USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championships Returns with Top Americans
Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet celebrates 40th birthday by competing in first Masters national championship at GNC Live Well Liberty Mile
PITTSBURGH – Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet will celebrate her 40th birthday by debuting in her first Masters national championship at the USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championship. Along with her, several American and World 40-and-older record holders will compete for a Masters Championship prize purse of $8800 at the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile on Friday evening, Aug. 9 in Pittsburgh.
Lewy Boulet (pictured right), who turns 40 a day before the race, and competitor Sonja Friend-Uhl, 42, of Brentwood, Tenn., have their eyes on breaking the American women’s Masters road Mile record of 4 minutes, 47 seconds set at last year’s event by Friend-Uhl , who is also the U.S. Masters 1500 record holder. She is already a 2013 three-time USA Masters champion, winning the 1500 meter, 800 meter and 4x400 meter relay titles.
One of the most competitive age groups in the Championship will be the W60-64. Masters superstars Sabra Harvey, 64, from Houston, Texas, and Kathryn Martin (pictured right), 61, from Northport, N.Y., headline this deep age group. Adding to the competition is Barbara Broad, 62, from Pepper Pike, Ohio, who recently broke the W60-64 age group record in the 800 meters at the National Senior Games with a time of 2:44.3.
Other notable competitors in the women’s field include:
- Mardrea Hyman, 40, from Albuquerque, N.M., Olympian for Jamaica at 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase.
- Alisa Harvey, 47, from Manassas, Va., who has consistently set American records as she moves through age groups, will compete in the W45-49 age group.
- Cheryl Collins-Gatons, 46, from Greensburg, Pa., is another top competitor in the W45-49 and is representing the Steel City Track Club.
- Athena Track Club members Lorraine Jasper, 51, from Birchrunville, Pa., and Doreen McCoubrie, 51, from Malvern, Pa., are likely the top contenders in the W50-54 age group.
In the men’s field, Masters track star Nick Berra, 44, from Enola, Pa. has a chance to take home the overall Masters prize of $600. His Masters Mile personal best is 4:23.48.
The 2012 USATF Masters Long Distance Runner of the Year Brian Pilcher, 56, from Ross, Calif. dominates the M55-59 age group. Pilcher has achieved the top age-graded male performances at the half-marathon, 10K and 8K USA Masters Championships this year.
Other notable competitors in the men’s 40-plus field include:
- Doug Goodhue, 71, from Milford, Mich., highlights the M70-74 age group. As the 2011 RRCA Masters Runner of the Year, Goodhue is ranked 2nd nationally in his age group.
- Ronville Gravesande, 62, from Union, N.J., is a top age group contender for the M60-64.
- The oldest competitor is Lou Lodovico, 89, from Ellwood, Pa. Since he started running at age 60, Lodovico has broken several American records and is ranked #1 in the country for the M85-89 age group.
The competitive Masters field includes more than 75 top American distance runners, ages 40 to 89. This year’s race features a USA Track & Field record-eligible certified course that will take participants through downtown Pittsburgh for a memorable evening Mile race. See course map here.
Follow updates of the USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championships on Twitter at @LibertyMile or visit LibertyMile.org.
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 a $31,100 prize purse with $4000 for each Open race champion. The event, the 11th stop on the inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour, is also hosting the 2013 USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championships.
