BY MIKE ECKERT
TRAVERSE CITY -- Actors and directors won't be the only stars hanging around northern Michigan next week for the annual Traverse City Film Festival.
In conjunction with the festival's inaugural 5K costume race, the Traverse City Track Club is hosting a "Golden Mile" next Saturday night with elite competition.
"We thought it would be a great atmosphere and something fun and different," race director Bryan Burns said. "It will be a chance for people to see top-notch, world class athletes."
Participants had to turn a qualifying time in the last nine months of 4 minutes, 15 seconds for men or 5:05 for women. There will be $5,200 in prize money for the top five finishers in each division, with winners taking home $1,000.
"As of Wednesday, we had seven women and about seven men," Burns said. "We are anticipating one or two more. With the time standard, it was basically by invite only."
The men's race has commits from former NCAA champ Rondell Ruff from the University of Michigan, All-American Sean Tully from Villanova, as well as Eastern Michigan alum Josh Karanja, who runs on the Canadian international team.
As for the women's race, Burns said the competition is "pretty stacked."
Geena Gall was a two-time NCAA champ in the 800 meters at the University of Michigan and will represent the U.S. in the upcoming World Championships in Berlin.
"She will probably leave for Europe a week after our race," Burns said.
Nicole Edwards was an All-American at Michigan as well, and has been competing in Europe with the Canadian international team.
Also in the fold is Breeda Willis, who ran on the 2000 Irish Olympic team.
While this is the first Golden Mile with at the Film Festival, it isn't new to Traverse City.
A similar event used to be held after the Cherry Festival's annual races, but was suspended a few years ago.
"That tended to draw pretty good fields," Burns said. "Some of us at the Track Club wanted to bring it back. We thought this would be a good opportunity with the Film Festival 5K, and they gave us their blessing."
The Golden Mile will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Front and Cass Streets, head east to Boardman, back on State Street to Union Street and finally finish on Front Street in front of the State Theatre.
The Film Festival 5K will begin shortly after at 8 p.m.
"It's a good opportunity for the community," Burns said. "And, we have a ton of kids from the area cross country teams helping out during the race, so they'll be able to be around the athletes."
