Blankenship, Lipari Win Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017 Titles
Grand prix tour with 5 stops awarded more than $100,000 plus $10,000 #Tour2017 GP purse; Clayton Murphy & Emily Lipari earn Tour Performance-of-the-Year bonus; Running Warehouse’s “Pick-the-Winner” online contest at every stop for fourth edition
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – At the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017 finale, The Navy Mile, on Sunday in Washington, DC, Rio Olympian Ben Blankenship, 28, a Eugene, OR resident, secured the men’s #Tour2017 title with his 4th place finish, scoring 34 points. For the women, Emily Lipari, 24, Brighton, MA, who did not run the race, won the Tour title, with 20 points. The pair, first-time Tour champions, each took home $2500. The 3rd The Navy Mile presented by USAA was won by Kirubel Erassa, 24, from Grayson, GA and Eglay Nalyanya, 21, from Kenya in 4 minutes, 6 seconds and 4:45, respectively.
“Hats off to Ben Blankenship and Emily Lipari as the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2017 champions, and like the previous three editions, the Tour events again drew top fields and produced thrilling racing, including one course record,” said BBTM Founder Ryan Lamppa. “We thank all five Tour events, the athletes and Running Warehouse for showcasing the best of the Mile.”
The Tour 2017 featured 5 marquee Mile events from across the country, and the overall prize purse awarded for the Tour events exceeded $100,000 plus $10,000 for the top 4 Grand Prix athletes. Per Tour event per gender, the top 6 scored points (10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1) with the top 4 scorers earning Grand Prix money ($2500, $1000, $750 and $500). Overall, 18 men and 27 women scored grand prix points in the Tour’s fourth edition.
Clayton Murphy and Emily Lipari were also awarded a $250 bonus each for the #Tour2017 Performance-of-the-Year. Murphy won the Grand Blue Mile, the USA Road Championship, in a course record 3:59.96, and the Rio Olympic 800 meter bronze medalist also earned a $2500 course record bonus. Lipari, also the women’s Tour 2016 POY, captured the Medtronic TC 1 Mile in an exciting finish, edging Sara Vaughn at the line, 4:34.8 to 4:34.9.
BBTM GP #Tour2017 champions and highlights:
8th Grand Blue Mile: USA Road Championship
Des Moines, IA, Tuesday, April 25
Clayton Murphy (USA / OH), 3:59.96, course record
Katie Mackey (USA / WA), 4:37, first national title
12th Medtronic TC 1 Mile
Minneapolis, MN, Thursday, May 11
Ben Blankenship (USA / OR), 4:01, defended title
Emily Lipari (USA / MA), 4:35
6th GNC Live Well Liberty Mile
Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, July 28
Ben Blankenship (USA / OR), 4:05, defended title
Emily Lipari (USA / MA), 4:35
11th Minnesota Mile - new course
Duluth, MN, Thursday, September 7
Ben Blankenship (USA / OR), 4:07
Heather Kampf (USA / MN), 4:42
3rd The Navy Mile presented by USAA
Washington, DC, Sunday, October 1
Kirubel Erassa (USA / GA), 4:06
Eglay Nalyanya (KEN), 4:45
BBTM GP #Tour2017 Final Standings
MEN
1) Ben Blankenship (OR), 34 points, $2500
2) Riley Masters (CO), 20 points, $1000
3) Daniel Herrera (OR), 14 points, $750
4) Patrick Casey (OR), 11 points, $500
WOMEN
1) Emily Lipari (MA), 20 points, $2750*
2) Heather Kampf (MN), 14 points, $1000
3) Katie Mackey (WA), 10 points, $625
Eglay Nalyanya (KEN), 10 points, $625
*includes $250 bonus for Tour 2017 Performance-of-the-Year
BBTM Grand Prix Tour Champions (2014-17)
2014 Jack Bolas & Heather Kampf
2015 Jack Bolas & Heather Kampf
2016 Riley Masters & Heather Kampf
2017 Ben Blankenship & Emily Lipari
Like past Tour editions, at each stop, the Running Warehouse “Pick-the-Winner” online contest engaged Mile maniacs with the winners receiving a pair of shoes from Running Warehouse as well as BBTM swag packages.
Visit bringbackthemile.com/tour or contact media@bringbackthemile.com for more BBTM Grand Prix Tour news and information.
