Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual 1 mile (1.6 km) road race on Fifth Avenue in New York City, United States. The race begins at 80th Street and heads twenty blocks south to 60th Street. First held on September 26, 1981, the race is currently organized by New York Road Runners. The competition regularly attracts world-class runners, who compete in special heats after the regular age division heats. The Fifth Avenue Mile has also inspired similar events in the same mould, including the Anlene Orchard Mile in Singapore.
| Fifth Avenue Mile | |
|---|---|
Fifth Avenue, looking north from 42nd Street | |
| Date | Mid-September |
| Location | New York City |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Mile run |
| Primary sponsor | New Balance since 2016 |
| Established | 1981 |
| Course records |
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| Official site | Fifth Avenue Mile |
The record performances of the race are Sydney Maree's victory at the inaugural race in 3:47.52, and Laura Muir's time of 4:14.8 set in 2022. Jennifer Simpson of the United States has historically been the most successful athlete at the competition, having won 8 races. The winners at the most recent edition in 2023 were Josh Kerr and Jemma Reekie, the third Scottish double in succession after the 2022 victories of Jake Wightman and Laura Muir, and this of Wightman and Reekie, who won the event in 2021.
The Fifth Avenue Mile was originally held in late September or early October. In 2014 it was moved to mid September near Patriot Day. The race has been sponsored by Pepsi (1981), Mercedes-Benz (1986–1991), Discover Card (1994–1996), Donald Trump (1997–1998), Continental Airlines (2005–2010) and currently New Balance (since 2016).