Runners Sprint Down State Street for a Mile

Men’s Elite competitors, Connor Clark (bib 8) finished in 1st place and Reid Buchanan (bib 5) finished in 2nd place [Photo: Fritz Olenberger]

Source: State Street Mile

On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in downtown Santa Barbara, Connor Clark of Mill Valley, Calif. and Tracee van der Wyk of Temple City, Calif. captured State Street Mile titles in exciting finishes, clocking 3 minutes, 54 seconds and 4:29, respectively.

“Our 19th edition drew 1,200 entrants and produced moments of pure joy and happiness for adults, kids and dogs,” said race director Megan Rheinschild. “A huge thank you to all our sponsors, our volunteers, city officials and everybody who made this annual community event another great success.”

In the men’s HOKA ONE ONE Elite Mile, a large contingent ran together throughout most of the race, hitting the halfway point in 1:58. In the final 400 meters, Reid Buchanan and Craig Lutz pushed hard to the line with Clark right behind. With a final burst of speed, Clark, 23, broke the tape in 3:54, followed closely by Buchanan and Lutz, also timed in 3:54.

Tracee Van Der Wyk (bib 521) came in 1st of the Women’s Elite and Olympian Kim Conley (bib 9) finished 2nd [Photo: Fritz Olenberger]

“I came into the race to break 4 minutes for the first time, and I waited until the end and kicked hard in the final 50 meters. In my first road race ever, it was an awesome experience to win in such a great atmosphere,” said Clark, a Dartmouth graduate, who also ran cross country at Oregon last fall.

An event record 11 men went under the benchmark 4 minute standard (previous mark was 8 sub-4 last year). In addition, Neville Davey, 43, Palo Alto, Calif. ran 4:00 to equal the Masters (40 & older) course record that he set last year, and overall, the native of Ireland finished 14th overall in the Open field of 26.

Father Larry Gosselin from the Santa Barbara Mission jumped into the race as he walked by the start (Photo: Fritz Olenberger)

The women’s HOKA ONE ONE Elite race featured a trio – two-time Olympian Kim Conley (returning to racing from injury), Maya Weigel and van der Wyk – contending for the race crown. Conley made a strong surge with 300 meters that van der Wyk answered, and in the final stretch, van der Wyk, 26, passed Conley for the victory in 4:29. Conley finished runner-up, one second back, with Weigel taking third in 4:33.

“My plan was to move at the last possible moment. I heard her coach say ‘Go’ at 300 meters and I followed Kim’s move, saving something for a final sprint,” said van der Wyk who also won the race in 2015.

Each State Street Mile overall race champion also took home $1000.

Andre Barbieri, winner of the Amputee Mile (Photo: Fritz Olenberger)

In the Elite Masters-only races (40 & older), Brian Duff, 41, from Los Angeles defended his title in 4:25, and for the women, Aeron Arlin Genet, 50, from Los Osos, Calif. was the winner in 5:06.

The Amputee Mile presented by Achilles Prosthetics & Orthotics was won again by Andre Barbieri, 37, of Santa Barbara in 6:22.

At the always crowd-favorite Platinum Performance Dog Mile, the world championship, Geoffrey Gray & Hank (white Labrador) defended their title in 4:25 (the dynamic duo also won the race in 2014), while the female human-dog champions were Michelle Duff & Kaydom (Weimaraner), 5:28; both canines are also rescue dogs. Kaydom also won the 2016 race with Michelle’s husband Brian with the pair setting a hard-to-believe 4:13, the fastest known human-dog mile performance ever.

Geoff Gray and Hank, winners of the Dog Mile (Photo: Fritz Olenberger)

Two Division race records were also set by:

10 & under

Kate Mazza, 10, Los Olivos, CA, 5:44

20-29

Nate Evans, 24, Santa Barbara, CA, 4:13

Race day started with eight age group categories (10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-plus) followed by the popular, untimed YMCA Family Mile, Amputee Mile presented by Achilles Prosthetics & Orthotics, Masters Elite Mile & HOKA ONE ONE Elite Miles and capped off with the not to be missed, tail wagging fun Platinum Performance Dog Mile.

A guaranteed Open prize purse of $5000 was awarded plus $1000 for a course record and a $100 Masters-only race course record.

All event proceeds will go directly to the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program’s Crime Victim Emergency Fund.

The State Street Mile is also a Santa Barbara Athletic Association Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix event as well as a Bring Back the Mile Featured Event, showcasing the best Miles in America and throughout the year.