Shalane Flanagan Will Highlight The Women's Field!
By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
March 16, 2009
It's only about 1/26th the distance, but a new road mile to be held in
Boston's Back Bay neighborhood the day before America's oldest marathon
could be just as exciting in its own right.
The first B.A.A. Invitational Mile will be held on Sunday, April 19,
and incorporate both professional athletes, including Olympic bronze
medalist Shalane Flanagan, and high school runners from the seven towns
through which the Boston Marathon will pass the next day. The event
will use a criterium course, finishing at the Boston Marathon finish
line on Boyleston Street. The pros will be competing for a $14,500
purse, including $3,000 for the winners.
"The B.A.A. Invitational Mile is another event we're excited to add to
race weekend this year," said the B.A.A.'s executive director, Guy
Morse. "It's a great opportunity to give the young athletes from our
host cities and towns the chance to compete on the homestretch of the
Boston Marathon course, and we're especially proud to carry on a B.A.A.
tradition of hosting scholastic races. Add to that the professional
miles and the B.A.A. 5K, and we expect a fun and successful day."
The invitational miles will follow a three-loop course, beginning on
Boylston Street, left on Dartmouth Street, left on Newbury Street, left
on Exeter Street then left onto Boylston. The invitational miles will
follow the new B.A.A. 5-K which will start at 8:30 a.m.; the miles will
begin at 9:30 a.m.
Nearly 22,000 runners finished the Boston Marathon in 2008 making it
the third largest marathon in the United States after New York and
Chicago.
