New York, June 7, 2016—The NYRR New York Mini 10K, established in 1972 as the world’s first road race exclusively for women, will take to the streets of Manhattan on Saturday, June 11. The 45th edition of the race, being aired live on USATF.tv, will feature a world-class field of professional athletes and the first-ever Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K.

“The NYRR New York Mini 10K is one of our most treasured events,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “From blazing a trail for women 45 years ago, to showcasing Olympians today, the event continues to evolve with the first Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K. Creating lifetime memories and hopefully inspiring the future generation of athletes, these young ladies will have the thrill of starting their 2.25-mile run just before the professional women, and finish at the same finish line in Central Park. Fans everywhere can watch it all live on USATF.tv.”

The Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K, a 2.25-mile race for girls ages 7-18, will kick off race day in Central Park at 7:25 a.m., just before the all-women’s 10K at 8:00 a.m. Approximately 300 girls will participate in the Girls’ Run, which will start at the same Columbus Circle location as the professional athletes and will head up Central Park West and turn into Central Park before finishing at the same finish line as the TCS New York City Marathon.

Among the hundreds of Girls’ Run participants will be alumni from NYRR’s Run for the Future program, which provides college scholarships to young women in New York City schools, and more than 40 runners from the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, the largest girls’ leadership organization in the city. The Girl Scouts running will use their participation as an opportunity to raise money for the organization's Family Partnership, which supports their programming across the city.

The Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K is part of the NYRR Youth Running Series, and includes cross country, indoor track, and road running events, all run at kid-friendly distances.

“The inaugural Girls’ Run at the NYRR New York Mini 10K will impact the next generation of women runners in much the same way that the original race did more than four decades ago,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “The Mini has a great history, and this year, joining the girls, will be more than 60 amazing women who have run more than 15 editions of the event. They will join our professional field and the 10,000 other entrants in celebrating the race’s 45th running.”

Founded in 1972 as the six-mile Crazylegs Mini Marathon, the NYRR New York Mini 10K got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the sponsor to support a six-mile “mini” marathon—named for the miniskirt, a big fashion trend of the times. Seventy-two women finished that first race, which helped show that women deserved to run in road races as much as their male counterparts. Three weeks later, Title IX was signed into law, guaranteeing women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for female athletes.

The International Olympic Committee added the women’s marathon to the Olympic program for the first time at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, a decision sparked by the growth of women’s road racing, which was led by the success of the Mini.

From those who led the way 45 years ago, such as race legends Kathrine Switzer and Nina Kuscsik and the event’s inaugural champion Jacqueline Dixon, to the 182,414 women of all ages and abilities who have finished the race since 1972, the NYRR New York Mini 10K has served as one of the most impactful women’s races in running history.  

Led by U.S. Olympian Desiree Linden, the 2016 NYRR New York Mini 10K professional athlete field includes 18 Rio 2016 Olympic marathoners and 11 women who have run 33:00 or faster for 10K on the road or on the track. Runners will vie for a first-place prize of $10,000 as part of the $35,150 prize purse.

The NYRR New York Mini 10K will continue to be a global affair, with the professional athletes hailing from 19 different countries. Past event winners have come from: Australia, Canada, England, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and the United States.

Norway’s Grete Waitz and Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe have each won the race five times, the most of any women in the event’s history.

This year, the NYRR New York Mini 10K will be available live on USATF.tv, the digital streaming platform of USA Track & Field powered by RunnerSpace. A complete replay of the event will be available soon after the conclusion of the live coverage and will be made available to subscribers of the +Plus platform on USATF.tv. +Plus subscribers have access to hundreds of live and on-demand events in track and field and road racing including training videos, athlete profiles and exclusive content.

A post-race festival near Tavern on the Green will feature live music, a raffle and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Runners can also stop by Tavern on the Green and show their race bib for a complimentary glass of bubbly with brunch or a complimentary draft beer with an entrée purchase in the Beer Garden.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.