Fifth Avenue Mile
Encyclopedia
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual 1 miles (1.6 km) road race
in New York City
. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street. First held on September 26, 1981, the race is currently organized by New York Road Runners
and has attracted big-name sponsors including Continental Airlines
and Reebok
.
The competition is almost unique in that it is a mile run
road race which attracts world-class runners. The Milla Sagrada Família in Barcelona is the only other contemporary race to do so. The Fifth Avenue Mile has also inspired similar events in the same mould, including the Anlene Orchard Mile
in Singapore.
The record performances of the race are Sydney Maree
's victory at the inaugural race in 3:47.52, and PattiSue Plumer
's time of 4:16.68 set in 1990. Spain's Isaac Viciosa
has historically been the most successful athlete at the competition, having won four consecutive races from 1995 to 1998. The most recent edition was held on September 25, 2011. The winners were Americans Bernard Lagat
and Jennifer Simpson.
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street. First held on September 26, 1981, the race is currently organized by New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners , founded in 1958 with 47 members, has grown into the foremost running organization, with a membership of 40,000. NYRR conducts more than 100 events each year, including races, classes, clinics, and lectures...
and has attracted big-name sponsors including Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
and Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
.
The competition is almost unique in that it is a mile run
Mile run
The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...
road race which attracts world-class runners. The Milla Sagrada Família in Barcelona is the only other contemporary race to do so. The Fifth Avenue Mile has also inspired similar events in the same mould, including the Anlene Orchard Mile
Anlene Orchard Mile
The Anlene Orchard Mile is a sporting event exclusive to women held in Singapore where women either run or walk a mile on a straight course down Singapore’s most famous and popular shopping street, Orchard Road...
in Singapore.
The record performances of the race are Sydney Maree
Sydney Maree
Sydney Maree is a former middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was born in South Africa, in the dusty mining town of Cullinan, east of Pretoria, but later became a U.S...
's victory at the inaugural race in 3:47.52, and PattiSue Plumer
PattiSue Plumer
Patricia Susan "PattiSue" Plumer is a retired American long-distance runner who ran twice in the Summer Olympics. She ran first in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea where she finished 13th in the now defunct 3000 metres...
's time of 4:16.68 set in 1990. Spain's Isaac Viciosa
Isaac Viciosa
Isaac Viciosa is a former middle distance runner from Spain.Viciosa is European record holder at 3000m and the first European man under 7:30. He won European Championships 1998 for 5000m, and was 2nd for 1500m at European Championships 1994...
has historically been the most successful athlete at the competition, having won four consecutive races from 1995 to 1998. The most recent edition was held on September 25, 2011. The winners were Americans Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
and Jennifer Simpson.
Winners
| Year | Men's winner | Nationality | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) | Women's winner | Nationality | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Sydney Maree Sydney Maree Sydney Maree is a former middle distance runner who competed at the international level in the 1980s. He was born in South Africa, in the dusty mining town of Cullinan, east of Pretoria, but later became a U.S... |
3:47.52 | Leann Warren | 4:25.31 | ||
| 1982 | Tom Byers Tom Byers (athlete) Thomas Joseph Byers, Jr. was a professional distance runner and current businessman. He was a runner at The Ohio State University in the 1970s and still holds the outdoor OSU distance record in the 1500m . He held the mile record until Jeff See broke it on on June 2, 2007. During his time at... |
3:51.35 | Debbie Scott | 4:23.96 | ||
