World class field expected at 45th New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
15 Olympians and 18 international medalists representing 12 different countries including two-time race champion Jemma Reekie; $34,000 prize purse; ABC7 / WABC-TV and ESPN+ live TV coverage
From NYRR
NEW YORK – New York Road Runners (NYRR) has announced a world class professional athlete field for the 45th edition of the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, taking place Sunday, Sept.13.
Among the 8,600 athletes competing in the iconic, world's largest Mile road race down a 20-block stretch of Manhattan’s most famous thoroughfare will be 15 Olympians and 18 international medalists representing 12 different countries.
Included in the field are two returning 2025 podium finishers—Americans Kayley DeLay, who finished second in the women’s field, and Drew Hunter, who took home third in the men’s division.
In the women’s field, DeLay will be joined by two-time New Balance 5th Avenue Mile champion and European road Mile record holder, Jemma Reekie of Scotland, returning to the race for the first time since 2023.
“As a two-time champion on 5th Avenue, I know what it takes to come out on top in this field of incredible runners," said Reekie. “I’m thrilled to have another opportunity to race through the streets of New York and add a third win to my resumé.”
They will also be joined by American Courtney Frerichs, 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the Steeplechase, four-time European medalist Melissa Courtney-Bryant of England and Kenyan Olympian in the 1500 meters Susan Ejore-Sanders. An additional pair of Americans to watch are Olympians Heather MacLean and Elise Cranny.
Joining Hunter in the men’s division will be Aus-tralia’s Olli Hoare, a two-time Olympian and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the 1500 meters who’s returning to the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile after finishing second in 2021.
“5th Avenue is as iconic as the city it runs through," said Hoare. "Making my way down Museum Mile and soaking in the energy of the New York City crowd, I know that I am going to perform and enjoy the competition with such an elite field. Let’s rip.”
Joining Hunter and Hoare is a strong field of international runners including Kenyan Olympians Simon Koech and Leonard Bett, 2026 Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medalists in the steeplechase, respectively, both making their New Balance 5th Avenue Mile debuts; 2026 World Indoor Championships 1500m bronze medalist Adam Spencer of Australia; reigning European 1500m champion and Olympian Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands; and two-time New Balance 5th Avenue Mile podium finisher, Olympian Jake Heyward of Wales. Additionally, Americans Luke Houser, 2025 World Indoor Championships 1500m bronze medalist; Cooper Teare, 2022 USA Outdoor champion in the 1500 meters; and Sam Prakel, bronze medalist in the 2023 World Road Running Championships, will all be eyeing a top spot in Manhattan.
The event will award $34,000 that goes 8-deep with $5000 for each race champion.
After the race, the champions will join New York Road Runners for a special episode of NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton, hosted by Olympian Carrie Tollefson and Ali Feller. The episode will be recorded in front of a live audience from the newly renovated NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub at 3:00pm ET on Sunday, Sept. 13. Open to the public and free to attend, the live podcast recording will be posted to NYRR’s YouTube and all podcast channels later the same day.
BROADWAY MILE
After a showstopping debut in 2025, the Broadway Mile returns to the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile with more than 100 theater professionals running to support Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. This year’s star-studded field includes Ali Louis Bourzgui, 2026 Tony Award–winning actor for his role in “The Lost Boys”; Nikki M. James, Tony Award–winning actress known for her roles in “The Book of Mormon,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Les Misérables”; Jordan Fisher, known for his roles in “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “Hadestown”; Keri René Fuller, currently starring as Elphaba in “Wicked”; Jeremy Kushnier, known for “Footloose” and returning to Broadway this fall in “Galileo”; and additional participants from shows including “Maybe Happy Ending ,” “Oh Mary!,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Six” and more.
This year, for the first time, theater professionals based outside of New York City will be able to take part in the race with the Virtual Broadway Mile powered by Strava. The Virtual Broadway Mile will give runners on tour, representing shows from across the U.S. to China, an opportunity to compete against one another.
For the Broadway Mile, New York Road Runners has teamed up with Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS for the second year in a row to host a friendly competition among Broadway performers, producers, stage managers, music directors and stagehands. The Broadway athletes will have the option to fundraise for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway. Donations help provide lifesaving essential care to members of the theater community and others in need across the country.
ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY HEATS
Other New Balance 5th Avenue Mile specialty heats will include the Back to School Mile—one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events produced by the nonprofit each year—for kids ages 2–18 to start the school year strong; the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for older adults; the NYRR Road Mile Championship races; an NYPD and FDNY heat for service members; the Media Mile for journalists; and the NYRR Unlock 26.2 x New Balance heat for participants of the dedicated TCS New York City Marathon training program. Additionally, members of the NYRR Open Run New Runner Clinic will be running celebratory miles throughout the day’s heats.
HOW TO WATCH
The New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will be televised live on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tri-state area from noon to 1:00pm ET, and available for streaming nationally on ESPN+. iHeartRadio will provide live race-day radio coverage on 710 WOR AM in New York, as well as on the iHeartRadio app, from noon to 1:00pm ET. A live camera feed of the finish line will be available to stream on the official New York Road Runners App.
