NEW YORK, November 25, 2019 – Joe Kovacs and Ryan Crouser, the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 shot put athletes, will return to The Armory to compete in the 113th NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday, February 8, 2020.
The most celebrated indoor meet will highlight many of the world's premier Olympians in track and field as they prepare for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo this summer.
“To kick off my competition season and prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games, I cannot think of a better place to start than the NYRR Millrose Games at the historic Armory,” Kovacs said. “That’s the place to go for friends, family, fans, fast times, and far throws. I am honored and excited to be back at Millrose in 2020."
Added Crouser: “I’m excited to start my Olympic year at the NYRR Millrose Games. The opportunity to showcase the shot put as a center-stage event in a historic venue like The Armory is every thrower’s dream.
“Team USA has been a dominant force in the shot for years and I’m looking forward to opening my season against Joe coming off our 1-2 finish at the World Championships in what was the greatest shot-put competition ever.”
One of the highlights of the NYRR Millrose Games will be the men’s shot put in the center of the arena, which features a rematch between America’s Crouser and Kovacs, who each spent all of 2019 building their case as all-time greats in the event.
In one of the most memorable shot put competitions held during the recent World Championships in Qatar, Tomas Walsh of New Zealand unleashed a monster first-round throw of 22.90 meters, a championship record that looked to have ended the competition almost before it began.
Heading into the sixth and final round, Kovacs stepped in the ring and launched the ball 22.91 meters, an incredible lifetime best that edged out Walsh by a mere centimeter and tied Kovacs with Alessandro Andrei for the third-furthest throw in history. Minutes later, Crouser uncorked a personal best throw of 22.90 meters himself, edging out Walsh for second place based on their next-furthest attempts. Three of the top six performers ever in the event came from the same competition – separated by one centimeter – and Kovacs finally had his golden moment in front of the world.
Last summer, Crouser and Kovacs placed highly at various Diamond League meetings, and Crouser bested Kovacs at the USATF Championships in Des Moines to win his third national title. However, everything changed at October’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The two athletes headlined the same event at Millrose a season ago, and the result was a resounding victory for Crouser, the reigning Olympic gold medalist. Crouser’s fourth attempt carried a distance of 22.33 meters, the longest indoor throw in 17 years, and placed him fourth on the all-time indoor list. Kovacs, who was the Olympic silver medalist in Rio, settled for second place, with a top toss of 20.86 meters.
Kovacs and Crouser have proven themselves as the world’s best throwers and will renew their rivalry on the historic Millrose stage.
The NYRR Millrose Games is the most storied event in indoor track and field. The Millrose Games 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, 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.
