’s also an agent, coach and mentor to three athletes with aspirations of competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Barry “Rusty” Fennell		Barry is truly one of “Raleigh’s Finest.” He is Fire Fighter and an EMT, and is a heck of a runner as well. You can always spot him in a pack by his signature bandanna! He’s a Wolfpack fan and just PR’d in the mile On July 4th, 2014 with a time Of 4:46 at the Raleigh Downhill Mile. He’s run 5 Marathons, the Krispy Kreme Challenge, the Tough Mudder and the Beer Mile! He ran a blindfolded 5k with a Guide Runner in 21:15 to raise money for people with vision impairments. He’s a proud member of the O’Malley’s Pub Race Team.
John Huisman		John and his wife Ariel moved to Raleigh nine years ago and together enjoy exploring all that the Triangle area has to offer. John started his blog, The Triangle Explorer, as a creative outlet to share pictures and news about the local culture in the Triangle with a focus on the arts, entertainment, and dining scene. He enjoys running with the Big Boss and Falls River run clubs and is currently training for his second City of Oaks Marathon in the fall.
Pete Phipps		Arrow Haircuts promotes quality haircuts, complimentary beers, a great community vibe and even better company (and has two locations, Cameron Village and downtown).  Everyone from the shaggy college sophomore to the buttoned-up young professional to old fashioned retiree need a fun place to get their hair cut (and book online). Pete Phipps was raised in NE Ohio. After attending West Point & serving in the U.S. Army, Pete moved to Raleigh. He now enjoys runs around Dix Park, Centennial Campus and downtown with his girlfriend and their dogs, all of whom return home before he does.
Mike Ali		E3 Project is a Raleigh based nonprofit that creates and runs after school physical activity programs for youth. We are working towards improving the health and wellness of all the youth through exercise, education and environmental stewardship. We help get the participants active, healthy and feeling awesome! Mike Ali spent four years running at High Point University. Had career bests of 31:40 (10k), 15:17 (5k), 4:07 (1500), and 4:30 (Mile). Also like long walks on the beach and gentle foot massages.
Barbara Latta		North Carolina Roadrunners Club aka NCRC came to life in 1979 out of a local sporting goods shop in Raleigh and has grown to over 700 members strong. Most live in the Triangle area and Eastern NC. Barbara Latta has been running for a long time. 30+ years that is. EVERY DAY! She currently has the longest continuous day run streak of any female in the United States. She shows no signs of slowing and will hit 31 years in December. During that streak, she’s run in all 50 states and all 7 continents!
Jamal Rookard		The nOg Run Club was founded in August of 2008 as a way to promote a culture of running, fitness, and camaraderie. Since it’s inception, it has evolved to a weekly run that has supported dozens of local non-profits. We meet every Monday at Tir na nOg in downtown Raleigh at 6pm. Jamal Rookard is from Raleigh! Just a big kid with way too much energy and long legs. Favorite quote: “Don’t judge me I was born to be AWESOME not perfect!”
Bill Parquet		River Run Club, established in 2012, meets weekly on Thursday night at 6:45 pm for 3-6 miles on the Upper Neuse Greenway. DeMarco’s Restaurant in North Raleigh hosts the club and offers half price wine, pizza and trivia each week. Bill Parquet started running in 2010 after 30 years on the bike. He has finished six marathons, two 50 milers, and on weekends, you’ll find him on one of Raleigh’s many greenways or volunteering at a local race.
Gary Franks		Big Boss Run Club is Raleigh’s largest and oldest brewery supported running club. Started in May 2011, the group meets weekly at Big Boss Brewing Company for social runs and activities. Participation is free, all runners and walkers are welcome. Gary Franks who has been a regular at the Big Boss Run Club since its inception. He’s run marathons from Boston to Rio De Janeiro, including a 2:59 PR. He is also active in Ainsley’s Angels, where runners push wheelchair-assisted participants in races.
Jacci Patterson		Wake Forest Area Runners aka WFAR welcomes runners with all levels of experience and speed! They host group runs on Tuesday nights at White Street Brewing in Wake Forest. Jacci Patterson has been running for 5 years, and is a WFAR Board Member who has mentored new runners training for a half marathon. Her favorite local race is the City of Oaks Marathon and her goal for this year is to qualify for Boston.
Nelson Zimmerman		Capital RunWalk has been serving Raleigh’s running community since 1994! It’s Cameron Village location offers expert fitting, gait analysis, and help from accomplished runners, including 2012 USATF Cross Country Champion, Bobby Mack. They host social runs every Tuesday and are sponsoring the Sub 4 and Sub 4.5 Challenge at the Sir Walter Miler! Nelson Zimmerman plays high school soccer at Cardinal Gibbons. In his free time, he runs and train with his two older brothers. He hope to play collegiate soccer.
Brandon Carter		Raleigh Running Outfitters was opened in 2003 by lifetime runner and avid marathoner Jim Micheels and his wife, Carolyn. Today, RRO still strives to serve as a retailer to which all runners can go for honest, expert advice on product performance, training and racing, injury avoidance and athletic excellence. Brandon Carter is Harnett County native with a background in farming. Since discovering running a few years ago, his times have soared (Marathon – 2:36, Half 1:13). He’s also a volunteer advisor to both Sanderson and Green Hope High School boys teams.
George Linney		Fleet Feet is a specialty running business headquartered in Carrboro, North Carolina and represented by roughly 120 stores nation-wide. The Carrboro/Durham business serves as the Flagship Store within the Fleet Feet Sports family. George Linney is the Director of Marketing at Fleet Feet Carrboro / Durham. He also serves as Pastor at The Tobacco Trail Church, an outdoor “running church” headquartered in Durham. I PR’d in the mile at the Mag Mile in 2012 (4:40).
Jaye Pratt		Bull City Running Co. is the premier technical running and walking store in the Durham area. We are dedicated to building a community of runners and walkers by creating a fun, informative, and inspiring place for people pursuing their fitness goals. Jaye Pratt is rising senior at NCCU, where he runs on the track team. He specializes in the 100m and 200m distances, so the mile seems like a pretty long way to him, but he is always up for a challenge. A Durham native, Jaye has been a key player on the Bull City Running Co. team since August of 2013.
Brian Fowler		Fleet Feet Sport Raleigh’s mission is to provide customers with the gear, knowledge, and inspiration to get moving. Through partnerships with organizations like the nOg Run Club, Black Girls Run, Raleigh Galloway, and Girls on the Run, we work to make Raleigh a more fit and active place. We have two locations: Ridgewood Shopping Center and Market at Colonnade. Brian Fowler is a former Barton Bulldog and product of Dunn. He’s run 9 marathons (2:41:13 PR), the most recent being Boston. Although a new member of the Fleet Feet Sports team, Brian has worked in the Run Specialty industry for over three years.