Olympic Silver Medalist Leo Manzano Headlines GNC Live Well Liberty Mile On August 1st
Men’s field also includes 2-time race runner-up Jordan McNamara; 3rd edition in downtown Pittsburgh features new American Pro Mile with a $20,000 prize purse; 4th stop on Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2014
Press Release
July 15, 2014
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – 2012 Olympic silver medalist and reigning USA 1 Mile road champion Leo Manzano aims to continue his top Mile racing form in Pittsburgh at the 3rd GNC Live Well Liberty Mile. The race, slated for Friday evening, Aug. 1 in downtown Pittsburgh, will showcase top American Milers battling for a guaranteed prize purse of $20,000 in the American Development Pro Mile with $4000 for each champion.
“We warmly welcome Leo Manzano to our third edition. Leo knows how to win big races, but he will face our best men’s field to-date,” said Patrice Matamoros, GNC Live Well Liberty Mile race director. “On August 1, we look forward to another exciting Mile road race in the City of Champions.”
Manzano, 29, who earned a 1500 meter silver medal (3:34.79) at the 2012 Olympics, has continued his success this summer by winning the USA 1500m title, clocking 3:38.63 in Sacramento, but Oregon Track Club Elite standout Jordan McNamara, who has a Mile personal record of 3:52.42, also has his sights on victory here. Last year, McNamara was edged out by Macklin Chaffee in a photo finish, both timed in 4:01. In early June, McNamara, 27, won the 2014 Nike Festival of Miles in 3:54.27, setting meet and State records in St. Louis.
Manzano and McNamara will also face-off against other sub-4 American Milers including Jack Bolas, Michael Rutt, Daniel Quigley, Tony Jordanek and Frezer Legesse.
The American Development Program Pro Mile is the second of three events this year in Pittsburgh’s inaugural American Development Program that offers exposure and incentives to America’s best runners. The program kicked off with the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon on May 4 and culminates at the EQT Pittsburgh 10-Miler on November 9.
The GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is also the fourth stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2014, and the top 6 at each Tour event will score grand prix points (10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1). The total prize purse for the six Tour events exceeds $85,000 plus $7500 for the Grand Prix purse ($2000, $1000, $500 and $250 per gender).
For more event information, visit LibertyMile.org and follow us on Twitter @LibertyMile and Instagram PghMarathon and use hashtag #LibertyMile.
For more information about the American Development Program, go to: http://pittsburghmarathon.com/American_Development_Program.
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About the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile
Organized by Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc., the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile is Pittsburgh’s premier street race for all ages and abilities. The GNC Live Well Liberty Mile offers an overall $25,000 prize purse with $4000 for each American Pro Mile champion. The event is part of the 2014 Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour.
About Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc.
Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that promotes the love of long-distance running and enhances community involvement in fitness activities through high quality events, such as the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, GNC Live Liberty Mile and EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler that are open to a wide variety of ages and ability levels.