500 Festival Mini-Marathon

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500 Festival Mini-Marathon
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.png
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon logo
DateFirst Saturday in May
Location Indianapolis and Speedway, Indiana, United States
Event typeRoad
Distance Half marathon and 5K
Primary sponsor OneAmerica Financial Partners (half marathon)
Delta Dental (5K)
EstablishedMay 27, 1977;47 years ago (1977-05-27)
Course recordsMen: 1:01:44 (2023)
Flag of Kenya.svg Panuel Mkungo
Women: 1:07:11 (2022)
Flag of the United States.svg Emily Sisson
Official site www.500festival.com/mini-marathon OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Participants14,200+ (2023) [1]

The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (also known as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon for sponsorship reasons [1] ) is an annual road half marathon usually held the first Saturday in May in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.

Contents

The race began in 1977 and became an official 500 Festival event in 1979. The 13.109-mile (21.097 km) course currently starts in downtown Indianapolis, then heads west toward Speedway. It features a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then returns to finish in the downtown area. From 1977 to 1992, the race was held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500. Starting in 1993, the race was moved to early May, the Saturday three weeks before the race, with rare exceptions. From 1994 to 2004, it was known as the Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.

The race regularly attracts runners and spectators from all 50 states and several countries. It includes a men's and women's running division, as well as men's and women's wheelchair entries. The Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, a shorter version of the Mini utilizing the same start and finish lines, runs the same day. Runner's World named it among the "Most Iconic American Races" and in 2023, a USA Today readers' choice contest named it the nation's best half marathon. [1]

Mini-marathon runners reaching the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018. Indianapolis mini-marathon at the Motor Speedway, 2018.jpg
Mini-marathon runners reaching the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018.

In 2020, the race was cancelled for the first time in its history, due to the coronavirus pandemic. [2] Entrants from this year's were given invitations to the 2021 race.

Selected history

2008

The race resulted in the closest finish ever in the history of the event: a tie. [3] Two Kenyan runners, Lamech Mokono and Valentine Orare, were declared co-winners, extending the streak of Kenyan victories to 13. In the women's race, Janet Cherobon successfully defended her title. Tony Íñiguez became a three-time champ in the wheelchair division.

2011

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.

Runners at the 2 mile mark in the 2024 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Runners at the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.jpg
Runners at the 2 mile mark in the 2024 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

2022

In 2022 the Mini also hosted the USATF Half Marathon championships. The championship was announced a little over a month before the race and was met with heavy criticism directed toward USATF over the timing and planning of the event. [4]

In the men's race Leonard Korir out kicked Futsum Zienasellassie, an Indianapolis native, to win by one second in a time of 1:02:35.

In the women's race Emily Sisson broke U.S. half-marathon record finishing the race in 67:11. [5]

