Jenny Simpson Races to Record-Extending Seventh Win at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, as Jake Wightman Picks Up First Victory
A total of 7,704 finishers raced across 22 heats throughout the day in world’s oldest road mile
New York, September 9, 2018—The USA’s Jenny Simpson raced to her record-extending seventh win and Great Britain’s Jake Wightman picked up his first victory at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday, September 9, as 19 Olympians raced down Manhattan’s most famous thoroughfare.
In the world’s oldest road mile race, 32-year-old Simpson won for the sixth time consecutively, holding off her competition in the final steps by four tenths of a second to clock in at 4:18.8, the 10th fastest women’s time in the event’s 38-year history.
“I love that this race is American-made right down 5th Avenue, and I love that where I’m best known is here at home,” Simpson said. “Being a seven-time winner is very special to me.”
The USA’s Colleen Quigley, 25, finished second in a personal-best time of 4:19.2, recording her second podium appearance in the 2018 NYRR Pro Racing Series after winning the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in February. Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney, 25, was third, also notching a personal-best time of 4:20.2.
Wightman, 24, won the men’s race in 3:53.5, well exceeding his seventh and 16th-place finishes at the event the last two years. New Zealand’s Nick Willis, 35, who was aiming for his record-breaking fifth event title, was the runner-up in 3:54.2, while Great Britain’s Neil Gourley was third in 3:55.3 in his road mile debut.
In total, 7,704 finishers crossed the finish line at this year’s New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. Twenty-two races took place throughout the day, including specialty heats – such as the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for seniors, the Media Mile, and the NYPD/FDNY Mile – as well as Rising New York Road Runners heats for youth and youth wheelchair racers.
In conjunction with the race, the NYRR Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile took place from September 1-9 as part of the 2018 NYRR Virtual Racing Series. The series allows runners anywhere in the world to run a race at their convenience and at a location of their choice during a specified period of time. Proceeds from the NYRR Virtual Racing Series, launched in beta together with Strava in 2018, benefit NYRR’s youth and community programs.
Full results and coverage from the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile can be found at www.nyrr.org. Photos from the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will be made available shortly at NYRR’s online media center. Caption and credit information is contained in the metadata and in NYRR’s online media center; credit all photos “Courtesy of NYRR” unless otherwise specified. For any specific requests, please email media@nyrr.org.
In 2018, NYRR is celebrating 60 years of helping and inspiring people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, free 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 www.nyrr.org.