- OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
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The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest half-marathon in the United States, and the seventh-largest running event in America. As of the 35th running in 2011, it had sold out the entire running field of 35,000 for nine consecutive years. [1]
Commonly known as "The Mini," it attracts runners and spectators from all over the United States and the entire world. In 2011, participants came in from all fifty states and nine countries. The race includes a men’s and women’s running division, as well as men's and women's wheelchair entries. The Finish Line 500 Festival 5K, a shorter version of the Mini utilizing the same start and finish lines, runs the same day.
The Mini-Marathon began in 1977 and became an official 500 Festival event in 1979. The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Over the past 55 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation. The Mini-Marathon is one of the first events of the month-long celebration, running the day before IndyCar Series practice opens at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 13.1-mile (21.1 km) course currently starts in downtown Indianapolis, includes city streets and a full loop around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then returns to finish in the downtown area. From 1977-1992, the race was held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500 (part of Memorial Day weekend). Starting in 1993, the race was moved to the first weekend in May.
The men's record for the Mini is 1:01.54 set in 2002 by Gabriel Muchiri. The women's record was set in 2003 by Albina Ivanova with a time of 1:11.24.
The 2011 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon took place Saturday May 7, 2011. A pair of newcomers brought home the men’s and women’s titles in the 2011 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis. Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi took the men’s race, winning in 1:02.45, while Everlyne Lagat of Kenya captured the women’s race with a time of 1:11:29, snapping the four-year win streak of fellow Kenyan Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, who took second. Adam Bleakney of Champaign, Ill., took advantage of the ideal conditions to win the wheelchair race with a blistering time of: 49.18. The 2006 winner of the same race, Bleakney, a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympics teams, was competing in Indianapolis for the first time since his previous win.
Contents
Past winners
Date Men's winner Time Women's winner Time 1977 Frank Shorter 1:03:56 Mary Clifford 1978 Bill Rodgers 1:03:xx Miki Gorman 1:20:56 1979 Dean Behrmann 1:09:17 Penny DeMoss 1:28:40 1980 Eric Wood 1:08:55 Lee Ann Frye 1:19:58 1981 John Roscoe 1:06:20 Candy Wojcik 1:28:30 1982 Greg Van Winkle 1:07:15 Marilyn Reinhardt 1:23:51 1983 Gary Romesser 1:05:52 Marilyn Reinhardt 1:23:55 1984 Gary Romesser 1:09:11 Diane Bussa 1:18:59 1985 Gary Romesser 1:07:06 Loir Veal 1:19:20 1986 John Wellerding 1:05:48 Karen McQuilken 1:18:02 1987 James Nolan 1:08:12 Karen McQuilken 1:19:32 1988 Gary Romesser 1:08:33 Laura Didion 1:20:27 1989 Don Johns 1:07:31 Judy Bogenschutz 1:17:59 1990 Keith Hanson 1:04:13 Ruth Ozmun 1:18:17 1991 Gary Romesser 1:08:24 Chris Cooper 1:21:17 1992 Andy Herr 1:07:44 Becky Reinhold 1:20:30 1993 Joseph Kaino 1:03:10 Trina Painter 1:12:19 May 7, 1994 John Kiposkei 1:03:14 Roselli Machado 1:13:42 May 6, 1995 Rolando Vera 1:02:07 Tatayana Pozdnyakova May 4, 1996 Andrew Masai 1:02:57 Valentina Yegorova 1:13:00 May 3, 1997 Patrick Kiptum 1:01:56 Valentina Yegorova 1:13:50 May 2, 1998 Joseph Kariuki Salina Chirchir 1:14:32 May 1, 1999 Daniel Kihara 1:03:48 Ludmilla Petrova 1:14:12 May 6, 2000 Philip Kemei Lidia Grigoryeva May 5, 2001 Simon Rono Elena Paramonova May 4, 2002 Gabriel Muchiri Jackline Torori May 3, 2003 Joseph Kariuki Albina Ivanova May 8, 2004 Reuben Chebii Albina Ivanova May 7, 2005 Wesley Ochoro Albina Ivanova May 6, 2006 Ben Kimondiu Lucie Mays-Sulewski May 5, 2007 Joseph Chirlee Janet Cherobon May 3, 2008 Lanech Mokono
Valentine Orare1:02:53 Janet Cherobon 1:14:53 May 2, 2009 Festus Langat 1:03:55 Janet Cherobon 1:12:22 May 8, 2010 Festus Langat 1:02:51 Janet Cherobon 1:10:59 May 7, 2011 Ridouane Harroufi 1:02:46 Everlyne Lagat 1:11:29 Mini-Marathon Alumni Club
Fourteen athletes have participated in the Mini every year of its existence. Those runners are:
- Jerry Bates
- Eugene Lausch
- Michael Vollmer
- Bil Carter
- Leonard Outcalt
- John Webb
- Terry Hannigan
- Lee Perkinson
- Melvin White
- John Hostetter
- Michael Priest
- Bill Wilham
- Jim Kirkwood
- Alva Such
Previous names
- Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (1994-2004)
See also
External links
References
- ^ "OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Sells Out for Ninth Consecutive Year". 500Festival.com. 2009-12-15. http://www.500festival.com/marathon/MiniNews.asp?news_id=264. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
Categories:- Indianapolis, Indiana stubs
- Half marathons
- Festivals in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Sports in Indianapolis, Indiana
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