Historic men's race and Millicent Fawcett Mile move from North-West England to Scotland and will be held at the Monument Mile Classic on Saturday

After a summer of uncertainty about its venue, the Emsley Carr Mile will now be held at the Monument Mile Classic in Stirling instead of the Manchester International on Saturday (Aug 30).

AW reported earlier this month that the historic race, plus its female equivalent – the Millicent Fawcett Mile, would be held as part of the Manchester International at SportCity. But with just four days to go the races have moved to the Monument Mile Classic in Scotland.

"We're proud to host it and grateful to be part of the history," Monument Mile organiser Michael Wright told AW.

However, Wright has a limited amount of time to prepare after only being invited to stage it on Tuesday (Aug 26). His team were also initially frustrated to hear via AW that the prestigious races were going to be staged in Manchester when their Monument Mile Classic was happening on the same day and already had World Athletics Challenger status.

The iconic race dates back to 1953 and features a list of winners that reads like a who’s who of middle distance running, including Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Hicham El Guerrouj, Peter Elliott, John Walker, Dave Moorcroft, Gordon Pirie, Derek Ibbotson, Jim Ryun, Kip Keino and Said Aouita.

In 2019 by World Athletics the race was awarded a Heritage plaque for its historical importance. Among other things, part of its appeal is that all winners must sign a large Emsley Carr Mile book moments after their victory.

At the start of this season the date and venue of the Emsley Carr Mile was not known. The Diamond League in London was ruled out when Spencer Barden, the meet director, told AW in April that London would definitely feature a men's 1500m, not mile. The British Milers’ Club told AW they did not have plans to host it either.

There was even an idea that it could be held at the same University of Birmingham meeting that staged the world 10,000m trials in June, although that did not come to fruition. However, UKA insisted it would go ahead toward the end of the season with the Manchester International on August 30 eventually chosen to stage it, much to the Monument Mile Classic's annoyance.

The mile races at the Manchester International did not draw many entries, though, which partly led to the Monument Mile Classic being invited at late notice to stage the Emsley Carr Mile and Millicent Fawcett Mile races instead.

The Emsley Carr Mile has often been staged at the Diamond League in London, Birmingham or Gateshead in recent years but it has been held in Scotland in the past with Meadowbank in Edinburgh staging it several times.

The Monument Mile Classic is now in its eighth year with last year's elite men's mile won by Cooper Teare of the United States in 3:53.09 as 15 runners broke the four-minute barrier.

In total there were also 380 athletes last year in 32 consecutive mile races.

This weekend's entries include Evan Jager and Waleed Suliman of the United States, Joel Lillesø of Denmark and Brits Andrew Butchart and Henry McLuckie.

Taryn Rawlings of the United States defends her women's title after winning last year in 4:27.91. She faces, among others, Sarah Calvert, Sarah Tait and Megan Keith plus Sarah Madeleine of France.

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Emsley Carr Mile winners

1953 Gordon Pirie (GBR) 4:06.80 White City
1954 Ken Wood (GBR) 4:04.80 White City
1955 Ken Wood (GBR) 4:05.40 White City
1956 Derek Ibbotson (GBR) 3:59.40 White City
1957 Ken Wood (GBR) 4:02.00 White City
1958 Murray Halberg (NZL) 4:06.50 White City
1959 Derek Ibbotson (GBR) 4:03.10 White City
1960 László Tábori (USA) 4:00.30 White City
1961 Ken Wood (GBR) 4:08.40 White City
1962 Jim Beatty (USA) 3:56.52 White City
1963 Bill Crothers (CAN) 4:06.50 White City
1964 Witold Baran (POL) 3:56.04 White City
1965 Alan Simpson (GBR) 4:04.11 White City
1966 Kip Keino (KEN) 3:53.42 White City
1967 Jim Ryun (USA) 3:56.02 White City
1968 John Whetton (GBR) 3:58.56 White City
1969 Francesco Arese (ITA) 3:57.80 Crystal Palace
1970 Ian Stewart (GBR) 3:57.40 Meadowbank
1971 Peter Stewart (GBR) 4:00.40 Meadowbank
1972 Peter Stewart (GBR) 3:55.30 Crystal Palace
1973 Frank Clement (GBR) 4:01.81 Crystal Palace
1974 Frank Clement (GBR) 3:57.44 Crystal Palace
1975 Filbert Bayi (TAN) 3:55.50 Crystal Palace
1976 David Moorcroft (GBR) 3:57.06 Crystal Palace

