Four New York City Deputy Mayors run through Central Park at world’s original women-only road race
New York, June 10, 2023 – Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi and the United States’ Susannah Scaroni broke the event records in the open and wheelchair division races, respectively, on Saturday in Central Park to win the Mastercard® New York Mini 10K, the world’s original women-only road race.
Teferi, a two-time Olympian, defended her title by outsprinting Boston Marathon champion and two-time Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri of Kenya in the final 800 meters to finish in 30:12, the fastest time since the race began in 1972. Obiri was second in her Mini 10K debut in 30:19. Laura Galvan rounded out the top three in 31:14, the fastest-ever 10K by an athlete from Mexico. Emily Sisson was the top American in fourth place in 31:16, recording the third-fastest time by an American at the event behind Keira D’Amato and Aliphine Tuliamuk.
Scaroni, a two-time Paralympic medalist and the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion, broke her own event record in the wheelchair division, leading the entirety of the race to clock a 21:06. Scaroni has now won all five editions of the wheelchair division since it was added to the Mini 10K in 2018. U.S. Paralympian Jenna Fesemyer finished second in 25:16, followed by Michelle Wheeler in third in 26:05.
The Mini 10K, which began in 1972 as the first women-only road race known then as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon, has gone on to garner more than 200,000 total finishers to date, including 8,369 finishers this year. Former NYRR President Fred Lebow named the race after the miniskirt, which back then was in vogue. A total of 72 women finished the first race, and three weeks later, Title IX was signed into law, guaranteeing girls and women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes.
Running in the general field of the race this year were four of New York City’s Deputy Mayors: First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, and Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.
Participants from NYRR Run for the Future, a free seven-week program is for high school girls in New York City with little to no running experience, took part in their graduation race at this year’s event. The seven-week program introduced participants to running and wellness through practices and panels focused on mental health, nutrition, and body image. To conclude the program, the young women took part in their first-ever 5K at the Mini 10K, with Scaroni, this season’s ambassador, cheering them on at the finish line after she completed her race.
Mastercard® served as the title sponsor of the Mini 10K for the third time, and as part of its on-going partnership with NYRR also served as the presenting sponsor of professional women’s athlete field. Mastercard® made a donation of $10,000 to NYRR Run for the Future – $5,000 on behalf of the open division champion and $5,000 on behalf of the wheelchair division champion.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
