Olympians McCorory, Richards-Ross Prepare For Round 2 in Super 400m at NYRR Millrose Games

One of the great matchups of the 108th NYRR Millrose Games on February 14 at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center features the two Olympians who finished first and second in the women's 400 meters at the 2014 USA Track & Field Championships last June.

Francena McCorory got the better of Sanya Richards-Ross that day, winning the U.S. title in a personal best 49.48. Richards-Ross was second in 49.66.

It was a big year for McCorory. Not only did the Hampton, Va. native win the U.S. title after three second-place finishes and a third since 2010, she also won the 2014 world indoor title.

Richards-Ross is the reigning Olympic champion in the 400 meters and that is a title she is not going to part with without a fight. At 29, there is every reason to believe she will be in Rio de Janeiro to defend her Olympic gold in 2016.

Richards-Ross broke the national high school record in the indoor 400 meters in 2002, running for St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida. Four years later, McCorory broke that record.

The rivalry only exists to a point. Richards-Ross and McCorory were teammates on the gold-medal winning U.S. 4x400 relay in London in 2012.

"This is one of the best matchups of the NYRR Millrose Games with two of the world's best 400-meter athletes going head to head," Meet Director Ray Flynn said.

Is there an even younger challenger who can take both of them down? Keep your eye on 22-year-old Phyllis Francis, who will be making her pro debut after a sensational college career at the University of Oregon.

The Queens native is the collegiate record holder in the 400 meters -- a record previously held by McCorory.

This year’s NYRR Millrose Games promises to be one of the best ever and features the likes of Olympic gold medalist in the pole vault Jenn Suhr, world champion hurdlers Jason Richardson and David Oliver and 2014 World 800m leader Ajee' Wilson. Ashton Eaton, the decathlon and indoor pentathlon world record holder, should add plenty of excitement to the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory along with many more of the sport’s most decorated athletes yet to be announced including the men’s and women’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile.

This marks the fourth NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory and will include the country’s premier professional, college and high school track & field athletes competing on one stage. This year’s event is part of the USA Track & Field Championship Series and will be televised live nationally on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) from 6-8 p.m. on February 14. USATF.tv also will carry live coverage.

Mary Saxer Looks to Rise Above Millrose Bar

Mary Saxer is one of track and field’s rising stars. She proved so during last season’s USA Track and Field Indoor National Championships, where she won the pole vault with an impressive 15’ 5.5” clearing over a deep field including 2012 Olympic champion, Jenn Suhr. That was Saxer’s first major victory since joining the professional ranks in 2009. Now Saxer hopes to gain her second in the 108th NYRR Millrose Games at the Armory on February 14th.

Saxer will again face Suhr at the Games as well as Greek Olympian, Ekaterina Stefanidi and Duke’s pole vault school record holder, Becky Clark.

“Any time Jenn is in the competition everyone is more on their A game,” said Saxer. “I hope I can come away with the win. That would be exciting.”

A win at this year’s Games wouldn’t be Saxer’s first at The Armory. The Buffalo, NY native grew up regularly competing at The Armory and won her first national title here as a high school junior in the long jump and second national title the following year in the pole vault.

“After winning nationals in the pole vault they told me I had my name on the wall for the facility record. I thought that was really cool and will always remember that. That’s my favorite Armory memory,“ said Saxer.

Saxer admits to still checking the Armory’s records wall whenever she returns and will likely check it on February 14th – despite her name being replaced by Desiree Freier last year.

After high school, Saxer went on to compete for Notre Dame, winning Big East titles at The Armory during her junior and senior years.

"All of the phases of my pole vaulting career – high school, college and now professional – I’ve been able to compete at The Armory,” said Saxer. “It’s cool coming back to the same place and being at a different point in my career each time."

Ashton Eaton's Motivations

Ashton Eaton is one of the biggest track and field stars of all time. He's the reigning decathlon Olympic champion and owns the indoor heptathlon and decathlon world records. Find out what Ashton's motivations have been throughout his career: 

What was your motivation as a high school athlete?

My motivation came from three things; one was a desire to impress my coaches, one was a general curiosity about athletic movement, and one was I would see some sort of outside stimulus and then try and replicate it. For example, I used to watch a lot of Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, so I did martial arts because I thought the foot movements and kicks were awesome. I also remember watching the Carl Lewis vs. Mike Powell duel and after that was over I went outside and started jumping off of stuff and doing the scissor kick like they were doing.

