USA v New Zealand Battle Looms in Queen Street Golden Mile

April 2 2014

USA v New Zealand Battle Looms in Queen Street Golden Mile

The Queen Street Golden Mile takes place this Sunday as part of the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Auckland with the elite races supported by age group Mile options and a Celebrity Queen Street Mile.

John Walker (NZ) ran it in 3.33.93, Steve Scott (USA) ran it in 3.29.44, and Mike Boit (KEN) still holds the Guinness World Record of the fastest human over the measured mile distance at 3.28.36 down Auckland’s Queen Street.

The 2014 elite men’s field includes current and recently crowned 2014 New Zealand 1500m champion Hamish Carson and the 2012 USA Road Mile Champion Craig Miller.

Carl Jackson from Athletics New Zealand will be in the commentary team on Sundayand is excited about the prospect of one of New Zealand’s best up and comers taking on the international field.

“It is exciting to see an International field compete here in Auckland for the Queen St Golden Mile. The showdown between the recently crowned 2014 New Zealand 1500m Champion Hamish Carson and the 2012 USA Road Mile Champion Craig Miller will be a highlight, and should ensure a great battle down to the wire down at the wharf, with Carson known for his strong kick in the latter stages of races.”

Miller will be joined by fellow American Mark Husted along with promising Australian Junior star Luke Matthews. The Kiwis looking to get on the podium as well as Carson include Malcolm Hicks and Tim Cornish.

Miller has already clocked some impressive times this season, running a personal best indoor 3:55 for a mile in New York in February and a 7:49 indoor 3000m also in February, suggesting he is in great shape heading to Auckland and will be tough to beat.

Elite and Celebrity races take place down Queen Street in between the elite triathlons as part of the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Auckland event, making for an amazing day of spectating and engagement for what are expected to be large crowds in the inner city and downtown CBD course. The celebrities race at 2.30pm and elite men race at 3pm.

The Celebrity Mile should also have the crowds cheering their favourites down the famous stretch of New Zealand real estate, with familiar faces from TV, sport and even local body politics lacing up the running shoes.

Click here to find out more about the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, the charity behind the Queen Street Golden Mile that is focused on getting young people in Auckland's greatest areas of need active and in to regular sport

Queen Street Golden Mile
Elite Men Bios

Hamish Carson, New Zealand
25 years old, Raumati South, Kapiti Coast
Current NZ 1500m champion and renowned for his strong kick in the final stages of any race. Coached by the great Arch Jelley (former coach of John Walker). A four time 1500m NZ Champion, Carson is ranked 13th on the all-time NZ list over the distance.

Malcolm Hicks, New Zealand
26 years old, Hicks has sub four minute miles to his name and is the current NZ Cross Country and Road Racing Champion and was third in the 2013 NZ 1500m Championships. Represented NZ at the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan in 2013 and the World University Games in 2011

Mark Husted USA
Mark resides in Denver Colorado and was 15th in the 800m qualifiers at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. A personal best of 3:44 in the 1500m, Husted will bring 800m speed to this event.

Craig Miller USA
26 years old, the former USA 1500m champion, Miller will go in as favourite in the Queen Street Golden Mile. A personal best of 3:55.07 for the mile.

Luke Mathews Australia
Just 18 years of age, Luke is a prodigy in Australia, the current Junior 800m champion who will like others bring a strong kick to this race if it plays out his way.

Tim Cornish, New Zealand
24 year old Cornish is from Wellington and has a 1500m PB of 3:52. Placed 3rd at the NZ 800m championships in 2013 and 7th in the Queen Street Golden Mile in 2013 in a time of 3:57:67

Also competing:
Matt Harris, New Zealand, Oska Inkster-Baynes, New Zealand

Celebrity Queen Street Mile Bios
Peter Williams -Veteran television presenter and sports writer who recently turned 60!In 2010 he completed the Port of Tauranga Half Triathlon (2km swim, 90 km bike and 21.1 km run) in 6 hrs & 37 mins – raised over $8,000 for the Look Good Feel Better organisation – for women suffering cancer. Peter also competed in the Queen Street Golden Mile event last year, but not as a celebrity.

Melissa Ingram - Olympic Swimmer – competed at the 2008 Olympic Games. Won bronze in 4 x 200 m freestyle at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Now a NZ Olympic ambassador

Gary Kemble - Rugby League player nick named “Grayfish” as all arms and legs. Played 19 test matches for the Kiwi’s as fullback between 1990 – 1986. Played 195 games for Hull in the UK as Fullback between 1981 – 1987 during which time, Hull won the Challenge Cup in 1982. Gary coached the Kiwi’s in 2007 and also coached the Junior Warriors.

Wayne Walker - Second term Auckland City Councillor representing the Albany Ward.

Marcus Child - Debuted for the NZ Black Sticks hockey team in 2010 and played 49 international tests. Marcus has scored 7 test goals.

Simon Child - Debuted for the NZ Black Sticks hockey team in 2005, playing 192 tests and scoring 100 goals. Simon has represented New Zealand at 2 Olympic Games and also the Commonwealth Games.

Peter McGlashan - Former NZ Blackcap – wicket keeper and batsman. Played 4 ODI and 11 T20 international matches. Highest first class score of 115, with 195 catches and 13 stumpings.

Grant Robinson - Northern Districts Cricket player. High Score of 125 not out in first class cricket. Scored 268 runs when Northland played Hamilton in the Hawkes Cup which is second highest ever scored for the Cup.

Luke Witteveen - Member of the SKYCITY Breakers Development Player Roster and a NZ age group representative.

Theo Quax - Young son of Olympic Silver Medallist and current Auckland Councillor Dick Quax. Theo competed in last year’s Queen Street Golden Mile alongside his dad in the Celebrity Mile.

Kushla Glauser - Partner of Simon Child. Auckland Hockey representative and NZ age group selection teams.

Simon Andrews - Former Counties and Northern District all rounder.

Allan Peard - Well known successful Jockey, head trainer for Bruce Wallis stable.

Annabel Anderson - World Champion paddle boarder who competed in the celebrity mile at the 2013 Queen Street Golden Mile.

Tamati Clarke - Counties/Northern District and NZ U20 cricket batsman.

Hugo Inglis - NZ Black Stick hockey player, competed at the Olympic Games. 117 international test match career.

Darryn Hopewell - Rugby League referee. Refereed the Rugby League World Cup in 2000.

Queen Street Golden Mile
Event Schedule
Sunday April 6
11:00am Kids Mile
11:10am All Comers Mile
11:15am Corporate Challenge Mile
11:20am Age Group Women’s Mile
11:22am Age Group Men’s Mile
2:40pm Celebrity Mile
2:50pm Queen Street Golden Mile Elite and Age Group Women
3:00pm Queen Street Golden Mile Elite Men

Course information:
The Start line is at the intersection of Mayoral Drive and Wakefield St. The 1 mile (1.6km) course goes down Mayoral Dr, turns right in to Queen St, then runs straight down on to Queens Wharf. Click here to view the course map.

ENDS

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