Past champions, loaded field returns to Charlevoix's annual Ryan Shay Mile

CHARLEVOIX — Some of the top mile runners in the country will soon return to Charlevoix for the 14th annual running of the Ryan Shay Mile.

Though they’ll be hoping for a bit dryer conditions in 2022.

After a year off in 2020, the race returned to a downpour last season, though runners still blazed down Bridge street to get the race in.

Now, they’ll return to close the annual Venetian Festival at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 23 in Charlevoix for one of the more anticipated road mile races in the country.

The race will come sponsored by Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital this year and carry a total purse of $10,000, with $2,000 going to first place finishers, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. Fourth will also pay out $500, with an extra $250 to the half mile leader.

The field comes loaded once again, which includes past champions of the race, a 2020 Olympian, a high school record holder and a large group of runners from Michigan based Very Nice Track Club.

Casey Comber, a former Villanova runner, returns to try to defend his men’s title after putting together a time of 4:05.90 in the pouring rain. Comber has a mile-best time of 3:54 and was an NCAA All-American.

Also on the men’s side, Hobbs Kessler, the U.S record holder of the 1500 meter run (3:34) will be in attendance, as will NCAA All-American Jack Anstey of Illinois State, Mason Ferlic, an NCAA steeplechase champion and 2020 Olympian and many others.

Anstey was a runner-up finisher in the 2021 Shay Mile. The men’s field includes 17 total runners.

On the women’s side, 2019 Ryan Shay champion Anna Shields returns to the field after taking runner-up in 2021. Shields ran a time of 4:35.60 a year ago in the rain.

University of Minnesota All-American Madeline Strandemo will join, who placed third a year ago, as will Big Ten steeplechase champion Abby Kuhot-Jackson, among others.

The Ryan Shay Mile started in the summer of 2008 to honor the memory of Ryan Shay.  Ryan passed away on Nov. 3, 2007 while competing in the 2008 USA Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City. Ryan was from Central Lake, Michigan about thirty minutes south of Charlevoix.

A talented runner, who through hard work and persistence, won championships in high school, in college while at Notre Dame and in the professional ranks.  Ryan was and is a role model for many young people in Northern Michigan and around the country.

Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital is one of nine hospitals in the Munson Healthcare system, Northern Michigan’s leading and largest provider of healthcare. Charlevoix Hospital was established in 1919. The 25-bed acute care hospital serves Charlevoix and northern Antrim County residents, as well as thousands of vacationers each year.

This event is held as part of Charlevoix’s annual Venetian Festival, and in conjunction with the Drenth Memorial 5k/10k road races on the same Saturday morning. Charlevoix is located in the Northwestern corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula.

Spectators are encouraged to attend the event, as runners finish in downtown Charlevoix to often packed people lined Bridge street.

The complete field of runners includes:

MEN’S START LIST:

– Casey Comber, Under Armour/Mission Run Baltimore Distance, Villanova, 1500m 3:37, Mile 3:54, 2021 Ryan Shay Mile Champion, 2021 U.S Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field participant, NCAA All-American.

– Jack Anstey, Under Armour/Mission Run Dark Sky Distance, Illinois State University, 1500m 3:38, Mile 3:56, NCAA All-American, represented Australia at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

– Hobbs Kessler, adidas/Very Nice Track Club, American High School 1500m record holder, 1500m 3:34, Mile 3:57.

– Mason Ferlic, adidas/Very Nice Track Club, University of Michigan, 2020 Olympian - Steeplechase, NCAA Champion - Steeplechase, 1500m 3:35, Mile 3:58, 3000m Steeplechase 8:18.

– Morgan Beadlescomb, Michigan State University, Mile 3:52, 5000m 13:17, 9 time NCAA All American.

– Eric Avila, adidas/Golden Coast Track Club, Southern Oregon University, 2021 USATF Road Mile Champion, 4 times NAIA champion, Mile 3:55.

– Ben Flanagan, On Running/Very Nice Track Club, University of Michigan, Mile 3:57, NCAA Champion - 10,000m, Canadian 10 kilometer road record holder.

– Tim Thacker, unattached, Milligan University/University of Tennessee , Mile 4:01, NAIA Champion - Indoor Mile.

– Austin Remick, unattached, University of Michigan, Mile 4:02, 3000m Steeplechase 8:46, All Big Ten.

– Elias Graca, Georgetown Running Club, University of Pennsylvania, 800m 1:48, Road  Mile 4:04.

– Nathan Mylenek, Very Nice Track Club, University of Iowa, NCAA All-American, Mile 4:03, 3000m Steeplechase 8:35.

– Cole Johnson, unattached, University of Michigan, All Big Ten, 800m 1:47, Mile 4:03

– Matt Cooper, Wisconsin Runner Racing Team, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, NCAA DIII All-American, Mile 4:02.

– Danny Kilrea, unattached, University of Notre Dame, NCAA All-American, 10,000m 28:23.

– Trestin Mancillas-Finnerty, unattached,  Northwood University, NCAA DII Indoor qualifier, Mile 4:08.

– Ethan Barnes, unattached, University of Michigan,a800m 1:49, Mile 4:09.

– James Gedris, unattached, University of Michigan, Mile 4:13, 5000m 14:11.

WOMEN’S START LIST:

– Anna Shields, Hartbeat Track Club, Point Park University, 2019 Ryan Shay Mile Champion, 10 times NAIA National Champion, Road Mile 4:30, 1500m 4:12..

– Madeline Strandemo, Oiselle, University of Minnesota, Mile 4:31, 3000m Steeplechase 9:46, U.S Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field participant, NCAA All-American.

– Gina McNamara, Georgetown Running Club-New Balance, University of Michigan, Mile 4:39, Road Mile 4:31.

– Jamie Morrissey, Atalanta NYC, University of Michigan, Mile 4:32, 800m 2:05

– Abby Kuhot-Jackson, unattached, University of Minnesota, Mile 4:35, 3000m Steeplechase 9:41, Big Ten Champion - Steeplechase.

– Evie Miller, 3 Rivers Racing Elite, Trine University, Mile 4:45, 3000m Steeplechase 10:06, NCAA DIII Champion - Steeplechase.

– Alsu Lenneman, Ypsilanti Running Company/Very Nice Track Club, Eastern Michigan University, 1500m 4:17, 5000m 15:43, 2017 NCAA 5000m 2nd place.

– Natalie Cizmas, Craftsbury GRP/Very Nice Track Club, Eastern Michigan University, 1500m 4:15, Mile 4:39

– Paige Duca, Very Nice Track Club, Boston College, Mile 4:37, NCAA  All-American.

– Lauren Jenkins, Very Nice Track Club, Michigan State University, Mile 4:55.

– Kaylin Russeau, Very Nice Track Club, University of Toledo, Mile 4:55.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Past champions, loaded field returns to Charlevoix's annual Ryan Shay Mile