New York, June 4, 2013—A core group of American women will line up for the Oakley New York Mini 10K, going head-to-head with some of the world’s best international competitors on Saturday, June 8. The Americans will be led by 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon team member Desiree Davila, while the international field includes 2010 and 2011 Mini champion Linet Masai of Kenya and 2013 NYC Half runner-up Diane Nukuri-Johnson of Burundi, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

“We are lucky to have such a fantastic field of powerful and inspiring women from the U.S. and around the world in the race this year,” said Wittenberg. “The Mini has always represented the strides our female athletes have made—not only in running, but in every sport—and the challenges they have overcome to be who they are today. These women share individual stories of triumph and personal achievement that make them easily relatable to the ‘everyday’ runner. It’s special to be able to cross paths in such a unique way.”

Davila, 29, of Rochester Hills, MI, became a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic marathon team by finishing second in the U.S. Trials with a time of 2:25:55. At the 2011 Boston Marathon, she battled for the lead through the final miles, finishing only two seconds behind the winner; her time of 2:22:38 is the fastest ever run by an American woman at the Boston Marathon. In a frustrating sequence of events, Davila was forced to drop out of the 2012 Olympic Marathon after only about two miles, and she pulled out of from the 2013 Boston Marathon prior to racing due to injury. This will be her first competition since the Olympic Marathon.

"I'm excited that over the past few months my focus has shifted from getting 100% healthy—to getting fit,” said Davila. “I'm looking forward to testing that fitness at the Oakley New York Mini 10K. NYRR is famous for putting together incredibly strong fields. A race of this caliber is on par with jumping in the deep end, but I'm looking forward to the challenge, and hope to walk away with a solid starting point, and some competitive fire for the 2013 season."

Masai, 23, won the 2009 IAAF World Championship at 10,000 meters in Berlin after finishing fourth in that event in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; she took the 10,000-meter bronze medal at the 2011 Worlds in Daegu, South Korea. Masai won the Mini in both 2010 and 2011, her only previous appearances at the event. Her 2010 time of 30:48 is the fourth-fastest in the event’s history.

Nukuri-Johnson, 28, a native of Burundi who currently resides in Iowa City, IA, holds Burundian national records at 5K, 10K, the half-marathon, and the marathon. She ran the 2012 London Olympic marathon in a personal-best time of 2:30:13; at the 2013 NYC Half, she ran another personal best (1:09:12) to take second place, just three seconds behind the winner.

Other top contenders in the field:

• Stephanie Rothstein Bruce, 29, was the top American in the 2012 New York Mini 10K (33:04) and the NYC Half 2013 (1:10:53)
• Brianne Nelson, 32, placed 11th at the 2013 USA Cross Country Championships and fourth at the USA 15K Championships
• Mattie Suver, 25, was the runner-up at the 2013 USA 25K Championships and was a 2013 World Cross Country Championships qualifier
• Helen Clitheroe, 39, of Great Britain, was the 2011 European Indoor Championships gold medalist at 3000 meters
• Mamitu Daska, 29, of Ethiopia winner of the 2013 Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, 10K personal-best of 32:05

For its 41st running, the New York Mini 10K has a new title sponsor, Oakley, who will also be the official eyewear sponsor and apparel provider for the event.  The new partnership aims to further empower women to live active and healthy lifestyles through Oakley’s “Made for More” marketing campaign.

This year, about 5,000 women are expected to participate in the race, which takes place in Central Park. The winner will be awarded a $10,000 prize. The Oakley New York Mini 10K will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, on Central Park West at West 61st Street. For more race details, please visit http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2013/oakley-new-york-mini-10k.

About the Oakley New York Mini 10K

Founded by NYRR in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the first sponsor to support a six-mile “mini” marathon—named for the miniskirt, which was then in fashion—rather than a full marathon. It was the world’s first road race exclusively for women.  A few weeks later, Title IX became law, guaranteeing young women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes. The inaugural race featured 78 participants. The event has now had more than 150,000 total finishers and has been a model for women’s road races around the globe.  The event welcomes women of all ability levels—including the very best in the world.

About NYRR

New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 55 years, NYRR has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s mission is to empower everyone, of all ages and abilities—beginners and competitive athletes, the young and the elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildren—to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.

NYRR’s races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs give hundreds of thousands of people each year the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to start running and keep running for life. NYRR’s premier event, the famed ING New York City Marathon, attracts the world’s top pro runners and committed amateurs alike while also raising millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for the City. But NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire more than 150,000 kids in underserved communities in New York City, all 50 states, and around the world.

Headquartered in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model that teams contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible. To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org.