CHARLEVOIX — Athletes from around the world convened on Charlevoix for the 17th running of the Ryan Shay Mile on Saturday, July 26.
The locally-sponsored event, which attracted runners as close as East Jordan and all the way to Australia, is in conjunction with the Jeff Drenth Memorial 5k/10k and the Charlevoix Venetian festival.
The race honors the late Ryan Shay, a Central Lake High School graduate and professional runner, who tragically passed away while contending for a spot on the Olympic Marathon team in 2007.
In a thrilling men’s race, Adam Swanson, a member of Minnesota Distance Elite, narrowly took the race in 3:55.1.
Swanson was able to run down last year’s 4th-place finisher Ben Nagel, who finished second (3:56.1), along with Liberty University alumni Ryan Drew, who held the lead until the final stretch (3:56.7). The trio took home $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively.
“The atmosphere is super awesome, the energy was really high,” Swanson said.
“The crowd was like a bunch of golden retrievers lined up at the dog shelter. I don’t think anyone can do better than the town of Charlevoix.”
Andy Wacker of Trail Team Boulder was the clear leader at halfway, finishing in 4:00. Wacker also took home $500.
In the women’s race, Trail Team Boulder’s Mikayla Schneider took home the win in 4:31.1.
“It was pretty surreal. Ryan Shay was my favorite race of the 2024 season, and I’ve been looking forward to coming back since I left Charlevoix last year,” Schneider said.
Schneider, who finished 9th last year, wasn’t expecting such a massive jump.
“I knew that I was stronger and could be at the front to compete for a top four spot but I was definitely not expecting to win.”
Michigan State University alum and all-Big Ten performer Erin McDonald took second (4:31.8), and Central Michigan Alumni Emily Paupore took third (4:32.0). Paupore is slated to compete in the women’s steeplechase on July 31 in Eugene, Ore. for a spot on the World Championships team.
Paupore also was the clear leader at halfway.
Douglas Bergmann, one of the race organizers, praised the town’s excitement and engagement with the event.
“The following day, I watched a race at the second largest track venue in the country, and the fans weren’t nearly as engaged,” Bergmann said. “I’m always really impressed with how excited the town gets for the race.”
The rest of the results can be found at venetianraces.com.
Samuel Peterson is a 2021 Charlevoix High School graduate and junior at Eastern Michigan University studying journalism.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: International field delivers fast times at Charlevoix’s Ryan Shay Mile
Reporting by Samuel Peterson / The Petoskey News-Review
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