| Fifth Avenue Mile | |
|---|---|
 Fifth Avenue, looking north from 42nd Street | |
| Date | Mid-September |
| Location | New York City |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Mile run |
| Primary sponsor | New Balance since 2016 |
| Established | 1981 |
| Course records |
|
| Official site | Fifth Avenue Mile |
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual 1 mile (1.6 km) road race on Fifth Avenue in New York City, United States. The race begins at 80th Street and heads twenty blocks south to 60th Street. First held on September 26, 1981,[1] the race is currently organized by New York Road Runners. The competition regularly attracts world-class runners, who compete in special heats after the regular age division heats. The Fifth Avenue Mile has also inspired similar events in the same mould, including the Anlene Orchard Mile in Singapore.[2]
Jennifer Simpson of the United States has historically been the most successful athlete at the competition, having won 8 races. The winners at the most recent edition in 2024 were Josh Kerr and Karissa Schweizer. In 2023, Kerr and Jemma Reekie won, which was the third Scottish double in succession after the 2022 victories of Jake Wightman and Laura Muir, and this of Wightman and Reekie, who won the event in 2021.
The men's record in the race is 3:44.3 set by Josh Kerr in 2024. Prior to Kerr's performance, Sydney Maree held the course record at 3:47.52 for 43 years, since the inaugural edition of the race in 1981. The women's record is 4:14.8, set by Laura Muir in 2022, which was tied by Karissa Schweizer in 2024.[3][4]
The Fifth Avenue Mile was originally held in late September or early October. In 2014 it was moved to mid September near Patriot Day. The race has been sponsored by Pepsi (1981), Mercedes-Benz (1986–1991), Discover Card (1994–1996), Donald Trump (1997–1998), Continental Airlines (2005–2010) and currently New Balance (since 2016).[5][6]
Although World Athletics recognises a road mile world record, the Fifth Avenue Mile is a point-to-point course, and is also too steep, meaning times recorded on the course cannot be ratified as a road mile world record.[7][8]
- ^ New York Road Runners (September 27, 2009). Rowbury and Baddeley reign over Fifth Avenue. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-09-27.
- ^ The Anlene Orchard Mile has extended its deadline. Women in Sport (June 3, 2008). Retrieved on 2011-09-25.
- ^ "New Balance 5th Avenue Mile presented by NYRR".
- ^ "Josh Kerr smashes 43-year record in winning 5th Avenue Mile". BBC Sport. September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Martin Fritz Huber (September 11, 2021). "New York's Magic Road Mile Returns". Outside.
- ^ Liam Boylan-Pett (October 2018). "When the Fifth Avenue Mile was Yuuuge". Lope Magazine.
- ^ "Certified road events".
- ^ "1 Mile Road - men - senior - all". worldathletics.org. Retrieved September 8, 2024.