2017 DMSE SPORTS CLASSIC TO HOST ANNUAL CELEBRITY MILE AS PART OF HALF MARATHON, 10K, 5K, EVENTS

NORTH ANDOVER PATCH

DMSE Sports stages its second “ Celebrity Mile” on July 22 as part of the DMSE Classic events held at Merrimack College

The inspirational story of Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and his continued support by the Greater Boston running community will be on display when DMSE Sports stages its second “Celebrity Mile” on July 22, 2017, as part of the DMSE Classic events. The weekend event, held at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA, will include the half marathon, 10K, and 5K races or, for some, the “Hat Trick” of running all three. Runners can visit www.dmseclassic.com to register for any of the races.

Bauman will be joined by fellow Boston Marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet, who will help bring an inspirational message to the community, which bonds together around the sport of running, along with Bill Richard, father of Martin Richard and head of MR8, the charitable foundation he created to honor his son. The group will be supported by Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans; B.A.A. CEO Tom Grilk; and a host of other celebrities from the media, sports, running, and business communities.

The DMSE Sports Classic will once again be staged by Boston Marathon race director, Dave McGillivray. Last summer, McGillivray brought back the “Celebrity Mile” after a 32-year absence from running events in the Greater Boston area. This year’s edition promises to continue the new tradition with a turnout of many friends and acquaintances of McGillivray from his years of staging (and running) hundreds of events in the Boston region. A complete list of the celebrities scheduled to participate is included at the bottom. The celebrity race is scheduled for July 22 at 11 a.m.

Participants will be able to mingle with the celebrities, including Bart Yasso, the chief running officer at Runner’s World magazine; Max Lane, former New England Patriots offensive lineman; Karen Smyers, Ironman Triathlon world champion; Becca Pizzi, World Marathon Challenge champion; and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams.

The “Celebrity Mile” field will also feature 1968 Boston Marathon winner, Amby Burfoot, who will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his feat next April, and he will be joined by Jack Fultz, the Boston Marathon champ of 1976.

Dick Hoyt, the father behind the inspirational Team Hoyt, will also take part in the 2017 DMSE Sports Classic “Celebrity Mile” activities. Merrimack College will be represented by Merrimack Athletic Director Jeremy Gibson, and head women’s ice hockey coach Erin Hamlen and head men’s hockey coach, Mark Dennehy.

“The ‘Celebrity Mile’ was certainly the highlight of the 2016 Classic and this year’s edition will see even more local celebrities”, stated McGillivray. “It is so generous of all of this people to come out and share their time with all of us. I couldn’t be more grateful. The Classic is shaping up to once again be a stellar weekend of events.”

The weekend-long DMSE Sports Classic is open to runners of all levels with entries possible in each or all of the various running events, including the half marathon, 10K, and 5K races, or a runner can earn the “Hat Trick” medal with completion of all three. Other runners choose to do the “Five and Dime” and can earn a medal for running the 5K and 10K races. There are also kids’ fun runs on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

CELEBRITY MILE ENTRANTS

  • Billy Evans Boston Police Commissioner

  • Adrianne Haslet Boston Marathon Survivor

  • Tom Grilk B.A.A. Executive Director

  • Steve Cooper Ch. 7 News Reporter

  • Max Lane Former New England Patriots Offensive Lineman

  • Eric Fisher Ch. 4 Chief Meteorologist

  • Lisa Hughes Ch. 4 News Anchor

  • John Young Elite Little Person Paratriathlete/Marathoner

  • Dan Koh Boston Mayor’s Office – Chief of Staff

  • Bart Yasso Runner’s World Chief Running Officer

  • Jeremy Gibson Merrimack College Athletic Director

  • Bill Burt Lawrence Eagle Tribune Sports Reporter

  • David Brown Former Meteorologist Ch. 5 – Chief Advancement Officer Massachusetts Association for the Blind

  • Jeff Bauman Boston Marathon Survivor

  • Dick Hoyt Father of Team Hoyt

  • Karen Smyers Ironman Triathlon World Champion

  • Becca Pizzi World Marathon Challenge Champion

  • Steve Buckley Boston Herald Sports Columnist

  • Dan Clark Massachusetts State Trooper - The Singing Trooper

  • Bill Richard Martin Richard Charitable Foundation

  • Hank Morse WROR – Radio Personality – Loren and Wally Show

  • Jamie Staton Ch. 9 Sports Anchor/Director (Manchester NH)

  • Erin Hamlen Merrimack Head Coach Women’s Hockey

  • Bill Pennington Founder, Feaster Five and Run for the Troops Road Race

  • Jack Fultz Boston Marathon Winner, 1976

  • Scott & Jack Middlemiss Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation

  • Sunita Williams American Astronaut

  • Coach Bill Squires Coach to Greater Boston Track Club and numerous Olympians

  • Jim Boland Owner – Fuddruckers Restaurants

  • Mark Dennehy Merrimack College Men’s Hockey Coach

  • Shira Springer WBUR/NPR Reporter

  • Bob Sweeney Executive Director Boston Bruins Foundation

  • Alice Cook Olympic Figure Skater, Ch. 4 Sports Reporter, ESPN

  • Charlie Helfrich New Hampshire Special Olympics Silver Medalist

  • Amby Burfoot Runner’s World Writer at Large & 1968 Boston Marathon Winner

  • Erin O’Malley Mix 104.1 Morning Host

  • Sue Brady Mix 104.1 Host

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