New York, September 3, 2025 – New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, today announced a star-studded professional athlete field for the 44th running of the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, taking place Sunday, September 7 .

Among the 8,500 athletes competing in the world’s most iconic road race down a 20-block stretch of Manhattan’s most famous thoroughfare will be 11 Olympians, including defending champion Karissa Schweizer, who tied the women’s event record in her debut.

“I had an amazing time racing my first-ever New Balance 5th Avenue Mile last year,” said Schweizer. “I came so close to beating the course record, so I’m excited to be coming back to take another crack at that record.“

Joining Schweizer in the women’s race will be several 800m specialists making their New York Road Runners race debuts, including Ajee’ Wilson, 2022 World Indoor champion in the 800m, and Raevyn Rogers, the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist in the 800m. Additional American stars include Olympian Heather MacLean, who holds the American indoor record for the 1500m; Valerie Constien, the two-time Olympian and 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials steeplechase champion; and Constien’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games teammates Courtney Wayment and Allie Wilson.

Leading the men’s field is Yared Nuguse, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500m and holder of both the North American indoor and outdoor mile record.

“I’m excited to be making my New York Road Runners and New Balance 5th Avenue Mile race debut to close out my 2025 season,” said Nuguse. “I’ll be drawing on the energy of the New York City crowds to get me down Fifth Avenue as quickly as possible and to come out on top.“

Nuguse will battle a deep and competitive field that includes fellow Americans Josh Hoey, last year’s runner-up who is returning to Fifth Avenue after a breakout 2025 season that saw him winning a gold medal in the 800m at the World Indoor Championships and setting American indoor records in both the 800m and 1000m; Olympian Hobbs Kessler, the 2023 World Road Mile champion and 2024 World Indoor Championships 1500m bronze medalist; Evan Jager, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, 2017 World bronze medalist, and American record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase; Cooper Teare, a two-time national champion in the 1500m; Luke Houser, a two-time NCAA indoor mile champion and 2025 World Indoor bronze medalist in the 1500m; and Parker Wolfe, the 2024 NCAA champion over 5000m. Like Nuguse, Houser and Wolfe will be making their New York Road Runners and New Balance 5th Avenue Mile debuts.

To preview his race, Nuguse will join New York Road Runners for a live recording of the NYRR Set the Pace podcast at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub Thursday, September 4, at 7:30 p.m., with tickets free and available to the public HERE.

FIRST-EVER BROADWAY MILE

In addition to the professional athlete and age-group heats, this year’s New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will feature the first-ever Broadway Mile, with nearly 100 theater professionals running for a cause—including Broadway stars like Sierra Boggess, best known for originating the role of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway; Jordan Fisher, known for his roles in “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “Hadestown”; Jeremy Jordan, a two-time Tony Award nominee known for his roles in “Newsies,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Floyd Collins”; Jordan Litz, who is currently starring as Fiyero in “Wicked”; Patina Miller, a Tony Award-winning actor known for her roles in “Pippin,” “Sister Act,” and “Into the Woods”; and additional participants from shows like “The Book of Mormon,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Maybe Happy Ending,” and more.

For the Broadway Mile, New York Road Runners has teamed up with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Broadway League to host a friendly competition among Broadway performers, producers, stage managers, music directors, and stagehands. The Broadway athletes will have the option to fundraise for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway. Donations help provide lifesaving essential care to members of the theater community and others in need across the country.

Previewing the Broadway Mile ahead of race day, New York Road Runners will host a special panel event at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub Saturday, September 6, at 10 a.m. ET. Free and open to the public, the panel will feature Boggess, Fisher, and representatives from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Broadway League.

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY HEATS

Other New Balance 5th Avenue Mile specialty heats will include the Back to School Mile—one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events produced by the nonprofit each year—for kids ages 2 to 18 to start the school year strong, the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for older adults, the NYRR Road Mile Championship races, an NYPD and FDNY heat for service members, the Media Mile for journalists, and the NYRR Unlock 26.2 x New Balance heat for participants of the dedicated TCS New York City Marathon training program.

HOW TO WATCH

The New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will be televised live on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York Tri-State area from noon to 1 p.m. ET, and available for streaming nationally on ESPN+. New this year, iHeartRadio will provide live race-day radio coverage on 710 WOR AM and 104.3HD2 in New York, as well as on the iHeartRadio app, from noon to 1 p.m. ET. For the first time, a live camera feed of the finish line will be available to stream on the NYRR App.

Participants, spectators, and supporters can also use the NYRR App, available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, to stay conveniently connected with runner tracking and leaderboards, race-day information and alerts, and course maps.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS

Media interested in covering the 2025 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on-site will need to be credentialed and can apply for a media credential at https://www.nyrr.org/media-center/media-credentials.

MEN’S PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELD

i = indoors; WR = World Record; NR = National Record; Bold = Olympian; Bold PB = run in 2025

WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELD

i = indoors; WR = World Record; NR = National Record; Bold = Olympian; Bold PB = run in 2025

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.