The addition of two exciting international milers Steve Sherer of the United States and Amos Munyua of Kenya guarantees a competitive race on the crushed brick track at Galt Collegiate Institute, June 14th.

Sherer had a huge breakthrough in his career this past February with a spectacular 3:56.00 mile indoors at the University of Washington facility. The graduate of Michigan State University has a major upset in mind.

Munyua, 26, is a native of Eldoret, Kenya and has been living in Toronto for the past seven months. Four years ago he ran a personal best 1,500m time of 3:34 in South Africa.

The favourite remains Shedrack Korir, who won the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile in a meet record 3:56.05 then went on to win the 1,500m bronze medal in the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. He has a personal best mile time of 3:52.78

The featured men's mile start is the climax of a day of mile races which begin at 3:30 p.m. with the under 8 age group races.

Also on tap is the TnFNorth High School Invitational Race with many of the nation's best middle distance runners already confirmed.

These include Barry Britt (New Brunswick), Karl Robertson (Alberta) as well as Rob Jackson (Guelph, Ontario), Kyle Milks (Brockville), and Darcy Wilson (Stratford, Ontario). Local high schoolers include Galt C.I.'S own Lauren Docherty and Justine Horne of Southwood.

In addition 50 of the region's top junior high runners will be competing in the Kiwanis Cup races at the Classic Mile. These races will showcase children in grades 6, 7, and 8 who have earned a spot to compete by demonstrating excellence at their individual school races.

The event was held in Cambridge, Ontario on the crushed brick track at Galt Collegiate Institute Ontario's oldest high school - a throwback to the days when Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to beat the four minute barrier.

The 2006 Kenyan national 1,500m champion followed the early pace making of his elder brother, Laban Rotich, until exploding on the final lap to ensure victory. Rotich the two time winner of this event eventually finished 3rd in a time of 4:06.81 with another native of the East African track power, Boaz Cheboiywo, claiming second place.

Cheboiywo's time was 4:03.02.

The elite women's race was also a crowd pleaser as Toronto's Megan Brown chased seasoned international Megan Metcalfe for most of the race before catching her at the finish line. It took a photo finish to determine the winner with just one one hundredth of a second separating the pair. Brown's winning time was 4:39.11.

Lemlem Bereket, who competed at the 2003 IAAF World Youth Championships for Eritrea, and then asked for asylum, finished 3rd in 4:56.84.

The winners completed the event's traditional lap of honour accompanied by hundreds of well-wishers who were most impressed by the world class runners in their midst. Moments afterwards Korir drove off in his new prize. Up next for Korir are the IAAF Golden League events in Paris and Rome.

The field for the elite women's race at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile is shaping up to be one of the most competitive on Canadian soil.

Two time Canadian 5,000m champion Megan Metcalfe of Edmonton has confirmed she will tackle the race in her buildup to the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. With a best 1,500m time of 4:11.06 she is has her eye on beating the 4:30 time and so claiming a brand new Mercedes Benz car.

Metcalfe has begun her 2007 season with some fine performances including a personal best 5,000m time of 15:15.73. On form she is expecting to represent Canada at this summer's IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Lemlem Bereket who finished 3rd in last year's Canadian Senior Championshps 800m final - a result that wasn't entered into the record books as she is still a citizen of Eritrea - will challenge Metcalfe. She is the fastest of the entrants over 800m with a personal best of 2:04.37. The 19 year old has also been focusing on beating the 4:30 standard in Cambridge.

Bereket represented her native country at the 2003 IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec finishing 4th in the 1,500m final. Once the event was over she asked for refugee status. Since then she has been living in Montreal, completing her high school studies in English and French, and preparing to become a Canadian citizen.

This year she switched coaches and is putting more emphasis on her distance training which should translate into a fine performance over the full mile distance.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile is scheduled for Saturday June 16th, 2007 on the crushed brick track at Galt Collegiate Institute, Cambridge.

The men's field for the elite section of the Classic Mile continues to expand with the edition of Shedrack Korir (Ken). Korir opened his 2007 outdoor season on May 11th in Doha with an outstanding 3:32 1500m performance. The younger brother of Kenyan legend miler Laban Rotich, Korir is coming off of an outstanding indoor season. Also confirmed for the event are Canadian's Matt Kerr and Dylan Wykes, both solid four minute milers. Boaz Cheboiywo (Ken), a 3:35 1500m runner based in Eastern Michigan will also toe the line in Cambridge on June 16th.

Masters' Legendary runner and world age group record holder Ed Whitlock will race at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile for his third time. In the attached photo from the 2004 Classic Mile, (photo credit to George Aitkin) Ed can be seen wearing his 1950's racing singlet and shorts. Ed's "old school" mile record here in Cambridge is 5:56!