1977 Sebastian Coe (GBR) 3:57.67 Crystal Palace
1978 John Robson (GBR) 3:55.83 Crystal Palace
1979 Steve Ovett (GBR) 3:56.58 Gateshead Stadium
1980 Colin Reitz (GBR) 4:00.60 Meadowbank
1981 Geoff Smith (GBR) 3:55.80 Cwmbran
1982 David Moorcroft (GBR) 3:57.84 Crystal Palace
1983 Sebastian Coe (GBR) 4:03.37 Alexander Stadium
1984 Peter Elliott (GBR) 3:55.71 Gateshead
1985 Mark Rowland (GBR) 4:01.70 Swansea
1986 Neil Horsfield (GBR) 3:57.03 Swansea
1987 John Walker (NZL) 3:58.75 Gateshead
1988 Chris McGeorge (GBR) 4:07.07 Crystal Palace
1989 Saïd Aouita (MAR) 3:51.97 Gateshead
1990 Peter Elliott (GBR) 3:55.51 Gateshead
1991 Peter Elliott (GBR) 3:52.10 Sheffield
1992 Steve Crabb (GBR) 3:58.76 Sheffield
1993 Philemon Hanneck (ZIM) 3:57.06 Portsmouth
1994 Kevin McKay (GBR) 3:58.72 Gateshead
1995 Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) 3:49.80 Crystal Palace
1996 William Tanui (KEN) 3:54.57 Sheffield
1997 Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) 3:53.28 Sheffield
1998 Laban Rotich (KEN) 3:51.74 Sheffield
1999 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 3:52.39 Gateshead
2000 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:45.96 Crystal Palace
2001 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:49.41 Crystal Palace
2002 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:50.86 Crystal Palace
2003 Paul Korir (KEN) 3:48.17 Crystal Palace
2004 Paul Korir (KEN) 3:49.84 Crystal Palace
2005 Michael East (GBR) 3:52.50 Sheffield
2006 Gabe Jennings (USA) 4:10.02 Alexander Stadium
2007 Jon Rankin (USA) 3:54.24 Stretford
2008 Shedrack Kibet Korir (KEN) 3:54.68 Crystal Palace
2009 Bernard Lagat (USA) 3:52.71 Crystal Palace
2010 Augustine Choge (KEN) 3:50.14 Crystal Palace
2011 Leonel Manzano (USA) 3:51.21 Crystal Palace
2012 Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 3:52.44 Crystal Palace
2013 Augustine Choge (KEN) 3:50.01 London Stadium
2014 Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:51.89 Alexander Stadium
2015 Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:54.87 London Stadium
2016 Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 3:53.04 London Stadium
2017 Jake Wightman (GBR) 3:54.92 Alexander Stadium

2018 Stewart McSweyn (AUS) 3:54.60 Alexander Stadium
2019 Samuel Tefera (ETH) 3:49.45 London Stadium
2020 Cancelled due to Covid pandemic
2021 Elliot Giles (GBR) 3:52.49 Gateshead
2022 Matt Stonier (GBR) 3:54.89 Parliament Hill
2023 Adam Fogg (GBR) 3:55.70 (GBR) SportCity
2024 Olli Hoare (AUS) 3:49.03 (AUS) London Stadium

Millicent Fawcett Mile

2018 Sifan Hassan (NED) 4:14:71 London Stadium
2019 Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) 4:21:11 Birmingham
2021 Kate Grace (USA) 4:27:20 Gateshead
2022 Georgia Griffith (AUS) 4:27:81 Parliament Hill