Mile News


Crim Michigan Mile Racing series draws big crowd, elite runners to downtown Flint

August 23, 2013

Blankenship, Kampf capture road Mile titles at 13th stop of inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013

By Ross Maghielse, MLive.com

FLINT, Mich. -- A pair of former University of Minnesota track stars took home top honors at the first-ever Crim Michigan Mile Racing Series Friday evening, Aug. 23, downtown Flint.

Ben Blankenship, 23, won the men’s division of the Professional Mile by nearly a photo finish, sprinting ahead down the stretch to finish with a time of 4 minutes, 5.59 seconds, edging Jack Bolas and Nathan Brannen. Following shortly was Heather Kampf, taking the women’s Professional Mile title in 4:47.27. Each race champion earned $2000.

“I expected it to be even tighter (than it was),” Blankenship said of his narrow victory. “I looked back a couple times and just thought, ‘Oh hell, this is going to be a footrace’ then just took the opportunity to get away at the end.”

Kempf and Blankenship were both among the elite runners recruited by the Crim to take part in the inaugural event and each said they’d like to return next year.

“Absolutely enjoyed it and I know this race, the 10-mile at least, has been going on for years and years and adding this is a great thing,” said Kampf, 26, who won her third road Mile crown in the past month. “I know this is a town that’s faced a lot of hardships, so it’s cool to see something like this continue on.”

Grand Blanc Olympian Geena Gall was also in the Professional Mile field and finished fourth. Gall was admittedly disappointed with the outcome but also shared praises of having a professional Mile race near home.

Continue reading at: mlive.com

Michigan Mile presented by The Running Institute
Flint, MI, Friday, August 23, 2013

MEN
1) Ben Blankenship (OR), 4:06, $2000
2) Jack Bolas (NC), 4:06, $1500
3) Nathan Brannen (CAN), 4:07, $750
4) Craig Miller (CO), 4:07, $500
5) Macklin Chaffee (CO), 4:08, $250

WOMEN
1) Heather Kampf (MN), $4:48*, $2000
2) Lauren Johnson (OR), 4:49, $1500
3) Sara Vaughn (OR), 4:50, $750
4) Geena Gall (OR), 4:55, $500
5) Meghan Peyton Armstrong (MN), 4:59, $250
*third Bring Back the Mile Tour title

Complete results and more at: Crim.org

Tags: michigan mile (13) , heather kampf (131) , crim fitness foundation (3) , ben blankenship (72) , bbtm tour (196)

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Return the Mile to prominence on the American & worldwide sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a movement.

ELEVATE
Bring Back the Mile as the premier event in the sport, and increase interest in and media coverage of the Mile for both those who love the distance as well as the general public.

CELEBRATE
Bring Back the Mile to celebrate the storied distance and to recognize the people who made and make the Mile great and to promote Mile events and the next generation of U.S. Milers.

NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Bring Back the Mile to create a national movement for the Mile as America’s Distance,
to inspire Americans to run the Mile as part of their fitness program and to replace the 1600 meters at High School State Track & Field Meets across the country.

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