This Saturday in New York City, an elite mile on famed 5th Avenue will showcase a variety of the best mid-distance talent in the world. After a long summer on the track, this battle from the Met to Grand Army Plaza will tie a bow on each competitor’s season as they head home for a few weeks off, followed by months of fall training. 

With the Fifth Avenue Mile being the unofficial end to 2014, it only seems appropriate to hand out some awards. The Diamond League gave out their awards this month, and it seems fitting that the mile champion in New York on Saturday receive some recognition. While award season in Hollywood isn’t until February, we’re declaring September as pro running award season, and 5th Avenue as the site for all the glitz and glamour in our sport. The one mile stretch in Manhattan used for the race this weekend will be the impromptu red carpet, and the athletes, of course, will be the nominees. 

Sticking with the Hollywood theme, we’re going to break down the 5th avenue favorites into Oscar categories, just to give you a better idea of who will be thanking the Academy (NYRR), and who will be awkwardly clapping in the background. 

Nominees for Best Supporting Actor

These are the athletes that are not favored to win on Saturday, but will be solid and can enter the offseason on a high note. Their nomination simply indicates that we think these individuals will run well, but they won’t necessarily be fighting for the win. 

Kyle Merber: 2014 has been kind to the self proclaimed ‘0 x All-American’. After Merber set a new PR of 3:54.76 at the Morton Games in July, he was rewarded with a shoe contract from Hoka One One. His new status as an official pro athlete, as well as being injury-free have given the former Columbia and Texas runner a new level of confidence. 

This weekend in Manhattan, Merber will once again be overlooked by the masses, but not by us. After his victory over David Torrence and Garrett Heath at the Falmouth Mile last month, Merber seems to be recapturing the form that saw him run a 3:35 1500m in 2012. 

Garrett Heath: Heath has quietly had a very good season. A 3:53.61 at the Michigan Track Classic was 2nd only to Nick Willis, and most recently Heath was 3rd at the Newcastle City Games, finishing just behind Asbel Kiprop in 4:02 on the roads. Heath took some pretty good scalps in that race as well, beating Bernard Lagat and Augustine Choge. 

With two solid road miles under his belt this season, Heath should do well at 5th Avenue. Although we’re not picking him to win, his recent performances suggest that he has sleeper potential. 

Nominees for Best Actor

These are the favorites, the two men who we think have the best shot to break the tape on Saturday. These two men earned this nomination by not only being outstanding milers, but also because they have proven versatility. Both have very impressive resumes on the roads. 

Matthew Centrowitz: This one is easy. Centro is consistently the best American miler each year, and his 2012 5th Avenue title proves that he knows how to win this race. 

To an outsider, Centrowitz has had a good season, running a new PR of 3:31.09 in Monaco, but the man himself was not too pleased with that performance. Citing his fitness, Centro wanted a lot more from that meet, especially since Leo blasted a 3:30.98 in that same race. 

Centro will put himself in position to win better than anyone else on Saturday. This race will be about speed, but it also requires a good sense of tactics. Centro has both.

Jordan McNamara: J-Mac earns a nominee because of his victory over Leo Manzano at the Liberty Live Well Mile on August 1st. Although McNamara’s time of 4:03 was not overly impressive, the fact that he beat Leo just two weeks after he ran 3:30 in Monaco shows that his finishing speed is on point. 

McNamara has long struggled with injury, but when healthy he has proven to have world class ability. If he is to win on Saturday, J-Mac must show confidence in the front group, and be able to use that speed when it matters. McNamara has occasionally gone missing in certain races, most recently the Falmouth Mile, and he cannot afford to get lazy with his tactics on Saturday. 

So, who wins the Oscar, er, the race on Saturday? The overwhelming favorite is Centro, and we simply cannot pick against him. He always runs well at the end of the season, and coming off a light August racing schedule, Centrowitz should be fresh and ready to go. He wins in 3:53, but Garrett Heath surprises in 2nd, and becomes the best supporting actor.  

The entire 5th Avenue Field:

Augustine Choge, KEN

Matthew Centrowitz, USA

Will Leer, USA

David Torrence, USA

Ciaran O'Lionaird, IRE

Jordan McNamara, USA

Ben Blankenship, USA

Lawi Lalang, KEN

Garrett Heath, USA

Lee Emanuel, GBR

Kyle Merber, USA

Paul Robinson, IRE

Ryan Hill, USA

Dan Huling, USA

German Fernandez, USA

Michael Rutt, USA

Mac Fleet, USA