(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Drake Relays
Masters Mile, for Men 40 and over – at 5:00 PM Saturday, April 24, will
be the
fastest field in U.S. history, with possible records for men 40 and 45.
The
event will be at Drake University Stadium Jim Duncan Track,
27th St. and Forrest Ave, Des Moines, Iowa.
Since its
inception in the 2002 Drake Relays, the
Masters Mile -- this year called the “Drake Dream Mile” by organizer
Mark
Cleary – has been considered by fans as among the most exciting events
at the
meet.
This year, Cleary reports, the race has Tony Young, 42, from Redmond, WA, the current pending U.S. outdoor record holder at 4:07.25, and Tony has run 4:06 twice indoors this year; Peter Magill, 41, Pasadena, CA, U.S. cross country champion this winter and Carlsbad 5K masters winner; Kevin Paulk, 43, from Portland, OR, US 40-44 outdoor mile and 800 meter champion in 2003; Jeff Mann, 40, Sacramento CA, 2004 Indoor National 40+ Mile Champion last month in Boston; Brian Pope, 40, Oxford, MS, pending American 5K indoor record holder; Steve Gallegos, 49, Golden, CO, who won both the 800 and 1500 45-49 races at last month’s world indoor championships in Germany; John Hinton, 42, Carrboro, NC, defending champion in 4:13.98, who last year in another meet ran 3:50.95 1500 meters, the third fastest of all time behind only Young and Steve Scott; Ron Wartgow, 45, a nearby runner from Belvidere, IL, 1976 Illinois State High School Mile Champ. Others in the twelve-person field include Scott Smith, 42, Appleton, WI; Tom Novak, Iowa City, IA; Brad Jensen, 41, Altadena, CA; and Brett Darrington, 43, Calabasas, California. (Media note: the pacesetter will be David Nash of Iowa, USATF Athlete of the Year M35-39 for 2003.)
Young set the current
official American Mile masters (40+) record of 4:09.61 on June 8, 2002. In addition to setting the pending mile
record of 4:07.25 last year, Young in 2003 broke Steve Scott’s American
record
for the 1500 with a time of 3:46.42.
That will also be up for grabs in the race.
Former British Olympian David Moorcroft set the current
masters mile world record of 4:02.53 on 6-19-03.
Cleary had high praise for overall Drake Relays meet director Mark Kostek for “having embraced not only this event but the Masters Invitational Program as a whole…I dare say no one in the country supports the Masters to the extent this man does.” Of the spectators, Cleary asserted, “The fans really appreciate this event. They see it as a highlight to the meet. They are amazed how fast these guys can run.”