Bernard Lagat celebrates with fans at the 2013 NYRR Millrose Games. Photo/Ross Dettman
The 107th NYRR Millrose Games will be held on Saturday at The New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. Here's a list of six highlights to watch out for, as numerous records could be set!
- The sprints are sure to be exciting. Marvin Bracy is coming off of a stellar 60 meter win in Boston (6.53 seconds), while Olympic gold medalist and decathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton takes to the 60m Hurdles. Shalonda Solomon and Jeneba Tarmoh lead the Women's 60m field; in the women's 60m Hurdles, Nia Ali and Jessica Zelinka have run 8.02 this year.
- Speaking of sprints, the Men's World Record for 300m could be broken. Wallace Spearmon currently holds the record at 31.88 seconds, and has already timed 20.68 for 200m this season (that's the fastest in the world). But beware of Olympic bronze medalists Lalonde Gordon and Jarrin Solomon. Gordon trains and lives in New York City.
Headlining the women's 300m are Olympians Francena McCorory and Georganne Moline.
- The next generation of track and field superstars will be on full display in the middle-distance events. Iceland's Anita Hindriksdottir, American Ajee' Wilson, and Jamaica's Natoya Goule (the reigning NCAA 800m champion) will all race in the Road to Rio Women's 800m.
High school sensations Mary Cain and Alexa Efraimson will duel in the NYRR Wanamaker Women's Mile, joined by collegiate stars Emily Lipari and Cory McGee. Records in both races could go down.
- The NYRR Wanamaker Mile is always one of the most exciting events of every NYRR Millrose Games. Olympic silver medalist Nick Willis is coming off a win last weekend in Boston, and loves racing in the Big Apple. Last year, he won both the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile and Dash to the Finish Line 5-K. At the NYRR Millrose Games, he'll be joined on the starting line by 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano. For the final time, American mile icon and outdoor national record holder Alan Webb will be lacing up the spikes.
- For two straight years, Bernard Lagat has set an American Record at the NYRR Millrose Games. This year he'll go for another national mark in the Paavo Nurmi 2000m; the current American record sits at 4:58.6, while the world record is 4:49.99.
The longest distance race for women will be 3000 meters, as Olympian and New Balance Games mile winner Kim Conley takes on Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino, the reigning NCAA Cross Country Champion.
- In the field events, Olympic and World Championships bronze medalist Derek Drouin will soar in the high jump. Ashton Eaton, the world's greatest athlete, is set to compete in the pole vault, while his wife and fellow multi-event star Brianne Theisen-Eaton contests the long jump.
A limited amount of tickets are still available at NYRRMillroseGames.org/tickets.
Details on how and where to watch the 2014 NYRR Millrose Games on can be found here. From 3-5:00 pm, the meet will be broadcast live on NBCSN. From 5:00-7:00 pm, a live webcast will be available on USATF.tv.
On Wednesday, February 19, from 8-9:30pm EST, Universal Sports will broadcast a show covering the meet, including some of the high school races.
For all of your NYRR Millrose Games information, including entries and a schedule of events, visit NYRRMillroseGames.org
