Two-time world indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia to join stacked men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile field
New York, January 24, 2019 — U.S. Olympian Colleen Quigley will return to The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center on Saturday, February 9 to defend her NYRR Wanamaker Mile title at the NYRR Millrose Games. The signature event at the NYRR Millrose Games will feature seven Olympians and 13 world championship participants, including the recent addition to the men’s field of Ethiopia’s two-time indoor world champion Yomif Kejelcha.
“We are delighted to welcome Colleen back to the NYRR Millrose Games after her sensational win last year,” said NYRR Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn. “The addition of Yomif to this incredible men's field makes me think we could possibly see the very first sub-3.50 Wanamaker Mile or even a run at the world record.”
The prestigious indoor mile race has taken place every year on the men’s side since 1926 and on the women’s side since 1976. This year’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile races will be broadcast live on NBC.
Quigley, 26, won her first NYRR Wanamaker Mile in 2018, besting fellow U.S. Olympian Kate Grace by just three hundredths of a second in 4:30.05, and then returned to New York later in the year to finish second at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. She competed at the Rio 2016 Olympics, finishing eighth in the 3000-meter steeplechase, and the following summer she placed third in the event at the USATF Championships.
“What better way to start a new year and a new season than taking a trip to NYC to race at one of the most prestigious and longest-running indoor track meets in the country,” Quigley said. “I can't think of anything better, so I'm going to the NYRR Millrose Games again this year to defend my NYRR Wanamaker Mile title. I'm more excited than ever to put my fitness to the test in the Big Apple.”
Joining Quigley in the women’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile field will be last year’s runner-up, U.S. Olympian Kate Grace, along with 2017 NCAA indoor mile champion Karisa Nelson, 2018 USA Road Mile champion Emily Lipari, and new indoor NCAA 1000-meter record-holder Danae Rivers.
Kejelcha, the two-time defending 3000-meter indoor world champion who opened his 2019 season with a 3:52.61 mile at the University of Washington earlier this month, will join a men’s field that already includes Olympic medalists Clayton Murphy and Nick Willis, and last year’s world’s fastest miler Edward Cheserek. Last year’s runner-up, Josh Kerr, will also line up, as well as U.S. Olympian Robby Andrews, who will be marking the 10th anniversary of his win in the high school mile at the Millrose Games.
NYRR Wanamaker Mile Field – Men
Name
Personal Best Mile
Twitter Handle
Robby Andrews, USA
3:53.16
@RA_Andrews
Edward Cheserek, KEN
3:49.44
@KingCheserek
Craig Engels, USA
3:53.93
@craigathor
Johnny Gregorek, USA
3:53.15
@JohnnyGregorek
Ollie Hoare, AUS
3:59.70
@ollie_hoare97
Yomif Kejelcha, ETH
3:52.61
Josh Kerr, GBR
3:54.72
@joshk97
Riley Masters, USA
3:56.15
@riley_masters
Clayton Murphy, USA
3:51.99
@clayton_murph
Sam Prakel, USA
3:54.64
@sprakel10
Nick Willis, NZL
3:49.83
@nickwillis
NYRR Wanamaker Mile Field – Women
Name
Personal Best Mile
Twitter Handle
Kaela Edwards, USA
4:28.75
@kaelaAedwards
Kate Grace, USA
4:20.70
@fastk8
Konstanze Klosterhalfen, GER
4:24.27
Emily Lipari, USA
4:28.62
Katie Mackey, USA
4:25.48
@katiefmackey
Cory McGee, USA
4:27.67
@coreymcgeeruns
Karisa Nelson, USA
4:31.24
@KaririNelson
Shannon Osika, USA
4:25.47
@OsikaShannon
Colleen Quigley, USA
4:24.88
@steeple_squigs
Danae Rivers, USA
4:32.55
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, CAN
4:27.44
@gstafford13
Helen Schlachtenhaufen, USA
4:27.09
The NYRR Millrose Games highlights the year-round partnership between The Armory Foundation, which oversees the premier indoor track and field center in America, and New York Road Runners, the world’s largest community running organization.
For more information on the NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets, please visitwww.nyrrmillrosegames.org. Members of the media interested in covering the 112th NYRR Millrose Games from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 at The Armory in Washington Heights, can sign up for credentials by clicking HERE.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
About the NYRR Millrose Games
With a storied history that spans more than a century, the NYRR Millrose Games is one of track and field’s most prestigious and enduring annual events. A New York City sports staple, the meet moved to the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory in Washington Heights in 2012 after having called Madison Square Garden home from 1914 to 2011. The Games—established by employees of Wanamaker’s Department Store—features track and field’s most prolific male and female stars as well as collegiate, high school, club and youth competitors. More than 200 athletes share the distinction of being both Millrose and Olympic champions. In November of 2013, New York Road Runners became the title sponsor of the NYRR Millrose Games, which is owned by The Armory Foundation. The NYRR Millrose Games is a USATF television series event and The Armory Foundation appreciates the support of USA Track and Field.
