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CHARLEVOIX — The Ryan Shay Mile has been a lifelong event for Sam Peterson.
More so than the average spectator that’s gown up watching the race along Charlevoix’s Bridge Street, the race has been engraved into Peterson’s life.
Peterson’s father, Matthew, co-founded the race back in 2008, putting Sam up close with the nation’s best from a young age.
He grew up working and attending every race while developing into one of the state’s best runners and eventually an Eastern Michigan University All-Mid American Conference runner.
A journalism major at EMU, Peterson has even covered and written about the Shay Mile.
Shay Mile Winners: First-time winners take 18th Ryan Shay Mile in men's, women's races
But, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Peterson brought the whole family full circle when he competed in the 18th edition of the Ryan Shay Mile men’s race.
“It was great,” Peterson said. “I first learned about this race when I was about five years old at the kitchen table. My dad had the idea, so I’m excited to finally give it a go.”
The two had always talked of Sam one day competing in it and how special it would be.
Finally, when Sam met all the qualifying criteria, he had his chance.
“We talked about it for a few years, since I was pretty much about a senior in high school and kind of wait until I was ready,” Sam said. “I felt ready and I don’t have cross country eligibility this year.”
High School Girls Race: Watch Rochester Adams' El McMahan win the girls high school Shay Mile
High School Boys Race: Watch Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton win the high school boys Shay Mile
For Matt, who still serves as the Shay Mile race director, there’s just one word that came to mind watching his son compete on Saturday: special.
“It was a lot of things,” Matt said. “It was pretty special. He’s grown up helping us pack bags for the 5k and 10k runners and now he runs collegiately and earned a spot into the field. It was special.”
Men's Shay Winner: Jack Anstey speaks on winning the men's race of the Ryan Shay Mile
Women's Shay Winner: Samantha Hastie wins women's Ryan Shay Mile, talks first time
Matt had a lot of responsibilities Saturday, running from one spot to the next and coordinating with everyone. But, it wasn’t busy enough to really take in the moment Sam began preparing for the race.
“I got a little emotional watching him warm up,” he added. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is great and it’s special.’ I’m proud of him.”
Over the years, Sam has of course run into some pretty great competition at Eastern Michigan, competing in both cross country and track and field for the Eagles.
Road mile competition and the level that the Ryan Shay Mile brings to the field taught Sam a little, particularly at the start.
“I’ve definitely never been in a field like this,” he said. “In college, a lot of the time, they get off the line and it’s real tactical. We got out for 63, 64 seconds for the 400 and here you go out in 58 and you’re in the second half of the field.
“It defiantly was a learning experience and I haven’t really touched that in a while, so it was a nice shock to the system.”
Australian professional Jack Anstey set a new men’s race record in 3 minutes, 50.2 seconds for the win, then Peterson placed 16th in the 17-runner field in 4:04.0, still a remarkably impressive time.
More important than the time and place, the day came with Peterson feeling a warm welcome from the hometown crowd along Bridge Street.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “I heard a lot of, ’Go Sam!’ Even at the introduction I heard everyone yelling my name. Definitely when it got harder with about 500 left I heard a lot of, ‘Let’s go, Sam!’ and ‘Hold it together, Sam.’ That was nice.”
From working it as a family, to writing about the race in recent years and eventually running it Saturday, Sam Peterson’s experience with the Ryan Shay Mile fulfilled a lifelong dream and brought an experience none have had before.
“It was always a goal of mine, but you just never know,” Sam added. “I’m just really excited and I hope to do it a few more years."
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix's Sam Peterson has Ryan Shay Mile experience unlike any other
Continue reading...
More so than the average spectator that’s gown up watching the race along Charlevoix’s Bridge Street, the race has been engraved into Peterson’s life.
Peterson’s father, Matthew, co-founded the race back in 2008, putting Sam up close with the nation’s best from a young age.
He grew up working and attending every race while developing into one of the state’s best runners and eventually an Eastern Michigan University All-Mid American Conference runner.
A journalism major at EMU, Peterson has even covered and written about the Shay Mile.
Shay Mile Winners: First-time winners take 18th Ryan Shay Mile in men's, women's races
But, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Peterson brought the whole family full circle when he competed in the 18th edition of the Ryan Shay Mile men’s race.
“It was great,” Peterson said. “I first learned about this race when I was about five years old at the kitchen table. My dad had the idea, so I’m excited to finally give it a go.”
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The two had always talked of Sam one day competing in it and how special it would be.
Finally, when Sam met all the qualifying criteria, he had his chance.
“We talked about it for a few years, since I was pretty much about a senior in high school and kind of wait until I was ready,” Sam said. “I felt ready and I don’t have cross country eligibility this year.”
High School Girls Race: Watch Rochester Adams' El McMahan win the girls high school Shay Mile
High School Boys Race: Watch Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton win the high school boys Shay Mile
For Matt, who still serves as the Shay Mile race director, there’s just one word that came to mind watching his son compete on Saturday: special.
“It was a lot of things,” Matt said. “It was pretty special. He’s grown up helping us pack bags for the 5k and 10k runners and now he runs collegiately and earned a spot into the field. It was special.”
Men's Shay Winner: Jack Anstey speaks on winning the men's race of the Ryan Shay Mile
Women's Shay Winner: Samantha Hastie wins women's Ryan Shay Mile, talks first time
Matt had a lot of responsibilities Saturday, running from one spot to the next and coordinating with everyone. But, it wasn’t busy enough to really take in the moment Sam began preparing for the race.
“I got a little emotional watching him warm up,” he added. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is great and it’s special.’ I’m proud of him.”
Over the years, Sam has of course run into some pretty great competition at Eastern Michigan, competing in both cross country and track and field for the Eagles.
Road mile competition and the level that the Ryan Shay Mile brings to the field taught Sam a little, particularly at the start.
“I’ve definitely never been in a field like this,” he said. “In college, a lot of the time, they get off the line and it’s real tactical. We got out for 63, 64 seconds for the 400 and here you go out in 58 and you’re in the second half of the field.
“It defiantly was a learning experience and I haven’t really touched that in a while, so it was a nice shock to the system.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Australian professional Jack Anstey set a new men’s race record in 3 minutes, 50.2 seconds for the win, then Peterson placed 16th in the 17-runner field in 4:04.0, still a remarkably impressive time.
More important than the time and place, the day came with Peterson feeling a warm welcome from the hometown crowd along Bridge Street.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “I heard a lot of, ’Go Sam!’ Even at the introduction I heard everyone yelling my name. Definitely when it got harder with about 500 left I heard a lot of, ‘Let’s go, Sam!’ and ‘Hold it together, Sam.’ That was nice.”
From working it as a family, to writing about the race in recent years and eventually running it Saturday, Sam Peterson’s experience with the Ryan Shay Mile fulfilled a lifelong dream and brought an experience none have had before.
“It was always a goal of mine, but you just never know,” Sam added. “I’m just really excited and I hope to do it a few more years."
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix's Sam Peterson has Ryan Shay Mile experience unlike any other
Continue reading...
