FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 19, 2021
YAKIMA, WA. --
The 2016 Gold Medalist. The mullet running icon.
Matthew Centrowitz. Craig Engels.
Altogether more than 20 Elite milers, most men with times under 4:00 and women ___, will be
racing Saturday, August 28th, on a gradual downhill portion of Yakima Avenue with hopes of
setting new records.
Two years ago, the first annual Downtown Yakima Mile became the record setting event of the
summer when Amos Bartelsmeyer, running for Germany, set the record for the Fastest Mile in
Washington in a blazing time of 3 minutes, 51.79 seconds. In the Women’s Elite Mile race,
Therese Haiss narrowly missed the women’s record by 2 seconds, but won in 4 minutes, 29
seconds.
This summer, the Downtown Yakima Mile is back. The competition is fierce, the total cash prize purse almost doubled. $5000 will go to the winner of the Men’s Elite Mile race and $5000 to the winner of the Women’s Elite Mile race. An additional $5000 will be awarded upon breaking the Fastest Mile in Washington (both men and women), and another $5,000 for a winning time under 3:48.
In total, the winner’s potential purse in both fields amounts to $15,000. Cash prizes will also go to the 2nd through 6th place finishers of the Elite Races.
On the men’s starting line the athletes, including Matthew Centrowitz, are coming with great
expectations. Centrowitz just recently returned from Tokyo where he finished with a strong
1500m race in the Olympic semifinals. Although not the ideal outcome, he is in prime condition to run extremely well on August 28th. Centrowitz also ran in the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning a Gold Medal in the 1500m with a time of 3:50:00 and becoming the first US runner to win this event since 1908.
Alongside Centrowitz on the starting line will be Craig Engels. Whether he is better known for
his running, or his mullet and mustache is up for debate. After finishing fourth in the 1500m US
Olympic Trials, Engels has been on a tear across the US this summer torching every road he’s
touched. Notably winning several of these big races.
Joining Centrowitz and Engels will be another Oregon based runner, Vince Ciattei. Recently
winning the Liberty Mile in a time of 3:59.39. Adding Sam Prakel, Brett Meyer, Garrett Heath,
Paul Ryan (WSU grad), Andrew Rafla, and Tripp Hurt who collectively hold 13 of the 20 fastest
outdoor mile times run this year by Americans.
[women’s]
The Downtown Yakima Mile is composed of 11 heats total, including the Dog Mile
Championship, SOZO Family Mile, and the Sgt. Joe Deccio Military, First Responders, &
Healthcare Heroes race. Races are scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 28th and the Men’s Elite race is scheduled for 7:45 PM. Through the generosity of race sponsor Home2 Suites by Hilton - Yakima Airport, the Downtown Yakima Mile is free for runners under 18 years old. Adult participants can register to run for $25, Senior Citizens are $12.50.
To stay updated with information regarding livestream viewing of the event, registration, and
updates, please visit YakimaMile.com and follow us on Instagram.
See you August 28th on Yakima Ave!e future for