| 1983 | Steve Scott | 3:49.77 | Wendy Sly Wendy Sly Wendy Smith-Sly is a former British athlete who competed mainly in the 3,000 metres. She developed a strong rivalry against South-African born Zola Budd, and there were many arguments between them. Sly represented Great Britain at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, U.S... |
4:22.66 | ||
| 1984 | John Walker | 3:53.62 | Maricica Puică Maricica Puica Maricica Puică is a Romanian former middle distance athlete, who won the 3000 meters gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a race also remembered for the collision of Mary Decker and Zola Budd.... |
4:24.35 | ||
| 1985 | Frank O'Mara Frank O'Mara Frank O'Mara is a retired Irish runner who specialized in the 1500 and 3000 metres. He became World Indoor Champion in 3000 m twice, but never achieved the same success on the outdoor track.... |
3:52.28 | Lynn Williams | 4:25.03 | ||
| 1986 | José Luis González | 3:53.52 | Maricica Puică Maricica Puica Maricica Puică is a Romanian former middle distance athlete, who won the 3000 meters gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a race also remembered for the collision of Mary Decker and Zola Budd.... |
4:19.48 | ||
| 1987 | Peter Elliott Peter Elliott (athlete) Peter Elliott is a former middle-distance runner from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games, and the silver medal in the 800 metres at the 1987 World... |
3:53.52 | Kirsty Wade Kirsty Wade Kirsty Wade is a former middle distance runner, who was born as Kirsty McDermott.Wade competed for Wales in two Commonwealth Games winning a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia and gold medals in both the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1986 Commonwealth... |
4:22.70 | ||
| 1988 | Steve Scott | 3:53.43 | Mary Slaney | 4:20.03 | ||
| 1989 | Peter Elliott Peter Elliott (athlete) Peter Elliott is a former middle-distance runner from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games, and the silver medal in the 800 metres at the 1987 World... |
3:52.95 | Paula Ivan Paula Ivan -References:... |
4:28.25 | ||
| 1990 | Peter Elliott Peter Elliott (athlete) Peter Elliott is a former middle-distance runner from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games, and the silver medal in the 800 metres at the 1987 World... |
3:47.83 | PattiSue Plumer PattiSue Plumer Patricia Susan "PattiSue" Plumer is a retired American long-distance runner who ran twice in the Summer Olympics. She ran first in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea where she finished 13th in the now defunct 3000 metres... |
4:16.68 | ||
| 1991 | Matthew Yates | 3:56.75 | Alisa Hill Alisa Hill Alisa Harvey is a female middle distance runner from the United States. Hill set her personal best in the women's 1,500 metres 4:08.32 on June 26, 1992 at the United States Olympic Trials in New Orleans and in the 800 metres 1:59.72 in 1995. She was ranked in the U.S... |
4:31.57 | ||
| 1992 | Itamar Da Silva | 4:00.37 | Alicia Kelly | 4:43.07 | ||
| 1993 | Ron Harris | 3:58.0 | Lauren Gubicza | 4:37.9 | ||
| 1994 | Jason Pyrah Jason Pyrah Jason Pyrah is an American athlete who participated in the 1500-meter run at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. He did not qualify for the final in 1996, but did qualify in 2000, placing 10th.... |
3:52.3 | Regina Jacobs Regina Jacobs Regina Jacobs is an American former middle distance runner from Los Angeles. After graduating from Stanford University she represented the USA in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, before ending her career in disgrace after a positive drug test.Jacobs took... |
4:27.8 | ||
| 1995 | Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa is a former middle distance runner from Spain.Viciosa is European record holder at 3000m and the first European man under 7:30. He won European Championships 1998 for 5000m, and was 2nd for 1500m at European Championships 1994... |
3:47.8 | Sinéad Delahunty | 4:25.2 | ||
| 1996 | Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa is a former middle distance runner from Spain.Viciosa is European record holder at 3000m and the first European man under 7:30. He won European Championships 1998 for 5000m, and was 2nd for 1500m at European Championships 1994... |
3:53.67 | Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours... |
