Grant Holloway (left) and Omar McLeod headline a superb men’s 60m hurdles field at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games. Photos by John Nepolitan
NEW YORK, January 15, 2020 – World champion Grant Holloway, Olympic champion Omar McLeod, defending NYRR Millrose Games champion Devon Allen and outdoor national champion Daniel Roberts will be a part of a spectacular men’s 60m hurdles showdown during the 113th NYRR Millrose Games on February 8 at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center.
“I’m really looking forward to running my first professional indoor competition at the NYRR Millrose Games on February 8,” Holloway said. “It’s an event that has such a long history of world class track and field athletes. It’s a pleasure to be invited to compete.”
Holloway is the man of the moment in the sprint hurdles, following a dream 2019 season that ended with him standing atop the world podium in Doha. The University of Florida product became the first collegiate athlete to dip under 13 seconds in the 110m hurdles, running 12.98 at the NCAA Championships to cap off an utterly dominant collegiate career. Holloway then turned professional, finishing second at the USA Championships before stunning everyone at World Athletic Championships, running 13.10 to claim the gold medal.
One of the men who he shocked was McLeod, the Jamaican athlete who previously dominated the hurdles. McLeod won Olympic gold in Rio by a huge margin and backed that up a year later by running faster in London en route to winning the 2017 World Championships. With a 110m-hurdle personal best of 12.90, McLeod is the fifth-fastest man in history and is the only man to break both 13 seconds in the hurdles and 10 seconds in the 100m dash. Only 25, McLeod will be looking to reclaim his title from Holloway in 2020 as Millrose could set the stage for the sport’s next great rivalry.
Allen will return to The Armory to defend his Millrose crown. The former University of Oregon standout is a four-time national champion, as well as a two-time NCAA champion. Allen placed fifth at the Rio Olympics and is focused to improve in 2020.
Daniel Roberts, the defending outdoor national champion, is also in this amazing field. Holloway’s chief NCAA rival. Roberts, who competed at the University of Kentucky, pushed Holloway to the line at the NCAA Championships when he finished second in 13.00 in a memorable race. Roberts earned his revenge at the USA Championships a few weeks later, edging Holloway to claim the title. The Southeastern Conference duo will renew their rivalry at Millrose.
Rounding out the field is Freddie Crittenden. The former Syracuse star was second at Millrose last year following photo finish after running 7.61, which was identical to Allen’s winning time. Crittenden captured a silver medal at the Pan American Games.
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:
●American-record holder Ajeé Wilson, who returns to defend her title in the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m;
● 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.
