World Champion Jake Wightman to defend title at New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday, September 11

Newly crowned world champion and Olympian Jake Wightman will conclude his historic season in New York City when he aims to defend his title at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday, September 11.

The New Balance 5th Avenue Mile – the world’s most iconic road mile race since 1981 – stretches 20 blocks along the east side of Central Park. Last year, Wightman raced to the finish on 5th Avenue in 3:49.5 – the seventh-fastest time in history – to become the fifth athlete on the men’s side to claim multiple victories at the event after having won in 2018.

Wightman represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics last year, and earlier this year had a career-making moment when he won gold in the 1,500 meters at the World Athletics Championships with his father, Geoff Wightman, serving as the in-stadium commentator in Eugene, Oregon. He followed that up with a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the Commonwealth Games and a silver medal in the 800 meters at the European Athletics Championships earlier this month.

“I love running in New York, and there was never any doubt that I’d finish off my season by defending my title at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile,” Wightman said. “Fifth Avenue is always really fun, but I’m not looking at it as a victory lap. I want to make the Big Apple mine.”

In addition to age-group heats, this year’s New Balance 5th Avenue Mile will feature a 9/11 Memorial Mile, a Back to School Mile for youth ages 12-18, a George Sheehan Memorial Mile for seniors, and NYRR Road Mile Championship heats.

In partnership with NYRR and USA Track & Field, NBC will broadcast the event nationally from 12:00—1:00 p.m. ET. The broadcast will feature live coverage of the professional athlete races and a 9/11 memorial run, as well as a recap of the day’s earlier heats. Live coverage of the event will be available internationally on USATF.TV.