Major Mile weekend awaits Mile Maniacs in mid-west and on the west coast

By Bring Back the Mile

We're kicking things off Thursday evening in St. Louis with theBig River Festival of Miles, the sixth stop of the BBTM Tour 2013, where meet director, Ben Rosario, has again put together an incredible event for professionals and the community alike. Then on Saturday, the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville, returns Anthony Whiteman (GBR) for another sub-4 attempt, this time at the age of 41. On the west coast, the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene has assembled what is arguably the best MIle field we'll witness in 2013 with the top 10 ranked Milers in the world facing off, including every 2012 Olympic 1500m medalist. Capping off an incredible weekend of Miles is the family friendly, tail-wagging, Platinum Performance State Street Mile, the seventh stop of the BBTM Tour 2013, in BBTM's hometown of Santa Barbara.

Below we preview these Mile events to get you ready for one of the most pivotal Mile weekends of 2013.

BIG RIVER FESTIVAL OF MILES
Thursday, May 30 - St. Louis, MO

• Big River Festival of Mile Website
• BBTM Event Page
• Live Webcast on FloTrack (subscription required)
• Twitter - #FOM2013
• Festival of Miles Announces Field for Saint Louis Track Club Elite Men’s Mile (preview)
• Festival of Miles Record Crowd Expected to Top 1,200 on Thursday Night (preview)

ST. LOUIS TRACK MEN'S MILE
Mexican national record holder Pablo Solares (MEX), a 3:54 miler currently racing for theBay Area Track Club, will face off against 2013 GO! St. Louis Half Marathon championAaron Braun (USA / adidas McMillan Elite), last year's runner-up Craig Miller (USA / New Balance) and Edwardsville (IL) native Stephen Pifer (USA / Speed Factory Athletics). These four headliners will be aiming to earn a $4000 payday for the win comprised of $1000 for the win, $1000 for a sub-4, $1000 for breaking Leo Manzano's 2009 event and Missouri state record of 3:55.29, and $1000 for the XS Energy Battle of the Sexes Bonus versus the Speed Factory Athletics Women's 800m field. The Battle of the Sexes bonus will be scored as follows:

• 1189 points - 1:58 / 3:51
• 1153 points - 2:00 / 3:54
• 1118 points - 2:02 / 3:56
• 1083 points - 2:04 / 3:59

It will not be easy for the Men's field with Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf (2:00.41 PR)  back to defend her Battle of the Sexes title. Joining her will be 2012 Olympic semi-finalistJessica Smith (CAN) who boasts a 1:59.86 PR as well as local favorite Shannon Leinert (Big River Running Company) who comes in with a 2:01.65. We give the nod to the women, but Miller, Pifer and Solares can certainly pull off a 3:56-57 to make things interesting. Our dark horse is Austin TC's Duncan Phillips, who is coming off a 3:39 1500m at the Oxy High Performance Meet earlier this month.

MOMILESPLIT.COM BOY'S & GIRL'S MILES
And not to be overlooked is a stacked prep Mile field on both the boys and girls side. The girl's race features three 2012 Foot Locker National Finalists and state champions from Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Missouri. Highlighting the field is freshman sensationStephanie Jenks (IA) who recently ran 4:44.50 at the adidas Dream Mile, the fourth fastest prep Mile in the United States this year. She will face stiff competition from defending champion and local favorite Hannah Long (MO - 4:56).

Another Iowan highlights the boy's Mile field - Jason Thomas out of Des Moines who ranks 13th in the U.S. at 1600m with a 4:10.14. Not too far behind is Alex Riba (IL) ranked 15th in the U.S. for 1600m with a 4:10.41 and was the Nike Cross Midwest Regional champion last fall. Glendale's Spencer Haik (MO) is the top local contender with a 4:11.76 1600m best, which ranks 28th in the U.S. and Marquette's Noah Kauppila rounds out the field.

MUSIC CITY DISTANCE CARNIVAL
Saturday, June 1 - Nashville, TN

• Music City Distance Carnival Website
• BBTM Event Page
• Facebook - Twitter

In nearby Nashville, the Music City Distance Carnival is once again assembling a great Mile field. Four sub-4 Milers are provisionally entered along with another four with bests of 4:00-4:02. Highlighting the field is defending champion Anthony Whiteman (GBR), who last year set a World Outdoor Masters Mile record with his 3:58.79. He became the first Master (40 and older) to dip under four minutes outdoors and the second to do so along withEamonn Coghlan (IRL). Can he do it again in 2013? Recent performances says there is a chance, having run 3:45.21 two weeks ago for 1500m.

PREFONTAINE CLASSIC BOWERMAN MILE
Saturday, June 1 - Eugene, OR

• Prefontaine Classic Website
• Complete Start Lists
• World’s Top Milers Slated for Bowerman Mile at 39th Prefontaine Classic (preview & start lists)
• Facebook - Twitter - #PreClassic

Television & Webcast Information

• Complete Information courtesy RunnerSpace.com
• NBC Sports Network 12:30 - 1:30 PST / NBC 1:30 - 3:00 PST
• All-Time Prefontaine Classic Sub-4 Mile List, Track & Field News (PDF)

At the historic Hayward Field, one of the greatest Mile fields ever assembled will toe the line in the Bowerman Mile. All three 2012 Olympic 1500m medalists as well as the top 10 Milers in the world as ranked by Track & Field News will be present. The American contingent includes 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano (Austin TC), 2011 World Championship bronze medalist Matthew Centrowitz (Nike Oregon Project), and 2-time Olympian Lopez Lomong (Oregon TC).

The Men's National 1500m field on Friday night is also stacked with U.S. Mile record holder,Alan Webb, along with Garrett Heath, Jordan McNamara, AJ Acosta and others seeking the 2013 World qualifying standard of 3:35.00. 

PLATINUM PERFORMANCE STATE STREET MILE
Sunday, June 2 - Santa Barbara, CA

• State Street Mile Website
• BBTM Event Page
• Platinum Performance State Street Mile Has Gone to the Dogs (preview)
• Facebook

Capping off the weekend of Mile is the seventh stop on the BBTM 2013 right in BBTM's own backyard. The Platinum Performance State Street Mile is a fast, downhill road course that goes right through the heart of historic downtown Santa Barbara. With a tradition dating back to 1983, this family-friendly road Mile, including the unofficial world championshipPlatinum Performance Dog Mile, has welcomed athletes of all ages and abilities. It also boasts more than $2000 in prize purses for professional Men and Women as well as Masters athletes.

COURSE RECORDS

• Open Men - 3:52 Mike Chavez (USA / CA), 2007
• Open Women - 4:33 Melissa McBain (USA / CA), 2005 & 4:33 Tara Erdmann (USA / CA), 2012
• Masters Men - 4:11 Mike Egle (USA / CA),  2004
• Masters Men - 5:03 Cindy Abrami (USA / CA), 2012
• Dog Mile Men - 4:22 Matt Johnsrud & Charlie, 2008
• Dog Mile Women - 5:02 Kasey Urman, 2012

MORE MILES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
For complete list of Mile events visit the BBTM Mile Calendar

• Carlisle Downtown Mile - May 30, Carlisle, PA
• Inaugural PSA Mile Challenge - June 1, Portland, OR
• Inaugural Gosport Golden Mile - June 2, Gosport, GBR