Men's Mile Field Deepens as Andrew Wheating Joins the Hunt For the 1st Annual Bill Welsh Cup!

In the beginning, it looked as though the Inaugural Bill Welsh Mile at the Ocean Breeze Gran Prix was shaping up into a New Jersey vs Long Island showdown, as Olympian Robby Andrews and Paralympic Gold Medalist Mikey Brannigan had thrown their hats into the ring. And while both athletes (along with  Sam Penzenstadler, Daniel Winn, Jeff Weinstein, Mac Fleet, Alfredo Santana, and Will Crocker to name a few)  are looking for top notch performances in their possible lead up to USATF Nationals, out from the West comes a a competitor with top notch credentials as well- Andrew Wheating.
 
Wheating's resume is truly impressive. A member of the 2008 (800 meters) and 2012 (1500 Meters) U.S. Olympic team, Wheating sports a personal best time of 3:30.90, which ranks him as the 4th fastest American All-Time. A 3-time NCAA winner out of the University of Oregon, Wheating in 2010 became the first Division I man to win both the 800 and 1500 in the same season since fellow Duck Joaquim Cruz in 1984. 
With the addition of Wheating, the local gunfight among some of the best milers has now become one with a world-class Western Flavor, added in as well.

2016 Olympian Robby Andrews and Paralympic Champion Mikey Brannigan Headline the Bill Welsh Mile!
 
A rocking Saturday night looks to be in full swing as it was announced that 1,500 meter Olympian Robby Andrews will be running against some of the top milers in the nation in the Inaugural Bill Welsh Mile at the Ocean Breeze Grand Prix. 
 
Andrews, ranked the # 2 miler in America last year by Track & Field News, qualified for his first Olympic team in the 1,500 meter run at last year's U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. The Manalapan, New Jersey resident is also no stranger to the indoor track, as he clocked a time of 3:53.16 in finishing 4th at last year's Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile. Andrews also almost medaled in last year's World Indoor Championship 1500 meters, finishing 4th and just fractions of a second out of the bronze medal spot.
 
The Adidas athlete, who is coached by Jason Vigilante, is also no stranger to Staten Island or Bill Welsh either. "My Family is from Staten Island and has strong ties here," said Andrews, who's also represented by Irish Miler Ray Flynn. "My Dad's coach in high school was Mr. Welsh, so it's really special for me and my family to come to Staten Island and race at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in an event named in Coach Welsh's honor."  Like his parents Andrews' Great-Uncle is also a Staten Island native, the late Bobby Thomson, the NY Giants Baseball Great who hit the famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951.
 
Andrews will not be the only family member competing as his sister Kristin, who competes for the Shore AC and "Gone Running" is also excited about racing at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex as well. Kristin's goal will be to attempt to qualify for Nationals, although she has not decided which event to run yet. "I've had some good training and I'm in my best shape ever," said Andrews, who sports a 2:10 800 meter time. "I love running at Ocean Breeze!"
 
Andrews will have his hands full in the "Welsh Mile" as competitors Mikey Brannigan and Sam Penzenstadler, who both have broken the 4-minute mile barrier, will also be competing in the race. Brannigan, a native of Long Island and former Northport High School standout is the current 1,500 meter Gold Medalist at last year's Paralympic Games, becoming the first Paralympic athlete to crack the 4-minute barrier, the New York Athletic Club athlete clocked a time of 3:57.58, shaving more than 5 seconds off his previous best at last Summer's Sir Walter Miler Meet. Penzenstadler, the former NCAA star out of Loyola sports a 3:57.29 indoor mile, which he ran in 2016."
Among the other currently announced competitors facing off against Andrews, Brannigan and Penzenstadler in the Welsh Mile include Jeff Weinstein, Alfredo Santana, and Will Crocker. 

The Ocean Breeze Grand Prix for the first time will bring some of the world's best track and field athletes to Staten Island, offering fans, athletes and spectators alike, the chance to get an up-close view of an elite track & field competition. Being held on February 18th, the Grand Prix will showcase world-class talent as well as some local fan favorites.
 
With a prize purse of over $30,000, the Ocean Breeze Grand Prix will feature elite events for both men and women including: 60m Dash, 60m Hurdles, 300m Dash, 600m Dash, 1000m Dash, 1 Mile Run, 4 X 800m Relay as well as the Pole Vault and High Jump to round out the field events. In addition to the elite events, the schedule will also include the historically charged CHSAA George T. Eastment Boys 4 X 800m Relay. George T. Eastment was an outstanding coach at Manhattan College and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. The annual relay has been held every year since 1945 an\ d each year the winner is awarded with the memorial rotating trophy, presented by the Manhattan College Alumni Spiked Shoe Club. This year's relay will include local hometown pre-meet favorite, St. Peter's High School. St. Peter's High School posted the fastest time in the country at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in early January, 2017. St. Peter's is attempting recapture the trophy and bring it back to Staten Island for the first time since they last won in 1998 at Madison Square Garden.
 
Staten Island youth athletes will also be competing for the title of "Fastest Boy" and "Fastest Girl" on Staten Island. Boys and girls, ages 8 and under, will be competing in the 55 meter dash. The results will determine who is the fastest on the Island. Come join us for what is going to be an exciting evening of races at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex!
 
As with all events, the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex is focused on community engagement and participation and will be offering low cost admission tickets for the Ocean Breeze Grand Prix.
Ocean Breeze Grand Prix tickets are currently available online to purchase.
 
*General Admission Tickets $10.00
*General Admission VIP $40.00
(VIP includes premium seating and additional viewing platforms, drinks, and appetizers)
*General Admission Super VIP $100
(Super VIP includes Premium seating and additional viewing platforms, drinks, and appetizers, as well as a meet and greet at the conclusion of the meet at the South Finn Bar and Grill.)
*General Admission is first come first serve seating in the grandstand.

For additional information including event schedule, awards, and hotels please visit the Ocean Breeze Grand Prix meet home page.
http://oceanbreezenyc.org/news/2017/1/21/track-field-ocean-breeze-grand-prix-information-now-available.aspx#

Please also contact Jeff Benjamin for more info- 1-917-692-8922

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