DeLay, Camerieri win fast Yakima Mile
Women’s champion just misses fastest female Mile time on Washington soil; five men sub-3:57 on hot evening
From Michael Ambrose - Special to the Yakima Herald-Republic & BBTM
YAKIMA, Wash. – In five years the Yakima Mile has become known for many good things in the tight-knit community of elite Mile racing.
To this growing list add speed dating.
Two first-time road Milers – Kayley DeLay and Anthony Camerieri – came to Yakima on Saturday evening with their significant others and veterans of the dash down Yakima Avenue.
And they tore the place up.
DeLay, 25, who last month competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., surprised herself with a stunning turn of speed on the downhill, point-to-point course, nearly toppling Nikki Hiltz’s 2021 state best in 4:21.76 for a three-second victory.
With the triple-digit heat wave finally cooling off into the 90s, the men then took to the asphalt and Camerieri, who ran the 5000 at the Olympic Trials, charged away once he crossed First Street and broke the finish tape in 3:53.88 as seven runners dipped under 4 minutes.
DeLay’s boyfriend, Will Laird, was 11th out of 16 after placing sixth last year. With Kayley coming so close to Hiltz’s record, race organizer Chris Waddle added $3000 to her $5000 winner’s prize.
Camerieri’s girlfriend, Katie Camarena, placed fourth on Saturday after being edged for the victory two years ago. Camerieri earned $5000 and Camarena captured $1000 from the $53,000 available purse.
So speed dating with lucrative benefits.
“Katie has run this race in the past and she really liked it, so I wanted to give it a shot,” said Camerieri of his first visit to Washington. “I was pretty nervous at the start, as nervous as the Trials actually, because I expected myself to win. With that expectation comes pressure and I wanted to be up to that. Plus, having never run a road Mile, I knew it would be tough to gauge when to move.”
Camerieri and the gang left the early work to a pacer who towed the field through a 1:57 first half mile.
“That was perfect, just where I hoped to be,” said the Miami-Ohio graduate who spent his last collegiate year at Mississippi. “A group of us took over from there and I tried a first move with about 300 (yards) to go. That got matched and then I pushed it again with 200 left and that made the difference.”
Continue reading at: yakimaherald.com
5th Yakima Mile presented by Home2 Suites / Tru by Hilton - Yakima Airport
BBTM Featured Event
Yakima, WA, Saturday evening, July 13, 2024
MEN
1) Anthony Camerieri (CO), 3:54, $5000
2) Aaron Ahl (CAN), 3:55, $2500
3) Caleb Webb (AZ), 3:56, $2000
4) Nick Randazzo (CA), 3:56, $1000
5) Tom Anderson (GBR), 3:56, $750
6) Clayton VanDyke (OR), 3:58, $500
7) Tim Haughton (NC), 4:00, $250
8) John Benner (VT), 4:05, $200
9) Mac Franks (WA), 4:05
10) Matt Palmer (OR), 4:07
WOMEN
1) Kayley DeLay (WA), 4:22, $8000*
2) Jenn Randall (OR), 4:25, $2500
3) Grace Fetherstonhaugh (CAN), 4:28, $2000
4) Katie Camarena (CO), 4:28, $1000
5) Amelia Keyser-Gibson (OR), 4:29, $750
6) Dana Klein (ID), 4:29, $500
7) Katie McCune (MO), 4:32, $250
8) Claire McCune (MO), 4:34, $200
9) Hannah Eagon (OR), 4:35
10) Cailee Peterson (MN), 4:39
*includes $3000 time bonus from race
Complete race results at: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/111897#resultSetId-471872;perpage:25
CREDIT: Evan Abell / Yakima Herald-Republic
