Mary Keitany, Caroline Rotich, And Edna Kiplagat Lead Field For Saturday’s 2015 Oakley New York Mini 10K In Central Park
New this year, MarathonFoto to provide all participants with a free digital race photo to honor their achievement
Press Release
June 11, 2015
New York—The Oakley New York Mini 10K—the world’s first road race exclusively for women—will take place on Saturday, June 13, and feature approximately 7,500 women of all ages and fitness levels, a world-class professional athlete field, and a 44-year-old history that will be celebrated by all. New this year, MarathonFoto will provide all participants with a free digital race photo to celebrate their accomplishment.
“The Oakley New York Mini 10K has been one of NYRR’s most celebrated events for more than four decades,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “From women’s running pioneers and legends like Kathrine Switzer and Nina Kuscsik who co-founded the Mini in 1972, to the remarkable roster of champions over the years, to the thousands of active and inspirational women who have participated in this powerful event, NYRR’s tradition of celebrating women is one of the highlights of our race year.”
Founded by NYRR in 1972 as the six-mile Crazylegs Mini Marathon, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the sponsor to support a six-mile “mini” marathon—named for the miniskirt—rather than a full marathon. Seventy-two women finished—a huge number at the time. Three weeks later, Title IX was signed into law, guaranteeing women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes. The modern women’s sports era had begun, and the Mini was at the forefront. The event has had 174,522 finishers in its history, and has been a model for women’s road races around the world.
“Since 1972, the Mini has given women of all ages and abilities a forum to run and celebrate the power of women in sport,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “Amongst our 7,500 women runners, we have about 75 women NYRR staff members running in the race—a special tradition at NYRR—and we are excited to once again showcase the incredible women who work here, as they take part in this race and further strengthen our organization’s legacy of empowerment for women.”
Each year, women NYRR staff members become part of the Mini tradition by participating in the race. In addition to the NYRR staff runners, a team of NYRR staff and volunteer walkers will meet by Engineers’ Gate in Central Park to cheer on runners and then start a two-mile walk to the finish line that will culminate in a big, celebratory group photo of the women leaders and staff of NYRR.
New this year, MarathonFoto will capture a photo of each participant on the course at the 5K mark. Post-race, one free digital photo will be delivered to each participant via email, with a link to a direct download.
Marathon champions Mary Keitany, Caroline Rotich, and Edna Kiplagat, all from Kenya, will lead a distinguished field of professional women representing 11 countries at the 2015 Oakley New York Mini 10K. Serena Burla, who finished second in the 2009 NYRR New York Mini 10K, will lead the American women. Over the years, the race has attracted Olympians, world champions, and world record-holders, and has been the site of world-best performances. Winners have come from Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and the United States.
Grete Waitz of Norway and Tegla Loroupe of Kenya have each won the race five times, the most of any athletes in Mini history.
The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Central Park West near Columbus Circle and will finish at 67th Street on West Drive in Central Park. Runners will vie for a first-place prize of $10,000 as part of the $35,150 prize purse.
About New York Road Runners
Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.