can cover the classic 5,280-foot distance! The 45th annual John Wall Memorial One Mile Track Run, the fourth event in our 2026 Annapolis Striders Championship Series, takes place on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, starting with a youth heat at 8:00 AM and continuing with mixed heats based on estimated finish time, with the fastest folks running in the final heat. Runners of all ages & abilities are welcome to participate!
The Wall Mile is named in honor of John Edward Wall, an accomplished track athlete, Navy veteran, and Striders member whose grandson Dave was a longtime race director of this event. John Wall passed away in 1987 at age 74, and this event was renamed for him in 1988.
Registration & Packet Pick-Up
Online registration is available through Wednesday, June 24th, 2026. Race day registration & packet pick-up will take place from 6:45 to 7:45 AM at the Severna Park High School track. (Checks payable to “Annapolis Striders, Inc.”)
Entry Fees
Annapolis Striders members: $10 online by June 24th, $25 race day
Non-members: $15 online by June 24th, $25 race day
(Note: If you signed up for the full 2026 Annapolis Striders Championship Series or the Annapolis Striders Shorter Races Bundle at the beginning of the year, you are already registered for the Wall Mile and do NOT need to register again. If you've forgotten whether or not you signed up for one of these, you can check the list of 2026 Champ Series registrants or the list of 2026 Shorter Bundle registrants, or look at your race registrations in your RunSignup profile.)
Refund & Cancellation Policy
There are no refunds or transfers for this race. In the event of extreme temperature/humidity, severe weather, or other potentially unsafe conditions, the event may be cancelled at the discretion of the Annapolis Striders and/or Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Course
Four laps of the 400 meter Severna Park High School track plus an additional 9.344 meters (30 feet 7.874 inches). (One mile is exactly 1,609.344 meters.)
Heats
The event will begin with a heat for youth runners aged 10 or younger starting at 8:00 AM. Subsequent heats for adults & kids over 10 will be conducted based on estimated finish time, from slower to faster. A time range will be announced prior to each heat, and runners whose estimated finish times fall within that range should gather at the start. The time range may be adjusted if it appears the heat will have too many or too few participants.
Upon the conclusion of each heat, the next heat will be announced and will begin as soon as possible, so please be present near the start line and ready to run when your time range is called!
It is perfectly fine if you wind up finishing faster or slower than your heat’s announced finish time range! That said, please try to run in a heat appropriate to your speed so that we can minimize lapping & passing. (In other words, if you are a 6:00 miler, please don’t run in the 10:00+ heat!)
As our participation numbers vary from year to year, we cannot provide a definitive schedule of heats ahead of time. For reference, our 2023 event included seven heats in total with an average of around 20 participants in each heat, and the final heat started at 9:23 AM. Some years have seen the final heat begin as late as 10:00 AM.
Timing
This event is chip-timed by Maryland Timing. Please pick up your timing chip prior to the event and be sure to attach it to the top of your shoe (parallel to the ground) prior to your heat. After your heat, don’t forget to remove the chip and return it. Preliminary & final results will be published here on RunSignup and on the Maryland Timing web site. Please contact [email protected] with any timing issues.
Race Rules
No headphones/earbuds/speakers, baby joggers/strollers, other wheeled conveyances, or animals will be allowed during the event. Please stay aware of your fellow participants, pass on the right (outside), and avoid sudden stops or lateral movement.
Awards
Following the final heat, awards will be handed out for first place male & female overall, first place male & female Masters (40 & over), and top two males & females in mostly five-year age groups. (10 & under, 11-14, five year groups from 15-19 up to 75-79, and 80+.) No duplication of awards (i.e. overall & Masters do not also get age group awards). Award categories may be adjusted based on participation.
Volunteer
If you’d like to help out on race morning, please contact [email protected]. Volunteers are able to both volunteer and participate in this race!