America's Mile race draws thousands of runners to North Shore

Just a short distance from the first night of the annual Picklesburgh festival on the Roberto Clemente (Sixth Street) and Andy Warhol (Seventh Street) bridges, a couple thousand runners and walkers took to a North Shore road course Friday evening as P3R and VisitPITTSBURGH hosted the America’s Mile.

This year, the Elite Mile races — an invitation-only division with seven men and four women — went off with a twist. Drawing inspiration from the pickle festivities, The Real Dill Chase added excitement to what already was a competitive mile event.

With the women’s runners receiving a head start of 34 seconds based on projected winning times and the men’s runners working to catch up to them, a dash to the finish line in the shadow of Acrisure Stadium created an air of excitement among thousands of spectators along the course as the Elite competitors sought a first-place finish and a $1,000 bonus.

And Illinois native Stephanie Brokaw, a volunteer assistant track and field coach at Kansas State University, outlasted the field, both men and women, as she crossed first overall to pocket the bonus money.

“I am nearing the end of my career,” said Brokaw, 34, who ran in Pittsburgh for the sixth time. “Next year is probably going to be the last year of doing the whole track season and being competitive. So, (America’s Mile) is always a good one to come back to.”

In addition to the $1,000 Real Dill Chase bonus, Brokaw earned $4,000 for taking first among the quartet of women’s elite runners in a time of 4 minutes, 44 seconds.

She crossed just ahead of the first male elite finisher — Portland, Ore., native Carter Cutting. The Bringham Young student finished in 4:08.

“I could tell by the announcers and the crowd that the pack behind me was getting close,” Brokaw said.

“I wanted to get that extra thousand. I have put a lot of my life on hold to test my limits. To get that validation was pretty special.”

Cutting, visiting Pittsburgh for the first time, also pocketed $4,000 for winning the Men’s Elite division.

“I thought it was awesome. It added some spice to it,” said Cutting concerning The Real Dill Chase.

“You couldn’t see the girls until about a half mile to go because of that turn. It added the component where you can’t make it slow, which I really liked. I had a hard time gaining on (Brokaw) the final 100 meters. She was really moving. It was a fun component to see (the women’s) backs and try to catch up to them.”

The Elite men’s and women’s races capped an evening of mile-racing fun in various divisions with a total prize purse of $25,700.

“This is an amazing event, and I really want to come back next year,” Cutting said.

Many of the more than 2,000 runners and walkers ages 4 to 83 hoped to finish their fastest mile while also having a good time among friends, family, and a spectators cheering them on in warm but clear early-evening weather conditions.

Troy Schooley, the CEO of P3R, the engine behind many of Pittsburgh’s top road races throughout the year, was pleased with the festive atmosphere and spirit of competition.

“It was a little bit warm out, but the runners had a great time and crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces,” he said.

“It was just a great time to be in the city. There was just so much going on with Picklesburgh and the America’s Mile having a record number of participants. It was a really good vibe.”

Varsity prep runners ages 14 to 19 also had their chance to shine.

Quaker Valley rising junior Jonah Montagnese won the boys race in a time of 4:29, topping runner-up Micah Ivy, a recent Riverview graduate, by 10 seconds.

Montagnese finished third in the America’s Mile last year and enjoyed a standout sophomore track season with the Quakers that ended with a pair gold medals (1,600 run, 3,200 relay) at the PIAA Class 2A championships at Shippensburg University.

“It was definitely warm,” Montagnese said of Friday evening’s race conditions. “But at the end of the day, I was just trying to have fun. I just finished my (high school) season, so I am still working my way back up. With the temperature, my time was a little slower, but it was just a great overall experience.”

Caroline Shirley, a rising junior at Franklin Regional and a 2025 WPIAL medalist in the girls Class 3A 3,200 run, won the girls varsity prep race in a time of 5:26. She also was 18th in the overall group of 62 high school runners.

“It was a little warmer than I had hoped,” Shirley said. “I felt really good through about the halfway mark. Then I fell off a little bit. We’re in cross country training right now, so I am not at a top-end speed. But it was a good test to see where my speed is right now. I am pretty happy with that.”

The America’s Mile featured divisions for all abilities, from the inclusive MOVE mile — for those of all paces, abilities, and goals — to the Unstoppable mile, which was open to competitive runners ages 20-39 who can complete a mile in six minutes or less.

The Masters heat was for runners ages 40 and older who have recently run a mile in eight minutes or less.

The milers in the Masters and Unstoppable divisions also competed for a portion of the total prize purse.

Runners from more than 25 states and more than 20 running clubs took part in the festivities.

The second annual Hero’s Mile honored military, first responders, and healthcare workers with their own heat.

The Kids of Steel mile for the youngest runners, age 13 and younger, offered them and their guardian the opportunity to experience crossing the finish line together.

The flat point-to-point course started on River Avenue adjacent to the Veterans Bridge and ran towards Acrisure Stadium to the finish on West General Robinson Street.

“There were so many inspiring stories,” Schooley said. “A woman walked her entire mile on crutches with a fractured hip. For some kids, it was their first mile and also the first mile for their parents. It was great to see all ages out here tonight. Some were fast, and some not so fast. Some walked, but they were moving with us, and that is what is so great about this event.”