Courtesy of Race Organizers

May 5, 2011

Saint Paul, MN (May 5, 2011) Ryan Hall, the fastest marathoner in American history (unofficially), will test his mettle against the sport�s other signature distance � the mile � next Thursday evening at the Medtronic TC 1 Mile which hosts the USA 1 Mile Road Championships.

Hall, who ran 2:04:58 for 4th place at last month�s Boston Marathon, is a late addition to the Minneapolis event which features two-time defending champion David Torrence. Hall, who is known for his long-distance exploits � he holds the American Record in the Half Marathon at 59:43 � said a conversation with a marathoning legend prompted the decision to run in the Medtronic TC 1 Mile.�Last weekend I was chatting with Rod Dixon (the 1983 New York City Marathon champion and a 3:53 miler) and he advised me to break four minutes for the mile as soon as possible,� Hall revealed.

�While I realize it may take a number of tries to go sub-four, it is a lifelong goal of mine and I believe that if I achieve it, it will certainly help my marathon. I am extremely excited to kick off my spring season at the Medtronic TC 1 Mile where I will compete in my first mile race since 2006.�

Hall�s best times in the mile and its metric equivalent, the 1500-meters, go back to his days as a high school star in Big Bear City, California. Hall ran the mile in 4:04.04 as a high school junior and a 3:42.70 1500-meters, roughly equal to a 4:00 mile, as a senior.

�We couldn�t be more pleased and excited to have Ryan choose our race,� Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman said. �Frankly, the call from Ryan to enter the USA 1 Mile surprised us, but his stature in the sport and his desire to test himself against the mile distance at our event has us all eager to see what he can do.�

Hall will race the Medtronic TC 1 Mile just 24 days after running the Boston Marathon. The Stanford graduate led early in the race at Boston and held on to finish fourth overall. Although Hall�s 2:04:58 at Boston is the fastest marathon ever run by an American, it is not considered the American Record due to Boston�s net downhill course lay-out and the aiding effect winds have on the point-to-point course.

Hall�s wife Sara, the 2009 USA Women�s 1 Mile Road Championships runner-up, will also compete at the Medtronic TC 1 Mile.

The Medtronic TC 1 Mile, which features an evening of races for runners of all ages and abilities, hosts the USA 1 Mile Road Championship for the third-straight year. Racing kicks off at 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, culminating with the USA Championships races at 7:53 p.m. (women) and 8:03 p.m. (men). Entries are still available for the race.