“Runner’s World” calls the event “one of America’s most iconic races,” and elite runners showed exactly why on Friday night.
More than 1,100 runners took to the one-mile course of the Fleet Feet Liberty Mile, as spectators lined the course that weaved through the streets of the Cultural District in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Children, parents, families, and even dogs took on the course throughout the night before some of the top professional athletes from across the country finished off the event with two high-paced and exciting races. The mixture of ages and type of runners is what P3R CEO Troy Schooley says makes the race so special.
“I mean it’s Downtown Pittsburgh as it hits dusk, and its a gorgeous night, and if you look at the atmosphere, it’s special,” Schooley said. “But what’s iconic to me is you have racers from ages 3-77. So it really shows that it’s a race for all ages and all abilities, and I think that’s what makes it iconic.”
Runners continue to come through the finish line. Quite the crowd down here cheering on all the runners. pic.twitter.com/ova1ljP5rn
— Greg Macafee (@greg_macafee) August 9, 2019
As the sun slowly went down, the professional runners took to the course for a chance at the $5,000 first-place prize. Emily Lipari won the women’s race, securing her second Liberty Mile title in 4 minutes, 34 seconds. Lipari won the title in 2017 with a time of 4:35. She said she was excited to take home the title again in a city that holds a special place in her heart.
“I was really excited to come back to Pittsburgh because I have a lot of friends here, and their families are here,” Lipari said. “It was just special to come back to a city that is so welcoming.”
Emily Lipari captures the Pro Women’s race for a second time. She won in 2017 with a 4:35 clocking pic.twitter.com/qACwJizPg5
— Greg Macafee (@greg_macafee) August 9, 2019
On the men’s side, Robert Domanic, a Reebok Boston Track Club runner, captured the Fleet Feet Liberty Mile title for the second straight year with a time of 4:08. He won the 2018 race in 4:01.
He was able to hold off runner-up Daniel Herrera by just under a second.
The 2018 Liberty Mile was Domanic’s first race as a professional runner. So, coming back to the Steel City to capture the race for a second straight year had a special feeling for the Texas native.
Robert Domanic captures the award for a 2nd straight year. pic.twitter.com/ZtVm9c3ZvU
— Greg Macafee (@greg_macafee) August 10, 2019
“It feels great, this race is always going to have a special place in my heart because I did win my first professional race here,” Domanic said. “Pittsburgh just treats me great every time I come, and I love it.”
While “Runner’s World” rates the Liberty Mile as one of the best races in America, the racers believe that too. Even though the Steelers were playing on the North Shore as they hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their first preseason game, spectators still found their way out to the race in bunches.
“In Pittsburgh, the streets are always lined, even when there’s a Steelers game going on,” Lipari said. “I know how Pittsburgh feels about their Steelers, so just to see that, it’s really nice.”