Past winners

  New course record

DateMen's winnerTimeWomen's winnerTime
May 27, 1977Flag of the United States.svg  Frank Shorter  (USA)1:03:56Mary Clifford1:31:22
May 26, 1978Flag of the United States.svg  Bill Rodgers  (USA)1:03:00Flag of the United States.svg  Miki Gorman  (USA)1:20:56
May 25, 1979Dean Behrmann1:09:17Penny DeMoss1:28:40
May 23, 1980Eric Wood1:08:55Shirley Kay Durtschi1:19:58
May 22, 1981John Roscoe1:06:20Candy Wojcik1:28:30
May 28, 1982Greg Van Winkle1:07:15Marilyn Reinhardt1:23:51
May 27, 1983Gary Romesser1:05:52Marilyn Reinhardt (2)1:23:55
May 25, 1984Gary Romesser (2)1:09:11Diane Bussa1:18:59
May 24, 1985Gary Romesser (3)1:07:06Lori Veal1:19:20
May 23, 1986John Wellerding1:05:48Karen McQuilken1:18:02
May 22, 1987James Nolan1:08:12Karen McQuilken (2)1:19:32
May 27, 1988Gary Romesser (4)1:08:33Laura Didion1:20:27
May 26, 1989Don Johns1:07:31Judy Bogenschutz1:17:59
May 25, 1990Keith Hanson1:04:13Ruth Ozmun1:18:17
May 24, 1991Gary Romesser (5)1:08:24Chris Cooper1:21:17
May 22, 1992Andy Herr1:07:44Becky Reinhold1:20:30
May 7, 1993Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Keino  (KEN)1:03:10Flag of the United States.svg  Trina Painter  (USA)1:12:19
May 7, 1994Flag of Kenya.svg  John Kipkoskei  (KEN)1:03:14Flag of Brazil.svg  Roseli Machado  (BRA)1:13:42
May 6, 1995Flag of Ecuador.svg  Rolando Vera  (ECU)1:02:07Flag of Ukraine.svg  Tatyana Pozdnyakova  (UKR)1:13:35
May 4, 1996Flag of Kenya.svg  Andrew Masai  (KEN)1:02:57Flag of Russia.svg  Valentina Yegorova  (RUS)1:13:00
May 3, 1997Flag of Kenya.svg  Patrick Kiptum  (KEN)1:01:56Flag of Russia.svg  Valentina Yegorova  (RUS) (2)1:13:50
May 2, 1998Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kariuki  (KEN)1:02:32Flag of Kenya.svg  Selina Chirchir  (KEN)1:14:32
May 1, 1999Flag of Kenya.svg  Daniel Kihara  (KEN)1:03:48Flag of Russia.svg  Lyudmila Petrova  (RUS)1:14:12
May 6, 2000Flag of Kenya.svg  Philip Kemei  (KEN)1:04:19Flag of Russia.svg  Lidiya Grigoryeva  (RUS)1:12:23
May 5, 2001Flag of Kenya.svg  Simon Rono  (KEN)1:02:36Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Paramonova  (RUS)1:11:36
May 4, 2002Flag of Kenya.svg  Gabriel Muchiri  (KEN)1:01:54Flag of Kenya.svg  Jackline Torori  (KEN)1:15:14
May 3, 2003Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kariuki  (KEN)1:03:43Flag of Russia.svg  Albina Ivanova  (RUS)1:11:24
May 8, 2004Flag of Kenya.svg  Reuben Chebii  (KEN)1:04:56Flag of Russia.svg  Albina Ivanova  (RUS) (2)1:12:36
May 7, 2005Flag of Kenya.svg  Wesley Ochoro  (KEN)1:03:31Flag of Russia.svg  Albina Ivanova  (RUS) (3)1:13:35
May 6, 2006Flag of Kenya.svg  Ben Kimondiu  (KEN)1:03:22Lucie Mays-Sulewski1:19:12
May 5, 2007Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Chirlee  (KEN)1:04:00Flag of Kenya.svg  Janet Cherobon  (KEN)1:16:00
May 3, 2008Flag of Kenya.svg  Lamech Mokono  (KEN)
Flag of Kenya.svg  Valentine Orare  (KEN)		1:02:53Flag of Kenya.svg  Janet Cherobon  (KEN) (2)1:14:53
May 2, 2009Flag of Kenya.svg  Festus Langat  (KEN)1:03:55Flag of Kenya.svg  Janet Cherobon  (KEN) (3)1:12:22
May 8, 2010Flag of Kenya.svg  Festus Langat  (KEN) (2)1:02:51Flag of Kenya.svg  Janet Cherobon  (KEN) (4)1:10:59
May 7, 2011Flag of Morocco.svg  Ridouane Harroufi  (MAR)1:02:46Flag of Kenya.svg  Everlyne Lagat  (KEN)1:11:29
May 5, 2012 [6] Flag of Kenya.svg  George Towett  (KEN)1:05:08Flag of Kenya.svg  Lilian Mariita  (KEN)1:15:23
May 4, 2013Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Alene Reta  (ETH)1:03:58Flag of Kenya.svg  Sarah Kiptoo  (KEN)1:12:26
May 3, 2014Flag of Kenya.svg  Nelson Oyugi  (KEN)1:01:53Flag of Kenya.svg  Lilian Mariita  (KEN) (2)1:12:04
May 2, 2015Flag of Kenya.svg  Elisa Barno  (KEN)1:02:31Flag of Kenya.svg  Sarah Kiptoo  (KEN) (2)1:13:09
May 7, 2016Flag of Kenya.svg  MacDonard Ondara  (KEN)1:02:03Flag of Kenya.svg  Ogla Kimaiyo  (KEN)1:11:43
May 6, 2017Flag of Kenya.svg  John Murugu  (KEN)1:04:53Flag of Kenya.svg  Margaret Maina  (KEN)1:15:51
May 5, 2018Flag of Eritrea.svg  Daniel Mesfun  (ERI)1:03:27Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Dayna Pidhoresky  (CAN)1:12:47
May 4, 2019Flag of Kenya.svg  Panuel Mkungo  (KEN)1:03:26Flag of Kenya.svg  Ivy Kibet  (KEN)1:12:11
May 2, 2020Not run due to COVID-19. [2]
May 7, 2022Flag of the United States.svg  Leonard Korir  (USA)1:02:35Flag of the United States.svg  Emily Sisson  (USA)1:07:11 [7]
May 6, 2023Flag of Kenya.svg  Panuel Mkungo  (KEN) (2)1:01:44Flag of the United States.svg  Anna Rohrer  (USA)1:11:31
May 4, 2024Flag of the United States.svg Jake Bertelsen (USA)1:04:29Flag of the United States.svg  Anna Rohrer  (USA) (2)1:15:18
May 3, 2025Flag of the United States.svg Brandon Olden (USA)1:04:39Flag of Kenya.svg Mercy Chelangat (KEN)1:10:32

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Orr, Susan (January 11, 2024). "500 Festival's Mini-Marathon is losing OneAmerica as title sponsor". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Woods, David. "Mini Marathon canceled for first time in 43 years". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  3. ↑ "2008 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon sells out with 35,000 entries". Microchips record closest finish ever in Mini. 2008-05-03. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  4. ↑ Woods, David (March 31, 2022). "Indy Mini named half-marathon national championship, could lure its strongest field ever". The Indy Star. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Dickinson, Marley (May 8, 2022). "Emily Sisson breaks U.S. half-marathon record". Canadian Running. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ Woods, David (5 May 2012). "500 Mini-Marathon: Kenyan is 1st finisher; officials issue yellow flag". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. ↑ OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon 2022 top finishers, results IndyStar
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