Ben Rosario
Big River Running Company
ben@bigriverrunning.com
Saint Louis Track Club Elite Men’s Mile:
Leo Manzano (3:35 1500, US Olympian)
A Nike-sponsored athlete Manzano represented the US in the 1500 meters at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after finishing second at the US Olympic Trials. A multiple-time National champion at the University of Texas, Manzano is considered one of the brightest young stars in United States Track and Field.
Tommy Schmitz (3:58 mile)
Schmitz, a Marquette University grad, is on a tear in 2009. He ran a then personal best mile of 4:00.96 indoors before finishing eighth at the US indoor championships for 1500 meters. Outdoors he broke four minutes for the first time running 3:58 at the Brutus Hamilton Invite in California. He currently trains in Santa Barbara California and runs for the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team.
Adam Perkins (3:38 1500)
Perkins grew up in Liberty Missouri where he was a multiple time State Champion and one of the best high school milers in the country as a senior. He went on to compete at the University of Arkansas where he was a Division I All-American for the Razorbacks under Hall of Fame coach John McDonnell. He has run 3:38 for 1500 meters, the equivalent of a 3:55 mile and currently lives and trains in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Jordan Fife (3:59 mile)
Fife is a native of Indiana and ran collegiately for Indiana State University where he was a Division I All-American in the steeplechase. Post-collegiately Fife joined Team Indiana Elite where he is coached by former Indiana University coach Robert Chapman. Fife broke four minutes in the mile at the prestigious Meyo Mile at the University of Notre Dame in February of 2008. Fife was fourth at last year’s Festival of Miles.
Ryan Kleimenhagen (3:59 mile)
Kleimenhagen was a Division III star at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Largely unheralded coming out of college Kleimenhagen joined Team USA Minnesota, a post-collegiate training group coached by Dennis Barker, after finishing his studies. He broke four minutes in the mile shortly thereafter and has qualified for several US Championships. He currently lives and trains in Wisconsin and runs for the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team.
Dan Strackeljahn (3:42 1500)
Strackeljahn grew up just outside of Saint Louis in nearby Highland, IL. He attended Eastern Illinois University where he was a standout performer in the Ohio Valley Conference in cross country and track. Strackeljahn has run the equivalent of a sub 4 minute mile in the 1500 (3:42) but will look to break four for the first time at the Festival of Miles. He currently lives and trains in the Chicago suburbs and is the newest member of the Big River Racing Team.
Derek Scott (3:42 1500)
Scott was an NAIA National Champion in college at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. Like Fife, Scott joined Team Indiana Elite for his post-collegiate training and is currently enjoying a breakthrough season that includes a 13:47 5k pr at the Stanford Invitational. Scott was fifth at last year’s Festival of Miles and has a 1500 meter personal best of 3:42.
Jeremy Doherty (3:43 1500)
Doherty is the top native Saint Louisan in the field and a graduate of DeSmet High School. A fourteen-time All Missouri Valley performer at Illinois State University, Doherty resurrected his running career a year ago when he ran 3:43 for 1500 meters at the American Miler’s Series meet in Indianapolis. Doherty was fourth at last year’s Festival of Miles and runs for Big River Running Company. He also currently lives and trains in Los Angeles where he works for Easton.
Ben Rosario (4:03 mile)
Rosario is the co-owner of Big River Running Company and perhaps the sentimental favorite in this year’s event. He is a graduate of Saint Louis University High school and Truman State University where he was a Division II All American. A two-time Olympic Trials Qualifier in the marathon, Rosario dropped down in distance in 2008 and ran a 4:06 mile. This past January he lowered his personal best to 4:03 and will look to break four minutes for the first time at the Festival of Miles.
Carter Snow (1:51 800)
Snow is also a native Saint Louisan having gone to high school at Lafayette before attending college at Central Methodist University where he was a six-time NAIA All-American. To this point Snow has been more of an 800 meter runner but he will try his hand at the 4 lap distance at the Festival of Miles.
Brian Lyons (4:04 road mile)
Lyons is another hometown favorite. He is the race director for the GO! St. Louis Marathon and is a two-time St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run Champion. Lyons attended Missouri Southern State University where he was a Division II All-American. At last year’s Festival of Miles he served as the rabbit and took the field through halfway in two minutes flat despite the cold and windy conditions.
Eric Fernandez (Junior XC All-American)
The lone collegian in the field, Fernandez runs for the University of Arkansas, a national track and field powerhouse. He is just now finishing up an outstanding freshman year that saw him finish as the Hogs’ number two man at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November. In February he finished ninth at the US Junior Cross Country Championships and he is currently training for the US Junior Track and Field Championships to be held in Eugene, Oregon this June.
Prize Money:
1st - $1,000 2nd - $600 3rd - $400
*Big River Bonus - $1,000 for a sub-four mile!
Big River Festival of Miles
