Last season, Allyson Felix surpassed Usain Bolt as track & field’s most decorated athlete. The six-time Olympic gold medalist is hoping to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Photo by John Nepolitan
NEW YORK, January 9, 2020 – The high level of anticipation for the 113th NYRR Millrose Games, scheduled for Saturday, February 8th, continues to build with the announcement of each event. A major highlight of the historic meet will be the women’s 60-meter dash with Allyson Felix, arguably the most accomplished athlete in track and field, taking on a field that includes four additional Olympians.
“Being able to run at Millrose has been something exciting for me throughout my career,” Felix said. “I love the energy, the crowd, and being able to meet the young athletes who are the future of this sport. I cannot wait to start off my final Olympic campaign in New York City at the Millrose Games.”
Felix is a six-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time world champion.
After giving birth to her daughter in November 2018, Felix returned to competition this past season, winning a gold medal on the mixed 4x400m relay at the Doha World Championships to surpass Usain Bolt as the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport.
While Felix trains for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, after the birth of her daughter Camryn, she has embraced her multiple roles as one of America's greatest athletes, a devoted mother and an activist to support women athletes who have children. Away from sports, Felix also supports initiatives to improve women’s quality of life throughout the world.
Felix is hoping to compete in the Olympics one final time this year, and Millrose will be the first stop on her road to Tokyo.
Felix will face plenty of competition, led by Teahna Daniels, the 2019 USA champion in the 100 meters. Daniels had a breakout season in 2019, dipping under the 11-second barrier with a personal best of 10.99, before making the final in Doha where she finished seventh. Joining this outstanding field is Morolake Akinosun, a former four-time NCAA champion. Akinosun also won an Olympic gold medal on the Rio 4x100m relay, competing alongside Felix for Team USA.
Two athletes with ties to the tri-state area also will contend, including defending Millrose champion English Gardner. Gardner, another member of the victorious relay team in Rio, became the seventh-fastest woman in history that year, running 10.74 in the 100m. A series of injuries nearly derailed her career, but Gardner returned to the track in style at the Millrose Games last year, winning the 60m in a personal best of 7.10. Queens native and Armory regular Deajah Stevens, a former NCAA champion who competed in the 200m at the Rio Olympics, will add additional track & field royalty to this amazing field.
An intriguing name to watch is Briana Williams, who is the 2018 world junior champion in both the 100m and 200m. Only 17, Williams lowered her 100m personal best to 10.94 in 2019, setting the under-18 world record. Coached by sprinting legend Ato Boldon, Williams will be looking to make noise against a Millrose Games field with plenty of experience.
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 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 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.