What was your motivation as a University of Oregon athlete?

It was actually the same things as in high school, but more so wanting to impress the coaches. When they told me to do something I prided myself on doing it the very next attempt. So I was able to make changes very quickly. Within one or two tries. The more I did that, the more stuff that they told me to do and the better I got.

What is your motivation now that you’re a world record holder and Olympic gold medalist? 

So now the motivation is more on the lines of that curiosity aspect. I know there’s less and less my coach can tell me that’s going to make a big improvement, so it’s more about seeing what my physical limitations are. I go and do a long jump and jump 26 whatever, so I wonder, can I jump farther than that?

Are you more motivated when you're struggling or doing well?

I’m more motivated by the struggles. Sometime I can get very frustrated because the concepts can be so simple. My coach will say 'here’s a technique and you use it to throw far.' But sometimes my body or mind just won’t do it. That’s when I get super frustrated and annoyed with myself and think why can’t you just do this? Sometimes that can come in the form of negative motivation and sometimes that’s positive motivation. 

Where do you find the motivation to learn the technical aspects of your events?

It’s definitely a process. At first I relied almost solely on outside support because I didn’t know what I was doing. That was the coach, the recovery staff, and other athletes in my training group. But with every year that went by I would learn more, and as I understood something for myself I would rely less on outside support. So over time the less and less outside support I needed and more I relied on the things I knew about my body, myself and what techniques work for me.

What motivated you to try the 400m hurdles last season?

The main reason was to get away from the decathlon mentally while still being consistent in training. We had to choose something that I could be competitive in on the circuit because I still had to compete contractually and wanted to compete. It was good because the byproduct was becoming a better athlete and I learned some things that I can take to the multi-events. You think you know everything when you’ve done the same things for 7 years. So it was good to have something new and remind myself that I can still learn and get better. 

Ashton will be feataured in a stacked 60m hurdle feild at the 108th NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday, February 14th. The race will be one of the highlights of the 2015 indoor season and will include Olympic and World Championship medalists, Jason Richardson and David Oliver.

Remembering Howard Schmertz

It is with great sadness that the sport of track and field has lost Howard Schmertz, longtime director of the Millrose Games, at the age of 88. Along with his father, Fred, Howard had a prominent role in the development of track and field in America, especially surrounding the annual Millrose Games. From 1975 through 2003, Howard Schmertz served as Meet Director, helping the event grow to become the most iconic indoor track and field meet in the world.

In 2012, Schmertz was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame at The Armory along with his father, recognizing their long-time dedication to the sport. Schmertz is also a member of the Millrose Games Hall of Fame and International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

"Howard Schmertz will be remembered as one of the most important people in the sport of track and field," said Dr. Norbert Sander, President of the Armory Foundation. “His influence spans decades. He took the baton from his father and maintained not only the Millrose Games, but he contributed to many aspects of the sport, including sponsorship for track and field outside of Millrose. At the same time, he carried the Millrose Games forward for years, making it the most prestigious indoor track and field meet in the world. We'll certainly miss his presence.” 

"I was very pleased on a personal level that we were able to bring him back to see the Millrose Games in all its glory as it has been continued at The Armory,” Dr. Sander continued. “I would say that he was very pleased to be able to see that."

Since Schmertz's passing, many of those whose lives he touched have reached out with fond remembrances, thoughts, and prayers. 

"R.I.P Howard Schmertz, Millrose Games director emeritus. You were the 1st one to welcome me into the Millrose Games family. I'll miss you," Tweeted Bernard Lagat, an eight-time winner of the NYRR Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. 

Howard Schmertz graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx in 1941 and served in World War II as an Army infantryman. Upon his discharge, he earned his undergraduate degree at Columbia University and, in 1948, graduated from Columbia Law School and went to work for the firm Dean Magill & Huber, which later became Huber Lawrence & Abell. Schmertz worked days as a partner in his law firm while devoting nights and weekends, assisted by his wife, Judy, to his post as Meet Director.

The staff of The Armory Foundation and of Howard’s beloved Millrose Games send their heartfelt condolences to Judy and the Schmertz family.

Funeral services for Howard Schmertz will be held Sunday, March 30, at 2:00 P.M at Gutterman's Memorial Chapel in Woodbury, Long Island.
 
The address of Gutterman's Memorial Chapel is:
 
8000 Jericho Turnpike
Woodbury, NY 11797
 
Driving directions can be found here.