Riley Masters (4:03.1) And Emily Lipari (4:32.9) Win USATF 1 Mile Champs At Drake Relays’ Grand Blue Mile
Press Release
April 24, 2018
DES MOINES, Iowa – Riley Masters and Emily Lipari bested their respective fields to win the Ninth-Annual Invitational Grand Blue Mile and USATF 1-Mile Road Championship Tuesday, April 24, evening in Des Moines.
Masters, who was second in the event last year and third in 2016, finished in 4:03.12 to earn the USATF 1-Mile Road title against a field of 20 of the nation’s top milers. Eric Avila and Nick Harris trailed in second and third places in 4:03.90 and 4:04.31, respectively.
“Once I crossed the finish line it was pure ecstasy, I was so excited,” Masters said. “I told myself at the start line, ‘you worked so hard this year, why settle for anything but first?’ I’m happy to finally come out on top here.”
Emily Lipari, a six-time All-American at Villanova, came into the event with a road mile personal best of 4:35 and shattered that with a 4:32.77 finish. Lipari held off Olympian Brenda Martinez at the tape, who finished in 4:33.07 followed by Rachel Schneider in third in 4:33.77 among the 15-runner field.
“It’s pretty unreal. I set out to podium, that was the goal,” Lipari said of being the USATF 1-Mile Road Champion. “I’m really happy to come out with the win and it’s a great way to start out the year.”
Masters and Lipari each took home $5,000 for their titles as a total of $30,000 in prize money was distributed to Tuesday’s top finishers.
More the 3,500 runners navigated the 1-mile course in recreational, competitive and invitational races. One of the highlights of the men’s recreational race was 96-year-old Mike Fremont of Cincinnati, Ohio, setting the American road mile record in the 95+ age category with a time of 13:55.82. He will appear at Drake Stadium Friday morning to attempt to break the World Record in 95+ age category of the 800 meters.
Men’s Grand Blue Mile Invitational
USATF 1-Mile Road Championship
- Riley Masters, 4:03.12
- Eric Avila, 4:03.90
- Nick Harris, 4:04.31
- Daniel Herrera, 4:04.32
- Brandon Lasater, 4:04.39
- Garret Heath, 4:04.96
- Tripp Hurt, 4:04.99
- Pat Casey, 4:05.07
- Brannon Kidder, 4:05.38
- Emmanuel Bor, 4:05.77
- Dylan Blakenbaker, 4:06.20
- Brandon Hazouri, 4:07.13
- Henry Wayne, 4:07.99
- Graham Crawford, 4:09.70
- Leo Manzano, 4:09.83
- Jackson Thomas, 4:10.03
- Mikey Brannigan, 4:11.56
- Dey Dey, 4:12.03
- Chad Noelle, 4:14.60
- Eliud Rutto, 4:15.40
Women’s Grand Blue Mile Invitational
USATF 1-Mile Road Championship
- Emily Lipari, 4:32.87
- Brenda Martinez, 4:33.07
- Rachel Schneider, 4:33.77
- Shannon Osika, 4:33.94
- Katie Mackey, 4:34.93
- Sarah Brown, 4:37.15
- Therese Haiss, 4:38.02
- Eleanor Fulton, 4:39.10
- Dana Mecke, 4:39.90
- Megan Mansy, 4:40.81
- Alexina Wilson, 4:42.94
- Jessica Kamilos, 4:44.27
- Savannah Colon, 4:46.69
- Anna Connor, 4:47.37
- Rachel Weber, 4:48.57