05-09-2013, 08:39 PM
DULUTH, Minn. ââ¬â A premier class of one-Mile runners is assembled for Sundayââ¬â¢s Minnesota Mile in downtown Duluth. At the 7th edtion, among those entered are defending champions Craig Miller (4 minutes, 1.4 seconds) and Heather Kampf (4:36.5). They will be racing in an elite division that features a $20,100 prize purse with the menââ¬â¢s and womenââ¬â¢s winners each receiving $3000. Both Miller and Kampf were the 2012 USA 1 Mile Road national champions.
Miller, 26, also the 2011 Minnesota Mile champion (4:03.8), was the 2013 USA Indoor Mile national runner-up (3:58.90 - March 3, Albuquerque) and won the 2013 Big River Festival of Miles (3:59.23 ââ¬â May 30, St. Louis).
Also in the menââ¬â¢s field is former University of Minnesota standout and Stillwater, Minn. native Ben Blankenship, who won of a pair of Mile races last month (3:56.27, Falmouth Mile ââ¬â Falmouth, Mass./4:06, Michigan Mile ââ¬â Flint, Mich.). Two-time 1500 meter Olympian (Canada, 2008 and 2012) Nate Brannen will make his first appearance at the Minnesota Mile.
Known as the Queen of the Road Miles, Kampf, 26, has won numerous Mile races in 2013, including the Bermuda Mile, the Ryan Shay Mile, the Liberty Mile and the Michigan Mile. Sheââ¬â¢ll be joined in the womenââ¬â¢s division by Team USA Minnesota teammates Gabriele Anderson and Jamie Cheever. Anderson has placed in the top five at the past three Minnesota Mile races, including a second-place finish a year ago (4:37.5). Cheever was sixth in 2012 (4:44.1). All three ran collegiately at the University of Minnesota.
Making her debut at the mile distance is Kenyaââ¬â¢s Sarah Kiptoo, who won the 2013 Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon on June 22 in a course record time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 32 seconds.
The races begin one block east of Fitgerââ¬â¢s on Superior Street and finish past the Holiday Center. In addition to the elite race, the event includes races for children, recreational and semi-elite runners.
The Minnesota Mile is the 14th stop and finale on the nationwide inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013. For more on the Bring Back the Mile Tour, visit http://www.bringbackthemile.com.
The Minnesota Mile is presented by Advantage Emblem & Screen Printing, American Family Insurance, Duluth Running Company, Duluth News Tribune, ESPN Radio 560 WEBC, Fitgerââ¬â¢s, Holiday Inn & Suites, Kemps, KBJR 6 & Range 11, Super One and Verizon Wireless.
Grandmaââ¬â¢s Minnesota Mile
Duluth, Minnesota, Sunday, September 8, 2013
Elite Division = $20,100 purse ($3000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $800, $600, $400, $250)
Masters Division (40 and older) ââ¬â Men and Women ($500)
Schedule of Events
9:00am Verizon Wireless Kids Mile ââ¬â Free for Children ages 8 to 14
9:20am All City Mile - Recreational
10:00am Duluth Mile - Semi-Elite
10:20am Grandmaââ¬â¢s Minnesota Mile - Elite ($20,100 prize purse)
Miller, 26, also the 2011 Minnesota Mile champion (4:03.8), was the 2013 USA Indoor Mile national runner-up (3:58.90 - March 3, Albuquerque) and won the 2013 Big River Festival of Miles (3:59.23 ââ¬â May 30, St. Louis).
Also in the menââ¬â¢s field is former University of Minnesota standout and Stillwater, Minn. native Ben Blankenship, who won of a pair of Mile races last month (3:56.27, Falmouth Mile ââ¬â Falmouth, Mass./4:06, Michigan Mile ââ¬â Flint, Mich.). Two-time 1500 meter Olympian (Canada, 2008 and 2012) Nate Brannen will make his first appearance at the Minnesota Mile.
Known as the Queen of the Road Miles, Kampf, 26, has won numerous Mile races in 2013, including the Bermuda Mile, the Ryan Shay Mile, the Liberty Mile and the Michigan Mile. Sheââ¬â¢ll be joined in the womenââ¬â¢s division by Team USA Minnesota teammates Gabriele Anderson and Jamie Cheever. Anderson has placed in the top five at the past three Minnesota Mile races, including a second-place finish a year ago (4:37.5). Cheever was sixth in 2012 (4:44.1). All three ran collegiately at the University of Minnesota.
Making her debut at the mile distance is Kenyaââ¬â¢s Sarah Kiptoo, who won the 2013 Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon on June 22 in a course record time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 32 seconds.
The races begin one block east of Fitgerââ¬â¢s on Superior Street and finish past the Holiday Center. In addition to the elite race, the event includes races for children, recreational and semi-elite runners.
The Minnesota Mile is the 14th stop and finale on the nationwide inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013. For more on the Bring Back the Mile Tour, visit http://www.bringbackthemile.com.
The Minnesota Mile is presented by Advantage Emblem & Screen Printing, American Family Insurance, Duluth Running Company, Duluth News Tribune, ESPN Radio 560 WEBC, Fitgerââ¬â¢s, Holiday Inn & Suites, Kemps, KBJR 6 & Range 11, Super One and Verizon Wireless.
Grandmaââ¬â¢s Minnesota Mile
Duluth, Minnesota, Sunday, September 8, 2013
Elite Division = $20,100 purse ($3000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $800, $600, $400, $250)
Masters Division (40 and older) ââ¬â Men and Women ($500)
Schedule of Events
9:00am Verizon Wireless Kids Mile ââ¬â Free for Children ages 8 to 14
9:20am All City Mile - Recreational
10:00am Duluth Mile - Semi-Elite
10:20am Grandmaââ¬â¢s Minnesota Mile - Elite ($20,100 prize purse)