FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS RETURN TO MEDTRONIC TC 1 MILE IN MINNEAPOLIS
Torrence, Pierce Set to Defend USA 1 Mile
Road Titles on Nicollet Mall May 12
Saint Paul, MN (April 28, 2011) - Two-time event winner David Torrence and
Olympian Anna Pierce will return to defend their USA 1 Mile Road titles at
the Medtronic TC 1 Mile in downtown Minneapolis on May 12. The pair will
battle some of the nation's the top male and female milers for $22,500 in
prize money, plus a pair of $10,000 time bonuses.
The Medtronic TC 1 Mile, which features an evening of races for runners of
all ages and abilities, will host the USA 1 Mile Road Championship for the
third-straight year. Racing kicks off at 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 12,
culminating with the USA Championships races at 7:53 p.m. (women) and 8:03
p.m. (men).
Torrence, the men's record-holder on the Nicollet Mall course, is the lone
runner to break four-minutes in the six-year history of the event. The San
Francisco, Calif. resident clocked 3 minutes, 59.3 seconds for his victory
in 2009. Last year, Torrence confirmed his mastery of the race winning in
4:04.0.
Torrence's 2009 barrier-breaking win in 2009 kept his budding racing career
alive, thanks to the $10,000 "Time Bounty" he earned for his sub-4:00
winning time.
"It was probably one of the biggest breaks for my career as a
post-collegiate athlete," Torrence said. "At the time, I was unsponsored
and living off of prize money from races. By crossing the line first under
4 minutes, I received the generous $10,000 bonus that essentially funded my
running career for the next year. The financial security that winning the
race brought allowed me to train full time and improve drastically."
To date, the $10,000 women's time bonus for a winning time under 4:32.0 has
yet to be claimed. Shannon Rowbury, the 2009 champion, has come closest,
setting the course record at 4:33.4. Defending champion Pierce, however,
has her sights set on a both a win and a course record time in 2011. She
won last year's race in 4:34.6.
"Last year was my first time running the one mile race in Minneapolis, so I
understand the course much better this year," the Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
resident said. "I'm anticipating a good race and hope to break the course
record. It was a very fun race and I am looking forward to coming back to
run it again this year! I was impressed with the waves of runners and the
crowds were so supportive."
The elite USA 1 Mile Road Championship races are just two of seven waves of
racing taking place on May 12. Starting with the Friends & Family Wave for
runners of all ages and abilities and including races for corporate teams
and masters runners, the evening offers opportunity for runner of all
abilities. The festive Nicollet Mall atmosphere – where people enjoying
downtown Minneapolis nightlife cheer runners along the route – makes the
Medtronic TC 1 Mile a unique event on the Minnesota and national running
calendar.
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