Nearly Naked Mile draws 3-year-high number of attendants

In a record-setting crowd of nearly 2,300 runners, junior David Burton made a simple fashion statement in Dunn Meadow. He wore only tight black short-shorts, socks and sneakers, and an American flag draped around his neck, superhero style.

With about 2,140 registered runners and another 150 estimated tag-alongs, the Nearly Naked Mile drew the biggest crowd of its three-year history, said Mollie George, vice president of philanthropy for the Student Alumni Association.

The Homecoming Week streak, organized by the Alumni and Student Alumni associations, required participants to donate clothing or $10 to United Way of Monroe County and run a course through campus in their skivvies.

Burton chose to accessorize with stars and stripes, because he is a member of the United States Air Force.

“The shorts are for comfort,” he said before the race. “The socks are a necessity, and the flag is for this country.”

At seven minutes to 10 p.m., Burton walked with other racers to the start line. Legs stretched out of duct tape bikinis and lined up next to tutus and man-thongs, the nearly-naked spanned the entire block between Sixth and Seventh Street on Indiana Avenue.

Someone started the chant, “Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers!” and after a few rounds, it turned into “U-S-A, U-S-A!”

When the crowd opened up to run, Burton and his friends stuck with it around the corner of Indiana and Seventh and headed to Showalter Fountain. Burton jumped in, then realized he might soil his flag in the icy water.

“I was soaking, but I tried to hold my flag up,” he said. “I had to make sure it didn’t hit the ground.”

Burton bounded out of the water and ran the route behind the Indiana Memorial Union and through the Sample Gates to the finish.

Although he wasn’t the first across the tape (that honor went to sophomore Michael Nussa), Burton said he ran the race for his country and its military.

Every participant received a yellow armband, the entrance ticket to after parties at either Kilroy’s or BuffaLouie’s, where runners could choose from free breadsticks or French fries. The top five finishers received free entry to Wednesday’s cornhole tournament in Dunn Meadow.

Brad Baughman, SAA’s director of philanthropy, said the racers blew away the attendance goal of 1,000. He said that students have started to think of the race as a tradition.

The SAA, he said, advertised the event on Facebook, sold T-shirts and spread the event by word of mouth. An online form simplified sign-ups, and the near-60 degree fall night set a comfortable race scene.

Burton donated T-shirts and sweatpants. He kept his flag.