RETURNING CHAMPION LEADS PACK OF ELITE RUNNERS TO MANCHESTER LOOKING TO BEAT THE FASTEST MILE IN AMERICA WEDNESDAY, JULY 3RD

Brian Gagnon Hopes to Run the Hinckley Allen Manchester Mile Faster Than His 2011 3:43.99 Record as Hundreds of Other Runners Hope to Beat Their Own Personal Records.

June 28, 2013 – Manchester, NH

The 3rd annual Hinckley Allen Manchester Mile & 5k will take place on Wednesday evening, July 3rd, just prior to the City of Manchester’s fireworks celebration.

In its inaugural running in 2011, the Hinckley Allen Manchester Mile produced the fastest men’s and women’s 1-mile times ever run on American soil. The 1-mile, point-to-point, downhill course saw former UCONN All American, Brian Gagnon win the race in 3:43.9 and former Rutgers University All American, Julie Culley run a 4:13.7, finishing as the fastest woman. A host of elite athletes are expected to return this year to compete for over $4000 in prize and bonus money.

A Lowell, Massachusetts native, Gagnon is returning home after a very successful track season where he ran a personal best by over 1 second in the 800-meter run at the US Championships just 1-week ago.

“Brian is in the best shape of his life and it promises for an exciting race,” stated his coach Frank Gaglano of the NJ-NY Track Club.

On the women’s side, Nicol Traynor also of the NJ-NY Track Club headlines a handful of some of New England elite ladies that will duke it out on the 1-mile course. Traynor is an All American from Richmond University and just finished 5th in the 3,000m steeplechase at the US Track Championship, narrowly missing the US National Team. Joining Traynor is recent UNH grad and America East cross country champion, Keely McGuire; defending Manchester Mile champion Tammie Robie; and two-time Millennium Mile champion Kara Haas of Chelmsford, MA.

“While we realize the 180 foot drop renders the times ineligible for official American or World Records, these downhill courses make it easy and fun for people of all ages and abilities to participate.” stated Millennium Running founder John Mortimer. “Millennium Running’s mission is to promote healthy lifestyles for families by providing first class, unique, and fun running events,”

Both races start atop Manchester’s Bridge St. at Derryfield Park and finish 1-mile west at Pulaski Park. The event will kick off with the 5K at 7:00pm, and the signature Hinckley Allen Manchester Mile will start at 8:00pm. Both races are great events for participants of all ages and abilities to run or walk. Online registration fees for participants 12 and older are $15 for the 1-mile, $25 for the 5k, or $30 for both races. Thanks to support from Student Transportation of America, children 11 and younger can participate in either event for free. Race day registration is also available for an additional $5 at Derryfield Park starting at 5pm. More information and is available at MillenniumRunning.com.

“Hinckley Allen is thrilled to be a sponsor of the Manchester Mile for the third year,” stated partner Mark McCue, “and we are pleased that proceeds from this event contribute to youth and family outreach programs at the Manchester YMCA.”