New Balance 5th Avenue Mile Photo Essay
Every year, thousands of runners of all ages and abilities line up in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and run 20 blocks down Fifth Avenue to finish at Grand Army Plaza for the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. This year the 44th running took place on September 7 with more than 9,000 athletes across 30 heats, including the inaugural Broadway Mile, with nearly 70 Broadway performers and theater professionals supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Olympic bronze medalist Yared Nuguse became the first American man to win the men’s race since 2016 and Gracie Morris clocked the third-fastest time ever in the women's race history.
The First 5th Avenue Mile Race
The first running, in 1981, featured such a strong field that the men’s course record set that year held until 2024! South African NCAA 1,500-meter champion Sydney Maree was granted clearance to compete in a time when South African runners often were banned from competition due to the country’s apartheid policies.
Sydney Maree crosses the finish line to win the inaugural 5th Avenue Mile in a course record of 3:47.52 that wasn't broken until 2024.
Scenes From This Year's New Balance 5th Avenue Mile
The rain didn't stop the runners of the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, who hit the pavement to test their speed on a Sunday morning along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Runners proudly wore their run club singlets as they raced against one another for those coveted club points.
Stars, stage hands, producers, and theater professionals took on the challenge at the inaugural Broadway Mile some just hours before working a Broadway matinee show later in the day.
Jordan Litz of "Wicked" finished at the front of the pack to win the first-ever Broadway Mile. Hit musical "Mamma Mia!" took home the trophy for Fastest Broadway Mile Team.
An NYPD runner holds a flag as he makes his way down Fifth Avenue as part of NYPD and FDNY heat for service members. NYPD claimed their 5th title over FDNY.
Gary Muhrcke, the first champion of the New York City Marathon in 1970, is greeted by NYRR's Ted Metellus after crossing the finish line.
NYRR Striders came out in force to participate in the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for older adults. Several NYRR coaches ran with them across the finish line.
In addition to thousands of adult runners were youth participating in the Back to School Mile to kick off the school year.
The race wouldn't have been possible without the many volunteers who came out in the rain to support the participants.
The event concluded with Olympic medalist and North American mile record holder Yared Nuguse and U.S. Olympic Trials finalist Gracie Morris winning the professional athlete races, becoming the first American duo to sweep since 2016. Both ran the third-fastest times in the race's history.