4:26.69 | ||
| 1997 | Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa is a former middle distance runner from Spain.Viciosa is European record holder at 3000m and the first European man under 7:30. He won European Championships 1998 for 5000m, and was 2nd for 1500m at European Championships 1994... |
3:53.66 | Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours... |
4:22.96 | ||
| 1998 | Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa Isaac Viciosa is a former middle distance runner from Spain.Viciosa is European record holder at 3000m and the first European man under 7:30. He won European Championships 1998 for 5000m, and was 2nd for 1500m at European Championships 1994... |
3:55.59 | Regina Jacobs Regina Jacobs Regina Jacobs is an American former middle distance runner from Los Angeles. After graduating from Stanford University she represented the USA in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, before ending her career in disgrace after a positive drug test.Jacobs took... |
4:20.8 | ||
| 1999 | Ben Kapsoiya | 4:05.4 | Alisa Hill Alisa Hill Alisa Harvey is a female middle distance runner from the United States. Hill set her personal best in the women's 1,500 metres 4:08.32 on June 26, 1992 at the United States Olympic Trials in New Orleans and in the 800 metres 1:59.72 in 1995. She was ranked in the U.S... |
4:41.3 | ||
| 2000 | Jason Lunn | 4:03.9 | Kim McGreevy | 4:38.9 | ||
| 2001 | John Itati | 4:02.3 | Kim McGreevy | 4:39.8 | ||
| 2002 | Leonard Mucheru | 3:55.2 | Grace Njoki | 4:37.7 | ||
| 2003 | John Itati | 3:56 | Theresa Du Toit | 4:53 | ||
| 2004 | Elarbi Khattabi Elarbi Khattabi Elarbi Khattabi is a Moroccan long-distance runner who specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase and cross-country running.He was born in Casablanca... |
4:10 | Andrea Haver | 4:51 | ||
| 2005 | Craig Mottram Craig Mottram Craig Mottram is an Australian long distance and middle distance runner.-Biography:Born on 18 June 1980 in Frankston, Victoria, Mottram specialises in the 5000 m event. He attended the prestigious Geelong Grammar School. At 6 feet 2 inches he is unusually tall for a distance runner.Amongst... |
3:49.9 | Carmen Douma-Hussar | 4:28.0 | ||
| 2006 | Kevin Sullivan | 3:54.1 | Sara Hall | 4:28.0 | ||
| 2007 | Alan Webb Alan Webb (athlete) Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:... |
3:52.7 | Carmen Douma-Hussar | 4:22.8 | ||
| 2008 | Nick Willis Nick Willis Nicholas Ian Willis MNZM is a New Zealand middle distance runner. He won the silver medal in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with a time of 3:34.16 minutes. He was a gold medallist in the 1500 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and a bronze medallist at the 2010... |
3:50.5 | Lisa Dobriskey Lisa Dobriskey Lisa Jane Dobriskey is an English middle distance athlete. She was the Commonwealth champion in the 1500 m in 2006. More recently, she won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 2009 World Championships.... |
4:18.6 | ||
| 2009 | Andrew Baddeley | 3:51.8 | Shannon Rowbury Shannon Rowbury Shannon Rowbury is an American middle distance runner under contract with Nike currently residing in San Francisco, California. Rowbury competed for the United States in the women's 1500 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China... |
4:23.3 | ||
| 2010 | Amine Laalou Amine Laâlou Amine Laâlou is a male middle distance runner from Morocco, who specializes in middle-distance running. He has represented his country at the Summer Olympics on two occasions; in 2004 and 2008. He began his career as an 800 metres specialist and made his global debut at the 2003 World... |
3:52.83 | Shannon Rowbury Shannon Rowbury Shannon Rowbury is an American middle distance runner under contract with Nike currently residing in San Francisco, California. Rowbury competed for the United States in the women's 1500 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China... |
4:24.12 | ||
| 2011 | Bernard Lagat Bernard Lagat Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya... |
3:50.50 | Jennifer Simpson | 4:22.3 |
External links
- New York Road Runners website
- Winners of the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile at RunnersWeb.com (1981-2009)
- Historical Fifth Avenue Mile articles from New York Times