Despite last-minute venue change, beer mile sees world record

Despite a last-minute change of venue to a 5.5K Formula One track, Ohio geology professor Elizabeth Herndon still managed to take the women’s world record in the first ever beer mile world championship yesterday in Austin, Texas. Shortly after, Canadian postal worker Corey Gallagher won the men’s race over a field that included Olympic 800m finalist Nick Symmonds.

The race, hosted by Flotrack, was originally intended to be held at Yellow Jacket Stadium, but some concerns by locals forced organizers to move the event somewhere else. They picked the Circuit of the Americas racetrack’s homestretch, putting together a makeshift 400m running track in front of the grandstand. Organizers were notified Tuesday about the need for a venue change and athletes didn’t find out until nearly midnight, less than 24 hours before they were set to race.

Herndon finished in 6:17.76, the fastest ever time for a woman, based on records for the four-lap, four-beer race kept by Beermile.com. Gallagher’s time of 5:00.23 wasn’t fast enough to crack compatriot James Nielsen’s sub-5:00 time from earlier this year, but it was enough to snag him the US$2,500 prize purse for the top spot. Herndon takes home $5,000 — $2,500 for the win and another $2,500 for the record.

Another Canadian, Jim Finlayson, finished third in the men’s race, running 5:22.44.