HISTORY OF THE RACE

The Memorial Mile was first run on Memorial Day, May 27, 1991 and was founded by the Jock Stop storeowner Don Whitman along with Jeff Rober and Karl Zook. The race is located in Boardman, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown and starts at Routes 224 and 7 and proceeds east on Rt. 224 for one mile ending near the intersection of Rt. 224 and Applewood Blvd. The Memorial Mile starts just before the annual Kiwanis Memorial day parade, which ensures many spectators along the route to view the race. In 1994, PUMA/Team Jock Stop Runner Phillip Pillin joined the race committee replacing Jeff Rober and instituting prize money for the top open and masters finishes. The early years of the race saw just over 200 runners, but the race peaked in 1996 with 369 runners. In 1997, race directors Don Whitman and Phil Pillin decided to institute two heats of the race, the citizens race and the elite race to follow. After the races, before the awards are given out, all runners enjoy pizza after the race donated by East of Chicago Pizza and a chance to win one of the many raffle prizes donated by area merchants.

THE COURSE

The race starts at Routes 224 and 7 and heads east on Route 224 for one mile. The first .4 of a mile is a gradual downhill. From .4 to .55 of a mile, the course goes uphill. From .55 to .8 of a mile, the course is downhill again. From .8 of a mile to the finish is flat. It is not unusual to have the top five men still together with less than 300 meters to go.

COURSE RECORDS

MEN: Eugene Kornilov, Russia 3:55.84 1998

WOMEN: Sonja Friend-Uhl, Bridgeville, PA 4:42 1996

MASTERS MEN: Dave Blankenship, Tallmadge, OH 4:25 1998

MASTERS WOMEN: Penny Felger, Petersburg, OH 5:23 1998

RACE RESULTS:

1991     1992     1993     1994     1995     1996 1997     1998     1999     2000   2001     2002  2003   2004    2005   2006    2007    2008     2009

MEMORIAL MILE APPLICATION (available early March)

VISIT OUR RACE SPONSORS:

Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation