Eleven sub-4 minute men’s milers and eight sub-4:30 minute women’s milers expected in Steel City for Saturday, Sept. 17 event; $30,000 prize purse presented by GNC Live Well; fifth stop on Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2016
(PITTSBURGH) - This year’s increased prize purse of $30,000 has attracted some of the country’s top milers to Pittsburgh for the 5th GNC Live Well Liberty Mile on Saturday, Sept. 17. Eleven sub-4 minute men’s milers, including U.S. Olympian Ben Blankenship, and eight sub-4:30 minute women’s milers will compete for the $5000 champion’s prize.
The deep men’s field includes 2-time GNC Live Well Liberty Mile champion Jordan McNamara, who will return to the Steel City to defend his title. Last year, McNamara broke the tape in 3:59 and tied the event record set by Craig Miller in 2012.
"Road timing is a different animal than the track, demanding an entire different set of skills," McNamara said. "I thrive in situations that require an ability to improvise on the fly. Ultimately, this year's winner will be the runner who demonstrates sound positioning, flawless execution and of course, supreme fitness!"
This year McNamara will be racing against 2016 Olympian and USA 1 Mile Road Champion Ben Blankenship, who finished 8th in the 1500 meters in his Olympic debut. Mac Fleet, who finished runner-up, and Jack Bolas, who finished third in last year’s GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, will also return to race.
On the women’s side, Heather Kampf is poised to earn her fourth GNC Live Well Liberty Mile title after setting a new road mile personal record of 4:19.8 earlier this month at the 5th Avenue Mile in New York City. Kampf, who holds the event record of 4:29, is also a 4-time USA 1 Mile Road Champion.
"I think the biggest thing that has helped me come back and be successful is the confidence I gain from having finished in front on this course before," Kampf said. "With the downhill finish I find I can start kicking just sooner than I normally would and still have enough at the end, especially because I almost feel like a local in Pittsburgh now with all the incredible fan support I get out there!"
Her top competition this year includes Lauren Johnson, who recently won the 2016 Sir Walter Miler and set a new personal best of 4:25.04, and Emily Lipari, who recently won the Minnesota Mile in 4:36.9. Sub-4:30 milers Rachel Schneider and Christy Cazzola will also be in contention for a top spot this weekend.
The American Development Pro Mile features $25,000 in guaranteed prize money with each race champion awarded $5000. The GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is also the fifth stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2016.
Media Credentials to cover the 2016 GNC Live Well Liberty Mile are available by emailing your request to kelsey.jackson@p3r.org or calling 412-586-7785. For more event information including course map, visit: LiberyMile.org.
2016 Men’s Field
| Bib | Name | Affiliation | Personal Best | Twitter |
| M1 | Jordan McNamara | NIKE/Oregon Track Club | 3:51.00 | @jordanmcnamara |
| M2 | Ben Blankenship | NIKE/Oregon Track Club | 3:52.7 | @benblankenship |
| M4 | Jack Bolas | NJ*NY Track Club | 3:53.5 | @jackbolas87 |
| M5 | Daniel Winn | ADIDAS BAA High Performance | 3:56.73 | @danielwinn |
| M6 | Riley Masters | Brooks Beasts Track Club | 3:56.15 | @Riley_Masters |
| M7 | Ford Palmer | NJ*NY Track Club/HOKA ONE ONE | 3:56.6 | @gofordpalmer |
| M8 | Jake Edwards | Brooks Running | 3:56.62 | @Jedwards1609 |
| M9 | Mac Fleet | NIKE | 3:56.77 | @macfleet1 |
| M11 | Robby Creese | Unattached | 3:57.11 | @creeselightning |
| M14 | Brandon Hudgins | Unattached | 3:59.67 | @bhudgnasty |
| M16 | Biya Simbassa | Team USA MN | 4:05.00 | @biya_simba35 |
| M18 | Eric Avila | HOKA ONE ONE | 3:56.89 | @RunWithAvila |
| M19 | Hurun Abda | NIKE/Oregon Track Club | 1:45.55 (800m) | |
2016 Women's Field
| Bib Number | Name | Affiliation | Personal Best | Twitter |
| F30 | Heather Kampf | ASICS/Team USA Minnesota | 4:19.8 | @heatherraekampf |
| F31 | Lauren Johnson | Unattached | 4:25.04 | @JohnsonRunning |
| F32 | Rachel Schneider | Under Armour | 4:28.50 | @rachschneid18 |
| F34 | Christy Cazzola | Mizuno/Atlanta Track Club | 4:29.14 | @fivecraycazzola |
| F35 | Emily Lipari | ADIDAS BAA High Performance | 4:27.19 | |
| F36 | Sara Vaughn | Brooks Running | 4:27.1 | @MomVaughn
|
| F39 | Stephanie Brown | NIKE/Big Bear Track Club | 4:29.06 | @misspurplebrown |
| F41 | Brigitte Mania | Mizuno/Atlanta Track Club | 4:43.68 | @brigittemania |
| F42 | Shannon Osika | Saucony | 4:27.51 | @OsikaShannon |
| F45 | Sarah Paddon | Unattached | 4.55.84 | |
About the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile
Organized by P3R, the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is Pittsburgh’s premier street race for all ages and abilities and offers a $30,000 prize purse with $5000 for each American Pro Mile champion. The 5th edition is part of the 2016 Bring Back the Mile Tour. Read more at: LibertyMile.org.
FACEBOOK: DSGPM TWITTER: @PghMarathon INSTAGRAM: PghMarathon HASHTAG: #PghMarathon #GameOnPGH
About P3R
P3R is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about promoting the love of running and enhancing community access to health & fitness education and activities. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DSG Pittsburgh Marathon, we also run a variety of other high-quality races, events and health & fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. The only criterion for participation is a desire to be happy, healthy and active! Learn more at: www.P3R.org.
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
