By Meg Bellino

Nick Willis just wanted to simulate a serious environment before heading to Moscow for the World Championships without the hassle of traveling far from home. So, he created the Running Institute Mile in Saline, Michigan, last August to do just that.

The newly minted Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medalist from New Zealand spearheaded a social media campaign a few weeks before about the event, reaching around 600 people via Facebook. The turnout was better than anyone could have imagined.

“There were probably 1000 people there within an hour before the meet started. And then they just kept on coming,” Willis said. “That’s one of the coolest experiences we’ve ever been a part of. Not from the running standpoint but just seeing crowds coming into the track meet. Where did this come from?”

In a country where most large meets are held in major cities, or the coveted Hayward Field, Willis managed to arrange a group of athletes to run a mile in front of over 4,000 fans, in a town of roughly 8,000 people.

And the fans were not disappointed. Willis won the contest in 3:56.57, and six others dipped under the 4:00 mark.

Expanding seemed like the only option for Willis.

“Here’s a unique opportunity,” he said. “It would be foolish not to capitalize on that. To really put a stake in the ground and say, ‘Let’s have an annual event here in Michigan.’”

Tomorrow night, at Saline High School, located outside of Ann Arbor, fans will get to cheer on two world class fields: The SOS Rehydrate women’s 800m and The Running Institute Ron Warhurst Mile.

Willis believes that track can be a spectator sport, so why not give them the best athletes to cheer for?

Willis reached out to T-Mobile U.S. CEO John Legere, an avid track fan, and asked him about sponsoring the event. Legere was all in, and donated $24,000 for prize money. He then secured the connections to bring athletes like Mac Fleet, Garret Heath, Heather Kampf and Ajee Wilson to Michigan.

With just two races, Willis believes big names won’t disappoint.

“We [race directors] can make the decision of what is best for the fans,” Willis said. “We can look and think what’s going to work for getting a crowd and we think this works.”
Australian 1500 specialist Craig Huffer, who trains with Ron Warhust watched the mile race last summer, sidelined with injury.

“The atmosphere was just electric,” Huffer, who is in this year’s field, said. “I thought, I’ve gotta be there.”

“I knew this was going on and I knew it was going to be pretty good,” added Mac Fleet, the newly-signed Nike athlete who is hoping to run faster than his PR of 3:59.88. That should be doable with Willis asking for a sub-3:50 pace.

Willis makes organizing a world-class track event look easy, but has clearly done his research. Setting the meet in August right before the cross country season attracts high school teams and coaches, as well as nearby collegiate runners.

Just like Eugene claiming the title of Track Town USA, Willis thinks this event needs support from the community in order for it to continue to flourish.

“We need everybody to take ownership of it for it to be a success,” Willis said. “I hope that there’s a crowd that comes away feeling, ‘Wow, that was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.’ We’re only charging $5, so I think the goal always is to over-deliver. Undersell but over-deliver.”

Start Lists:

The Running Institute Ron Warhurst Mile
Nick Willis, New Zealand
Corey Leslie, USA
Garret Heath, USA
Kyle Merber, USA
Dorian Ulrey, USA
Jack Bolas, USA
Craig Huffer, Australia
Liam Boyan-Pett, USA
Riley Masters, USA
Mac Fleet, USA
Josh McAlary, USA
Lex Williams, USA
Ian Boyle, USA
Luke Pawlaczyk, USA pace
Jake Edwards, USA pace

SOS Rehydrate Women’s 800m
Ajee Wilson, USA
Kate Grace, USA
Geena Lara, USA
Nicole Sifuentes, Canada
Morgan Uceny, USA
Erica Moore, USA
Phoebe Wright, USA
Katie Mackey, USA
Heather Kampf, USA
Charlene Lipsey, USA

Tickets and other information can be found at www.michigantrackclassic.com