| New York Mini 10K | |
|---|---|
 The race finishes near Sheep Meadow in Central Park | |
| Date | Early June |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | 10 kilometres |
| Primary sponsor | Mastercard |
| Established | 1972 |
| Course records | 30:12 (2023) Senbere Teferi |
| Official site | Official website |
The Mastercard New York Mini 10K is an annual 10-kilometer road running competition for women that takes place in Central Park, New York City, in the United States. The race has been organised by New York Road Runners since 1972. The competition has both an elite-level race and a fun run, both of which accounted for a total of 9,977 finishers in 2025. [1]
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The idea of a 10K women's race was the joint vision of elite runners Nina Kuscsik and Kathrine Switzer, and New York City Marathon co-director Fred Lebow – in the early 1970s, there was a dearth of women's road racing competitions. The race's inaugural sponsor Johnson Wax (who were promoting a women's shaving gel called Crazylegs) suggested a full marathon event (26 miles and 385 yards), but it was decided that a more manageable "mini marathon" race over 6 miles would be held. [2] A total of 78 runners took part in the race, which was the world's first women-only road racing competition. [3]
The course of the road race begins near 61st Street on Central Park West and heads north, entering Central Park at West 90th Street. The route loops in a clockwise direction, turning southwards at Harlem Meer around the 3-mile (5-kilometre) mark. It continues south past the Central Park Reservoir and the Guggenheim Museum. Runners continue southwards until they come towards the park's limits near Wollman Rink at which point it heads to the west and turns north to the finishing point near the Tavern on the Green and Sheep Meadow. [4]
The course record is held by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia, who finished the race in 30:12 to win the 2023 edition and beat the previous record by Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco set in 2002. Grete Waitz and Tegla Loroupe are the race's most successful athletes, with both of them having each won the race on five separate occasions. Following her death in 2011, the 40th edition of the race was dedicated to Waitz. [5]
