Ajeé Wilson during her American record-setting performance last year to win the NYRR Millrose Games’ Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center. Photo by Ross Dettman
NEW YORK, January 14, 2020 – Defending champion and American record-holder Ajeé Wilson is set for another magical run in the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m during the 113th NYRR Millrose Games to take place February 8 at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center.
Wilson will be tested by an accomplished field that includes multiple European and Diamond League champion Laura Muir.
“'The Armory track is one of my favorite places to compete,” Wilson said, “and I am really excited to be coming back to defend my Millrose Games title.”
Wilson, a New Jersey native, is no stranger to the bright lights of the NYRR Millrose Games.
Last year she set the American 800m indoor record of 1:58.60 on her way to a victory. In 2018 she anchored Team USA to the 4x800m world record at the Millrose Games.
Wilson made her case as the top 800m runner in the world last season. She dominated the international circuit en route to her first Diamond League title, before earning a second World Athletics Championship medal – a bronze in Doha, Qatar.
A nine-time U.S. champion and the American record holder indoors and outdoors, Wilson is clearly focused on Olympic gold in Tokyo. Millrose will be an important stop on that journey.
Wilson will be up against arguably the strongest Millrose women’s 800m field, largely thanks to the presence of Muir. While the Scottish athlete is best-known for her exploits over 1500m – the distance in which she claimed Diamond League titles in 2016 and 2018 – her range stretches from 800m all the way to 5,000m. Muir is consistently one of the world’s best indoor runners, winning double gold at the last two editions of the European Indoor Championships, while adding silver and bronze at the 2018 World Indoor Championships.
Eyes will also be on Jamaican standout Natoya Goule, last year’s Millrose runner-up and the 2019 Pan-American Games champion. Goule’s outdoor personal best of 1:56.15 is second in the field behind only Wilson, and she finished sixth in the World Championship final this past October.
Other athletes to watch in the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m include Britain’s Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and American Ce′Aira Brown.
Oskan-Clarke is coming off a successful 2019 season when she claimed victories at the European Indoor Championships and the British Championships outdoors.
Brown battled injuries for much of last year after posting a breakout season in 2018, but persevered. She reached the World Championship final in Doha, where she placed eighth. Brown recorded a season’s best during last year’s NYRR Millrose Games, finishing third in 1:59.74.
This marks the second consecutive year the Rudin Family has sponsored the women’s 800m at the NYRR Millrose Games.
The Rudin family has a long and distinguished history supporting the sport of running and New York City. During the 111th NYRR Millrose Games the Rudin family sponsored the women’s 4x800 relay which culminated in a world record.
“We are excited to be a part of the NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory again this year,” said Eric and Bill Rudin. “We loved seeing Ajeé Wilson set the record in last year’s Jack and Lewis Rudin Women's 800m and we are excited to watch what promises to be one of the best races of the 113th edition. Our fathers were extremely devoted to New York City and the sport of running and sponsoring this event in their names is a fitting tribute.”
The NYRR Millrose Games is the most storied event in indoor track and field. Stay tuned for more announcements, as the remaining athletes and fields for this year’s event will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Already announced is six-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time world champion Allyson Felix competing in the women’s 60m and a thrilling shot-put duel between 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser and 2019 World Championships gold medalist Joe Kovacs, as well as:
● Olympian and 2018 champion Chris O’Hare of Great Britain, 2017 champion Eric Jenkins of the United States, four-time Olympian Nick Willis of New Zealand, and world championship medalist Filip Ingebrigtsen of Norway who all will headline a talented NYRR Wanamaker Mile men’s field;
● World champion and American record-holder Donavan Brazier and defending NYRR Millrose Games champion and NCAA record-holder Michael Saruni in the men’s 800m;
● World record-holder Keni Harrison, who will open her season in the 60m hurdles;
● Newly-crowned NCAA Cross Country champions Edwin Kurgat (Iowa State University), Weini Kelati (University of New Mexico) in the men’s and women’s 3,000m respectively, along with 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist Paul Tanui and women’s defending NYRR Millrose Games champion Alicia Monson (University of Wisconsin).
The Millrose Games moved to The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center 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, the 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 & Field.
The Armory Foundation is proud to host the dozens of Olympians and world champions who will test their talents once more at The Armory. With highest-level competition at the youth, high school, collegiate, club and professional levels, there is truly something for everyone at the NYRR Millrose Games.
Stay tuned throughout January to see which athletes will attempt to top last year’s feats, as fields for each event will be announced on a rolling schedule.
For more information on the upcoming NYRR Millrose Games or to purchase tickets please Visit www.nyrrmillrosegames.org or call 212-923-1803 x7200 to buy tickets.
Follow The Armory on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @armorynyc, or go to ArmoryTrack.com or Armory.NYC.
About the Rudin Family
The Rudin Family has long supported running in New York City and is best known for the Samuel Rudin Trophy, presented since 1976 to the winning male and female runners in the TCS New York City Marathon. Samuel Rudin was an accomplished runner and member of the Class of 1918 at City College, not far from The Armory in Washington Heights where the Millrose Games takes place. His sons, Jack and Lewis, honored their late father by becoming the first sponsors of the five borough New York City Marathon. Now their sons, Eric and Bill, along with their children and grandchildren, carry on this tradition by sponsoring the Women’s 800m in memory of Jack and Lewis at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games. The Rudin Family’s real estate holdings are comprised of 16 office towers with more than 10 million square feet of Class A space, and 18 apartment buildings, all in New York City.
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 Armory Foundation
The Armory Foundation is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of "Keeping Kids on Track." Each season The Armory – the proud home of the NYRR Millrose Games – hosts more than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 220,000 athlete visits. Among its many youth sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meet with the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge, and also hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with this year's 26th U. S. Air Force Hispanic Games, The New Balance Games, the New Balance Nationals Indoors, the Energice Coaches Hall of Fame, Marine Corp Holiday Classic and the Colgate Games. The Armory also runs the Columbia & NewYork – Presbyterian Indoor Marathon presented by New York Road Runners, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more: Please visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.com.
