OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest half-marathon in the United States, and the seventh-largest running event in America. As of the 35th running in 2011, it had sold out the entire running field of 35,000 for nine consecutive years.

Commonly known as "The Mini," it attracts runners and spectators from all over the United States and the entire world. In 2011, participants came in from all fifty states and nine countries. The race includes a men’s and women’s running division, as well as men's and women's wheelchair entries. The Finish Line 500 Festival 5K, a shorter version of the Mini utilizing the same start and finish lines, runs the same day.

The Mini-Marathon began in 1977 and became an official 500 Festival event in 1979. The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Over the past 55 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation. The Mini-Marathon is one of the first events of the month-long celebration, running the day before IndyCar Series practice opens at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 13.1-mile (21.1 km) course currently starts in downtown Indianapolis, includes city streets and a full loop around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then returns to finish in the downtown area. From 1977-1992, the race was held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500 (part of Memorial Day weekend). Starting in 1993, the race was moved to the first weekend in May.

The men's record for the Mini is 1:01.54 set in 2002 by Gabriel Muchiri. The women's record was set in 2003 by Albina Ivanova with a time of 1:11.24.

The 2011 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon took place Saturday May 7, 2011. A pair of newcomers brought home the men’s and women’s titles in the 2011 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis. Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi took the men’s race, winning in 1:02.45, while Everlyne Lagat of Kenya captured the women’s race with a time of 1:11:29, snapping the four-year win streak of fellow Kenyan Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, who took second. Adam Bleakney of Champaign, Ill., took advantage of the ideal conditions to win the wheelchair race with a blistering time of: 49.18. The 2006 winner of the same race, Bleakney, a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympics teams, was competing in Indianapolis for the first time since his previous win.

Past winners

Date	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
1977	Frank Shorter	1:03:56	Mary Clifford
1978	Bill Rodgers	1:03:xx	Miki Gorman	1:20:56
1979	Dean Behrmann	1:09:17	Penny DeMoss	1:28:40
1980	Eric Wood	1:08:55	Lee Ann Frye	1:19:58
1981	John Roscoe	1:06:20	Candy Wojcik	1:28:30
1982	Greg Van Winkle	1:07:15	Marilyn Reinhardt	1:23:51
1983	Gary Romesser	1:05:52	Marilyn Reinhardt	1:23:55
1984	Gary Romesser	1:09:11	Diane Bussa	1:18:59
1985	Gary Romesser	1:07:06	Loir Veal	1:19:20
1986	John Wellerding	1:05:48	Karen McQuilken	1:18:02
1987	James Nolan	1:08:12	Karen McQuilken	1:19:32
1988	Gary Romesser	1:08:33	Laura Didion	1:20:27
1989	Don Johns	1:07:31	Judy Bogenschutz	1:17:59
1990	Keith Hanson	1:04:13	Ruth Ozmun	1:18:17
1991	Gary Romesser	1:08:24	Chris Cooper	1:21:17
1992	Andy Herr	1:07:44	Becky Reinhold	1:20:30
1993	Joseph Kaino	1:03:10	Trina Painter	1:12:19
May 7, 1994	John Kiposkei	1:03:14	Roselli Machado	1:13:42
May 6, 1995	Rolando Vera	1:02:07	Tatyana Pozdnyakova
May 4, 1996	Andrew Masai	1:02:57	Valentina Yegorova	1:13:00
May 3, 1997	Patrick Kiptum	1:01:56	Valentina Yegorova	1:13:50
May 2, 1998	Joseph Kariuki		Salina Chirchir	1:14:32
May 1, 1999	Daniel Kihara	1:03:48	Ludmilla Petrova	1:14:12
May 6, 2000	Philip Kemei		Lidia Grigoryeva
May 5, 2001	Simon Rono		Elena Paramonova
May 4, 2002	Gabriel Muchiri		Jackline Torori
May 3, 2003	Joseph Kariuki		Albina Ivanova
May 8, 2004	Reuben Chebii		Albina Ivanova
May 7, 2005	Wesley Ochoro		Albina Ivanova
May 6, 2006	Ben Kimondiu		Lucie Mays-Sulewski
May 5, 2007	Joseph Chirlee		Janet Cherobon
May 3, 2008	Lanech Mokono Valentine Orare	1:02:53	Janet Cherobon	1:14:53
May 2, 2009	Festus Langat	1:03:55	Janet Cherobon	1:12:22
May 8, 2010	Festus Langat	1:02:51	Janet Cherobon	1:10:59
May 7, 2011	Ridouane Harroufi	1:02:46	Everlyne Lagat	1:11:29

Mini-Marathon Alumni Club

Fourteen athletes have participated in the Mini every year of its existence. Those runners are:

• Jerry Bates
• Eugene Lausch
• Michael Vollmer
• Bil Carter
• Leonard Outcalt
• John Webb
• Terry Hannigan
• Lee Perkinson
• Melvin White
• John Hostetter
• Michael Priest
• Bill Wilham
• Jim Kirkwood
• Alva Such

Previous names

• Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (1994-2004)

See also

• Indianapolis
• Indianapolis 500
• Marathon

External links

• Official Site
• Official Merchandise