Defending Champions Return to USATF 1 Mile Road Championships

By Adam Kopet

Some of the country's best middle-distance runners will compete Tuesday evening at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, held in conjunction with the Grand Blue Mile, in Des Moines, Iowa.

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The women's race features a rematch of the top four women from the B.A.A. Invitational Mile from April 13. Defending champion Emily Lipari was beaten in a photo-finish by Nikki Hiltz, both being timed in 4:40.1. Three-time USATF 1 Mile Road Championships winner Heather Kampf and Shannon Osika finished just behind the dueling pair in Boston.

The men's race also features a defending champion in Riley Masters. He will face Nick Harris, Daniel Herrera, Brandon Lasater and Tripp Hurt, who all earned top-seven finishes last year.

Additional names to watch include Mikey Brannigan, a 2016 Paralympic gold medalist, Kyle Merber, who continues his return from injury, and newly minted American citizen Lawi Lalang, who won multiple NCAA titles at Arizona.

There will be a live webcast of the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships on USATF.TV. The event begins at 7:10 p.m. CDT.