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Jenny Simpson Races to Record-Extending Seventh Win at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, Jake Wightman Picks Up First Victory - NYRRPublished by
Jenny Simpson Races to Record-Extending Seventh Win at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, as Jake Wightman Picks Up First VictoryA total of 7,704 finishers raced across 22 heats throughout the day in world’s longest running road mile New York, September 9, 2018—The USA’s Jenny Simpson raced to her record-extending seventh win and Great Britain’s Jake Wightman picked up his first victory at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday, September 10, as 19 Olympians raced down Manhattan’s most famous thoroughfare. In the world’s longest running road mile race, 32-year-old Simpson won for the sixth time consecutively, holding off her competition in the final steps by four tenths of a second to clock in at 4:18.8, the 10th fastest women’s time in the event’s 38-year history. “I love that this race is American-made right down 5th Avenue, and I love that where I’m best known is here at home,” Simpson said. “Being a seven-time winner is very special to me.” The USA’s Colleen Quigley, 25, finished second in a personal-best time of 4:19.2, recording her second podium appearance in the 2018 NYRR Pro Racing Series after winning the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in February. Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney, 25, was third, also notching a personal-best time of 4:20.2. Wightman, 24, won the men’s race in 3:53.5, well exceeding his seventh and 16th-place finishes at the event the last two years. New Zealand’s Nick Willis, 35, who was aiming for his record-breaking fifth event title, was the runner-up in 3:54.2, while Great Britain’s Neil Gourley was third in 3:55.3 in his road mile debut. In total, 7,704 finishers crossed the finish line at this year’s New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. Twenty-two races took place throughout the day, including specialty heats – such as the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for seniors, the Media Mile, and the NYPD/FDNY Mile – as well as Rising New York Road Runners heats for youth and youth wheelchair racers. In conjunction with the race, the NYRR Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile took place from September 1-9 as part of the 2018 NYRR Virtual Racing Series. The series allows runners anywhere in the world to run a race at their convenience and at a location of their choice during a specified period of time. Proceeds from the NYRR Virtual Racing Series, launched in beta together with Strava in 2018, benefit NYRR’s youth and community programs. Full results and coverage from the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile can be found at www.nyrr.org. Photos from the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will be made available shortly at NYRR’s online media center. Caption and credit information is contained in the metadata and in NYRR’s online media center; credit all photos “Courtesy of NYRR” unless otherwise specified. For any specific requests, please email [email protected]. About New York Road Runners (NYRR) More news |