Flotrack comes to Cambridge for the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile - If you want the latest and greatest event footage, interviews, and innovative coverage from track and field, please checkout www.flotrack.com.

Hometown hero and 2006 Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Nate Brannen (Can) will once again lace up the shoes and challenge the 2005 and 2006 Classic Mile champion Laban Rotich (Ken). In 2006 in cold and windy conditions, these runners finished in a dead heat with Rotich narrowly defeating Brannen in a photo finish.

Classic Mile race director John Carson recently caught up with Brannen for a brief discussion on the Classic Mile event:

JC: What type of emotion did you feel last year racing in front of a home town crowd?

NB: The atmosphere last year was amazing. I had about 50 of my family and friends there watcing me plus the rest of Cambridge chearing me on, you can't get much better than that.

JC: Please comment on the clay track and the historic setting at Galt Collegiate.

NB: This was my first time racing on a clay track and you can definitely feel the difference compared to rubberized or mondo tracks but at the same time it was a great experience and something a little different than the usual which made the race very exciting. Not only is the race on a clay track, bringing this old school but it is at one of the oldest high schools in Ontario, making the venue that much more special. Not to mention the track is only about 4 miles from my house.

JC: A large part of the Classic Mile is showcasing world class racing here in Canada. Do you have any words for the up and coming high school athletes that will be racing in the High School Invitational races. Who was your role model when you were in high school?

NB: My only words of advice for the high schoolers would be to enjoy the atmosphere and the race and take as much of it in as possible. Not often do you get to race on a cinder track, in a small town where everyone is there for one reason, to watch the mile. I had a couple role models while growing up but someone I definitely looked up to was Kevin Sullivan. I only knew of the name and his accomplishments and it wasn't until I came to Michigan that I really got a chance to meet him.

JC: An on going tradition at the Classic Mile has always been to play live music while the runners race. The tunes have included Keep on Runn'in, Soul Man, Signed Seal Delivered, and Have a Little Faith. What music would like to request for this year's elite men's mile?

NB: While racing or even training I love listening to any classic rock. It really gets me pumped up and who doesn't like a little Rolling Stones, AC/DC, or Guns and Roses playing in the background while doing a really hard workout. If that doesn't get you pumped up and motivated I don't know what would.

JC: Do you think you have a shot at winning one of North America's largest track prizes this year - a 2007 Mercedes-Benz?

NB: I definitely think I have a good shot at breaking 4 minutes for the mile there but there are a lot of good guys and it's the winner that takes home the top prize. I'm not coming back to race in front of my home crowd and not go after the grand prize.

JC: Thanks Nate and good luck with your 2007 season.

In June 2004, the first Classic Mile was staged as a tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Roger Bannister's first ever four minute mile. The race was took place at Galt Collegiate Institute, on a newly resurfaced clay track, installed to produce the type of surface Bannister raced on in the 1950's. The event attracted generations of participants, including some world class athletes and Olympians of today, tomorrow, and of yesterday.

The highlight of the 2005 Cambridge Classic Mile was an incredible run by Kenya's Laban Rotich, who, to the delight of the nearly 700 people on hand, broke the tape at 3:58.9, receiving a prize of new car for his efforts. In 2006 the event continued its phenomenal growth nearly tripling its exposure.

The Classic Mile is not only for the elite racers however. Age group races from school children to masters precede the elites and the family-friendly, festival atmosphere makes it a great spectator event.

2007 is poised to be the best event to date. Along with the return of the ages group races, the Brooks High School Invitational, the Corporate Mile, and many of the top international elite runners will be two new events. A mass team fitness challenge will take place on the track featuring groups of ten or more individuals taking a one mile endurance test as well as a 5km road race along the historic Grand River and through the streets on downtown Cambridge have also been scheduled.

Race creator, John Carson, will be returning in is role as race director and Classic Mile productions is pleased to introduce Andy Hourahine as the 2007 event manager.

The Classic Mile is a fantastic event that attempts to return middle distance racing to the forefront of sports in a way that excites, engages, and inspires anyone who watches. This June, Classic Mile Productions invites you to Cambridge to pursue excellence and share history.

Up for grabs is a 2007 Mercedes-Benz B200 to the elite runner who can break the 4:00 mile (4:30 for female elite). This car represents the largest middle distance running prize in Canadian history. The Mercedes-Benz will be on display at various running venues across the province and the keys handed over at the event.

Last year, the vehicle went unclaimed as cold temperatures slowed the runners and the fastest time was 4:09. However, many elites have adjusted their strategy and have vowed to take home the car.

Mark your calendars! The Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile, Canada's premier middle distance running event on June 16th 2007, is an event not to be missed.