Olympians, NCAA Champions, World Championship Competitors Headline Falmouth Elite Mile
Guaranteed $25,000 prize purse plus time and event record bonus money available too for 26th edition on Saturday, August 20
From Falmouth Road Race
FALMOUTH, Mass. - Falmouth Road Race, Inc., organizers of the Falmouth Elite Mile, an invitational Mile open to males who run sub-4:00 and females who run a sub-4:40 Mile, has announced the fields for its 26th running.
All the racing action happens at the Falmouth High School James Kalperis Track at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 20 or at Citius Mag.
Men’s Mile
In one of the deepest Falmouth Elite Mile field assembled, each runner has their sights on challenging the track record at this year’s event. The event records are held by Suzy Hamilton (4:25.27, 2002) and Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (3:52.97, 2021).
Ben Blankenship, an 8th place finisher in the 1500 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is the only returning Falmouth Elite Mile winner (2013) and will be looking to add another title to his storied resume. Jye Edwards, a 2020 Olympian for Australia in the 1500 meters, comes into the race with the fastest Mile time of 3:49.27 run at the 2021 Bislett Games in Oslo. Mason Ferlic has a Mile personal record of 3:58:05 and competed at the 2020 Olympics in the Steeplechase. He’s hoping to improve upon his best Falmouth Elite Mile finish of 5th place. His teammate on the Very Nice Track Club, Hobbs Kessler, set the high school National Record in the 1500 meters, clocking 3:34 last year, and will make his debut at the Falmouth Elite Mile.
The Brooks Beasts Track Club has three members in the race as Brannon Kidder (1:44.99 800m / 3:35 1500m), David Ribich (2019 Falmouth Elite Mile runner-up) and Waleed Suliman, a three-time NCAA Champion, could all find themselves getting across the line first.
Former Concord Carlisle High School star Thomas Ratcliffe will look to make the locals proud. Ratcliffe is now running for the Bowerman Track Club and is fresh off a 7th place finish in the 5K at the USATF Championships comes in with a 3:37 1500 meters personal best.
Women’s Mile
The favorite to grab the win will be Nikki Hiltz, a 2019 World Championship 1500m 12th place finisher, entering with the fastest 1500 meters time of 4:01.52. Hiltz has been a consistent top finisher at the National Championships and has valuable experience at the distance, including recent wins at the Fleet Feet Liberty Mile and Sir Walter Miler.
Taryn Rawlings, a former All-American Miler at the University of Portland, is the top returning runner, having placed 3rd last year in 4:41 — just .66 from the win. She’ll be joined by Katie Rainsberger, a 5th place finisher at the 2022 USATF National Championship in the Steeplechase (9:29).
Kaela Edwards, 2016 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion and runner-up at the 2020 Indoor Championships in the 800 meters, also has the tools to be the first across the finish line. Hanna Green is stepping up to the Mile and as a World Championship 800m qualifier. Her speed — she won the 800 meters at IAAF Diamond League Meeting de Paris in 1:58.39 — could be a lethal weapon should the race come down to the last 100 meters. Another 800 meters runner moving up to the Mile, Sadi Henderson, could make for an exciting finish. She was 5th at the 2022 USA Indoor Championships in the 800 meters with a time of 2:03.92 Finally, Ellie Shea, who will begin her junior year at Belmont High School will mix it up with the pros. Shea is not a stranger to running fast, however. She won the National Championships in the 5000m and has run 9:56 for the 2-Mile.
Wheelchair Mile
This year, the wheelchair Mile returns to the Falmouth Track Festival presented by ASICS.
Leading the women’s wheelchair field is five-time Falmouth Road Race champion Tatyana McFadden. She is a 20-time Paralympic medal winner, winning 3 medals (4x100 meter relay, 800 meters, and 5000 meters) in the most recent Paralympics in Tokyo. She is joined by a Falmouth newcomer, Susannah Scaroni, who broke the world record at the B.A.A. 10K in June. Susannah is a three-time Paralympian, and won the gold medal in the 5000 meters in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
The men’s wheelchair field is led by Daniel Romanchuk, a two-time Paralympian who won a gold medal in the 800 meters and a bronze medal in the marathon in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Romachuck is also the world record holder in the 800 meters, which he broke in 2021 at the Swiss Nationals. Joining Daniel is Hermin Garic fresh off his win of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K earlier this month. Garic won the 7-Mile race here at Falmouth last year and the 2021 Boilermaker 15K. A busy man, Garic also set the course record at the Cooper River Bridge Run in 2022.
About Falmouth Road Race, Inc.
The ASICS Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite and recreational runners out to enjoy the iconic 7- seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is committed to promoting health and fitness through community programs and philanthropic giving.
Photo credit: DMSE Sports
