Former CU Star and NCAA Champion Micaela DeGenero breaks the Colorado Soil Record
Boulder, CO, August 2, 2024 – The Mile High Mile, the fastest mile in the Rockies, was exactly that on Thursday evening at CU’s Pott’s Field. Micaela DeGenero ran 4:31.61 to set a new Colorado Soil record for the mile, breaking three-time Olympian and 2016 Bronze medalist Emma Coburn’s prior mark by 1.09 seconds. On the men’s side, Joey Berriatua came close to the 4:00 minute mark, taking the win in 4:02.67.
Produced by the Boulder Road Runners (BRR), The Mile High Mile is the only time and place where Colorado’s fastest milers take the track together. A record prize purse totalling $5,200, and Colorado’s most elite field, drew roaring fans track-side for the thrilling, one-of-a-kind event. The elite field featured eight athletes who competed in the recent Olympic Trials and five Aspire OTQ supported athletes.
Katie Camarena, Tinman Elite athlete and member of the 2024 USA World Cross Country Team, paced the race through 800 meters in a spicy 2:16 split. Local favorite Maggie Montoya, an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the marathon and 10K, kept the pace fast through the third lap before DeGenero made a move at the bell to take the lead. Her move was similar to one she made in 2022 to win her NCAA Indoor Mile Championship. Renowned for her closing speed, DeGenero covered the final 200 in just over 31 seconds to claim her fellow CU Buff alumna’s Colorado record. Tinman Elite athlete Savannah Shaw took third in 4:41.61.
This year’s large prize purse for the elites is provided by BRR and key community partners, including presenting sponsor, Sara Vaughn at Liv Sotheby’s Realty and High Plains Bank.
For her win, DeGenero earns $1,000 and an additional $1,000 bonus from Roll Recovery for breaking the record.
“It’s so cool to race at home and on my old home track,” says DeGenero. “I’m so happy to participate, and to have the crowd all on the track giving us so much energy. It’s such a special race to have right here in Boulder,” she says.
In the men’s race, two steeplechasers flexed their strength to best an elite group of milers. Austin Miller and Ben Garner opened the race in 2:03 for 809 meters before steeplechase Olympic Trials Qualifiers Brian Barraza and Berriatua, took over. Barraza relentlessly pushed the pace through 1200 meters, and again down the final back stretch. “Brian’s strength was incredible tonight,” commented Berriatua who, to the roaring delight of the gallery, pulled away over the final 100 meters for the win in 4:02.67. Defending champion and 1,500 meter specialist Austen Dalquist closed hard to claim the third spot on the podium.
Joey Barriatua takes top honors in the Mile High Mile Men’s Elite Race
Like DeGenero, Berriatua also earns $1,000 for his win. “This is a fantastic event. The crowd is always great. I’ve raced a lot of these big miles across the county, and this definitely compares to the best of the best,” says Berriatua. “The Boulder community just shows up. It’s really great to go down that last 50 meters in the wave of people. I’m just so stoked!”
Race Director Straka was thrilled with the support from athletes and sponsors. “We have worked hard the past six years to build the Mile High Mile into a ‘home meet’ opportunity for the many local elites that train in Boulder but rarely have an opportunity to race in front of an enthusiastic fan base,” says Straka.
“The Mile High Mile debuted on this track in 2018,” Straka continues. “It’s a pleasure to have it back here in 2024, and watch one of the great CU Buffs and 2022 NCAA mile champion post a win”, he says.
Nestled in a low spot hugging Boulder Creek, Pott’s clung to a pocket of sufficiently clean air to race fast while forest fires at nearby Gross Reservoir, Lyons, and Loveland took the Air Quality Index as high as 127 early Friday.
“We monitored the AQI Index and forecast all day and stayed in close contact with athlete representatives to make sure we were aligned on safety protocols,” says BRR President and Coordinator for the Elite races, Chris McDonald. “We agreed to postpone the event if the AQI exceeded 150. At 4pm I spoke to Joey (Berriatua), who was in touch with a quorum of the athletes. With their input and agreement, Joey made the call that the race was on.”
Just before 6pm, temperatures dropped into the 80s, as the 6 mph breeze in the forecast arrived right on time. “We watched and marveled how the breeze literally pulled back the curtain of smoke so the show could go on,” says McDonald. When the sprinklers bordering the track’s home stretch kicked on right before the race and freshened everything up, it was as if the Track’s namesake, CU Head Cross Country and Track Coach from 1927-1968, Frank Potts himself, had spoken: “let’s make this record happen for one of our own”.
Adding to the evening’s excitement, recently hired CU Director of Cross-Country and Track and Field, Sean Carlson, popped in for the event to the delight of everyone. The partnership between BRR and the CU Cross Country and Track Program dates back to 1979 when the Club was founded.
In addition to the evening’s elite races, there were four heats of community races featuring nearly 70 athletes, allowing runners of all ages and abilities to run on CU’s newly remodeled track. A youth heat, two open heats, and a masters heat preceded the elite races, foreshadowing that fast times were possible:
- Sloane Groendyk (5:42) won the girl’s youth race; Ezra Zelaya (6:02) won for the boys
- Kieran Smith (5:02.6) and Aleksie Gingham (4:22) each won open heats
- Brett Anderson (4:42.5) claimed the masters men’s race, and Kelly Joy won the women’s (5:42)
“We’re really proud that the Mile High Mile has grown into a well-known, signature event just like our legacy All-Comers meets,” says Straka. “We love creating unique running experiences for the community, and with such a great turnout, we can see that the local running movement has lots of momentum.”
Results, Photos, and Videos
Photos from the 2024 Elite Races
Micaela DeGenero Post-Race Interview
Joey Berriatua Post-Race Interview
Media Contact: Marcey Cote marcey@mjcomm.net
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