Photos by John Nepolitan.
NEW YORK, January 21, 2020 – The Armory and New York City continue to pave the way for track & field athletes to the NYRR Millrose Games. A long legacy of athletic talent hailing from the Big Apple and Metropolitan area will play a major role in the February 8th 113th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center.
“The Armory has given thousands of kids from the New York and New Jersey schools the opportunity to develop on the fast track,” NYRR Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn said. “It is fitting to see many of those same athletes now return as the stars of the NYRR Millrose Games.”
Here are some local names to watch for at next month’s most recognized indoor track & field meet:
Ajeé Wilson (Neptune, NJ; Women’s 800m): Wilson is the defending NYRR Millrose Jack & Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m champion, as well as a two-time World Athletics Championships medalist and the 800m indoor and outdoor American record-holder. Wilson is coached by Derek Thompson, who Wilson has been with since her prep school days in New Jersey. Wilson, who has many signature wins at The Armory and is considered an Armory fan favorite, will defend her NYRR Millrose title against a field that includes Laura Muir and Natoya Goule.
Rai Benjamin (Mt. Vernon, NY; Men’s 300m): At the 2019 World Championships, Benjamin won the silver medal in the 400m hurdles, before running a leg on the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team. He is also one of only four men in history to break 47 seconds in the hurdles. Benjamin starred at Mt. Vernon High School, winning numerous championships at The Armory. He will return to the facility by headlining the 300m.
Robby Andrews (Manalapan Township, NJ; Men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile): Andrews is the 2017 national champion in the 1500m and the 2011 NCAA champion in the 800m. While in high school, Andrews set national records at The Armory in both the 800m and 1,000m, the latter stands to this day. Andrews will compete in the NYRR Millrose Games’ signature event, the men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile.
Deajah Stevens (Queens, NY, Mt. Vernon, NY and New Rochelle, NY; Women’s 60m): Stevens is a 2016 Olympian and the 2017 national champion in the 200m. She was an eight-time All-American while competing for the University of Oregon. Stevens ran at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, winning three New York state championships and enjoyed much success at The Armory. She will go up against Felix, English Gardner and Teahna Daniels in the 60m.
All four of these athletes can trace their roots in track & field to the New York City area, and many other athletes taking part in the NYRR Millrose Games have previously raced at The Armory, whether in the New Balance Nationals Indoor or at other competitions. The NYRR Millrose Games aims to uphold the proud legacy of track and field in the nation’s largest city, and The Armory Foundation is proud to partner with NYRR in this effort.
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:
An amazing men’s 60m hurdles that includes world champion Grant Holloway, Olympic champion Omar McLeod, defending NYRR Millrose Games champion Devon Allen and outdoor national champion Daniel Roberts.
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.
