World record-holder Keni Harrison will make her Armory debut in February at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games. Photo courtesy of USATF
NEW YORK, December 5, 2019 – Keni Harrison, the current world-record holder in the 100m hurdles and a four-time United States champion, is scheduled to compete in the 60m hurdles at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games. The historic indoor meet, scheduled for Saturday, February 8th at The Armory, will feature dozens of Olympians and world championship contenders as they prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics next summer.
“I’m excited to run my very first Millrose Games,” said Harrison. “I look forward to the competition and the enthusiastic crowd.”
Harrison is one of the most accomplished sprint hurdlers in history, setting the world record of 12.20 seconds at the London Anniversary Games in July 2016. In 2018, she added her first global title, winning the 60m hurdles at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in a meet record of 7.70. Competing against domestic fields that are often deeper in talent than at the global level, Harrison is the three-time defending USA outdoor champion. Most recently, Harrison secured her first outdoor global medal, taking silver at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The NYRR Millrose Games will mark Harrison’s first time competing on the historic track at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center.
Athletes competing against Harrison in the 60m hurdles include Sharika Nelvis, who in the 2018 USA Indoor Championships 60m hurdles in Albuquerque defeated Harrison with an American-record time of 7.70, Queen Claye (née Harrison), a former NCAA and Pan American Games champion, and Andrea Vargas, who finished fifth at the most recent World Championships while competing for Costa Rica.
While at Arkansas State, Nelvis won the 60m hurdles indoor in the 2014 NCAA Championships with a 7.93.
More athletes and fields for the NYRR Millrose Games will be announced in the coming weeks. Already confirmed is a thrilling rematch of October’s World Championships’ shot put final, featuring Rio Olympics gold medalist Ryan Crouser and reigning world champion Joe Kovacs.
The NYRR Millrose Games is the most storied event in indoor track and field.
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 the next few months to see which athletes will attempt to top last year’s feats, as fields for each event will be announced on a rolling schedule. 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.
