National Cherry Festival 5/3 Bank Golden Mile 7/4/13

It's official the 2013 National Cherry Festival Fifth Third Bank Golden Mile will be held on THURSDAY EVENING July 4th in downtown Traverse City, Michigan!

National Cherry Festival Director Trevor Tkach approved the event yesterday and we are coordinating with the Festival of Races Director Lisa Taylor to insure another successful event. This year we excited about the opportunity to move the event to Thursday evening to coordinate with the Carter's Kids Mile. Plus in 2013, we are proud to re-introduce the High School Elite Mile.

Thursday Evening July 4th
Expected Time Frame

5:00pm High School Elite Girls' Mile
5:15pm High School Elite Boys' Mile
5:30pm Women's Elite Golden Mile
5:45pm Men's Elite Golden Mile
6:00pm Carter's Kids Mile

Slightly updated course map will be available soon.

Elite 5/3 Bank Golden Mile Prize Money
1st Place $1,000
2nd Place $500
3rd Place $250
Clear leader at the halfway point $100 bonus

We will limit the field to no more than 12 athletes in each race.

Limited travel money are free lodging opportunities are available.

Expectations:
Elite Men = 4:08 or equivalent
Elite Women = 4:50 or equivalent
High School Boys = 4:26 or better
High School Girls = 5:10 or better

Special thanks to 5/3 Bank and the Traverse City Track Club for their generous support of this event.

If you are interested in being a sponsor for this event, please contact us!

Thanks,

Bryan Burns and Eric Houghton
Race Coordinators

The 2012 Golden Mile Post-Race

Congratulations to 2012 Champions Betsy Graney and Daniel Clark!!!

Great job to all of our competitors. Thanks for coming!

The 2012 Golden Milers.... still smiling after the fact.

2012 Golden Mile Results

5/3 Bank Golden Mile 2012 Results

Women's Race

1) Betsy Graney (Grand Rapids, MI).........4:42.5
2) Kelley Miller (Dublin, OH)..............4:44.9
3) Sarah Boyle (Brighton, MI)..............4:47.8
4) Danielle Salisbury (Hillsdale, MI)......4:50.5
5) Karie McDonald (Grand Rapids, MI).......5:04.0
6) Theresa Warsecke (Interlochen, MI)......5:11.5
7) Katherine McCarthy (Grand Rapids, MI)...5:17.4

Men's Race

1) Daniel Clark (Jackson, MI)..............3:58.5
2) Tony Filipek (Caro, MI).................4:02.8
3) Rob Myers (Rushville, OH)...............4:03.8
4) Ian Boyle (Brighton, MI)................4:05.6
5) Festus Kigen (Madison, WI)..............4:06.9
6) Richard Kandie (Sun Prairie, WI)........4:11.6
7) Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, MI)............4:14.0
8) Shawn Lucas (Elgin, IL).................4:14.6
9) Jacob Secor (Traverse City, MI).........4:15.7
10) Jason Bigelow (Ann Arbor, MI)..........4:22.0
11) Luke Pawlaczyk (Ann Arbor, MI).........4:34.9

On behalf of the National Cherry Festival and all of our sponsors, we want to say thank you for coming to Traverse City and racing the Golden Mile and congratulations on your efforts!

We hope to have some video and pictures up next week...

2012 Final Starting Field

As of today, here is the field for the 2012 race!

Men's Field

1) Daniel Clark (Notre Dame / Unattached)
2) Rob Myers (Ohio State / Saucony)
3) Festus Kigen, Kenya (Duma Runners)
4) Richard Kandie, Kenya (Duma Runners)
5) Lex Williams (Univ of Michigan / Team Michigan Elite)
6) Luke Pawlaczyk (Siena Heights / Team Michigan Elite)
7) Tony Filipek (Saginaw Valley St / Elite Feet)
8) Shawn Lucas (Loyola Univ / CK Elite)
9) Jason Bigelow (Oakland Univ. / Team Michigan Elite)
10)Ian Boyle (Michigan State / Team Michigan Elite)
11)Jacob Secor (TC Central / Hillsdale College / Unattached)

Women's Field:
1) Kelley Miller (Miami of Ohio / Unattached)
2) Sarah Boyle (Michigan State / Elite Feet)
3) Betsy Graney (William & Mary and Grand Valley St / Unattached)
4) Danielle Salisbury (Central Michigan / Unattached)
5) Katherine McCarthy(Grand Valley State / Unattached)
6) Karie McDonald (Grand Valley State)
7) Theresa Warsecke (Univ of Toledo)

Great fields! Should be some solid races.

Saturday July 14
Women's Race at 10:15
Men's Race to follow (about 10:30)

Meet the Elites Youth Clinic - Friday 7:00pm

This year as a means of enhancing the impact of the Golden Mile, the Traverse City Track Club will be sponsoring a "Meet the Elites" Youth Running Workshop. Race Director Lisa Taylor will be hosting the Q&A session which will be attended by a number of our Golden Milers.

The event will go from 7:00 to 8:00pm at the TC Central Track and will cover a number of topics including:
- Warming-up & running form
- Stretching & strength training for running
- Race Strategy of the Mile
- Goal setting & age appropriate training philosophy
- Healthy lifestyle & running
- Inspiration

So pick up your race packets at Eastern Elementary and then walk over to the track. This event if FREE to the public.

Thanks. Hope to see you there.

Race Day Information

Hello Runners and Race Fans,

On Saturday morning July 14th at the conclusion of the Cherry Festival 5k and 15k races, the 5/3 Bank Golden Milers will be congregating near the corner of Union and 9th Streets in Old Town around 9:30am in preparation for the races.

Women's Race will start at approximately 10:15am
Men's Race will follow at approximately 10:25am

The race will head North on Union Street before taking one right turn onto Front Street, heading East to the finish near the parade grandstands just East of Franklin Street. The race should be fast and furious.

1/2 mile is located near Kilwin's on Front Street. There will be small bonus paid to "clear" leader at the halfway mark. (Splits will also be called at the quarter mile mark)

The runners will be competing for the following price money.

$1,000 1st
$700 2nd
$400 3rd
$100 4th

See you there!

2012 Potential Golden Milers

The 2012 Golden Mile Racers

Men's Field:
Ryan Foster, Australia  (Penn State / Pacific Plastic)
Daniel Clark (Notre Dame / Unattached)
Rob Myers (Ohio State / Saucony)
Festus Kigen, Kenya (Duma Runners)
Richard Kandie, Kenya (Duma Runners)
Lex Williams (Univ of Michigan / Team Michigan Elite)
Luke Pawlaczyk (Siena Heights / Team Michigan Elite)
Jacob Secor (TC Central / Hillsdale College / Unattached)
Shawn Lucas (Loyola Univ / CK Elite)
Jason Bigelow (Oakland Univ. / Team Michigan Elite)
Ian Boyle (Michigan State / Team Michigan Elite)
Tony Filipek (Saginaw Valley St / Elite Feet)
Neil Atzinger (Univ of St. Thomas / Team Michigan Elite)

Women's Field:
Danielle Tauro (Univ of Michigan / Shore AC)
Kara Millhouse (Penn State / Unattached)
Sarah Boyle (Michigan State / Elite Feet)
Betsy Graney (William & Mary and Grand Valley St / Unattached)
Kelley Miller (Miami of Ohio / Unattached)
Danielle Salisbury (Central Michigan / Unattached)
^ Alycia Wright (Saginaw Valley St / Swag Racing)
^ Bekka Simko (Penn State / Unattached)

^ no longer entered