Legendary Coach Frank Gagliano Continues To Be Inspiration to Track & Field Athletes

If 55 years of coaching track and field have taught Frank Gagliano anything, it's to keep going.

The legendary coach, now in his seventh year at the helm of HOKA New Jersey New York Track Club  (NJNYTC) has three athletes competing in the in the NYRR Men's Wanamaker Mile at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on Feb. 11 at The Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center.

Kyle Merber, Johnny Gregorek and Colby Alexander were announced as participants in the signature event of the NYRR Millrose Games on Tuesday.

But for the coach known as "Gags," this new year came with a few important changes and a resolve to keep doing what he loves.

“As long as my mind is in the sport for workouts, so I don't deprive the men and women that I'm coaching, I'll keep (coaching)," Gagliano said. “I try to keep as healthy as I can and we move on."

Gagliano will turn 80 in March. He got his start at Roselle Catholic High School in New Jersey and had a long distinguished college coaching career at Rutgers and Georgetown before becoming a professional coach for post-collegians.

Last year, 16 members of the HOKA NJNYTC qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and steeplechaser Donn Cabral made the team and competed in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In November, the club got a shot in the arm when HOKA ONE  ONE became the exclusive sponsor of the NJNYTC. Suddenly, the endless burden of fund-raising to keep the club running was eased. And the home base has moved, from Dunellen, N.J. to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Gagliano lives nearby in Rye, New York. And his two assistants, Tom Nohilly and John Trautmann are also close by.

"(The move) has been really great because we all live within five miles of each other in Westchester County," Gagliano said. “We can come in (to The Armory) on the morning train. It's been a pleasure."

The club lost some athletes and added some new ones for the next four-year cycle. 

Gagliano's energy and expertise still drives the group.

“I've got to want it and they've got to want it to achieve their goals," Gagliano said. "All of them are college graduates and they've all given (me) four years."

Purchase tickets for the 110th NYRR Millrose Games before they sell out at tickets.nyrrmillrosegames.org/tickets

Defending Champion Shannon Rowbury and Olympic Medalist Clayton Murphy to Highlight NYRR Wanamaker Mile Fields at 110th NYRR Millrose Games

(Left) New York Road Runners President and CEO Michael Capiraso, 2016 NYRR Wanamaker Mile women’s champion Shannon Rowbury and New York Road Runners President of Events and Race Director of TCS New York City Marathon Peter Ciaccia. Photo courtesy of Ross Dettman.

Three-time Olympian Shannon Rowbury will go for her third straight title in the NYRR Wanamaker Mile, while Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy will make his debut in the event at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday, February 11 at The Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center. The signature event at the NYRR Millrose Games has taken place every year on the men’s side since 1926 and on the women’s side since 1976. This year’s field will include five men and four women who have competed in the Olympic Games and will be broadcast live nationally by NBC Sports Group.

“The NYRR Wanamaker Mile is one of the most prestigious and historic track and field events in the world,” said Peter Ciaccia, NYRR president of events and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “This year’s fields are once again first class, with Shannon going for a three-peat and Clayton, one of Team USA’s newest Olympic medalists, making his much -anticipated debut in the event. Through our great partnership with The Armory, we’re honored to be able to recruit these amazing athletes to run at the New Balance Track and Field Center.”

Rowbury, 32, of Portland, OR, is the American record-holder in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters, having taken the mark in the latter at last September’s Diamond League Final in Brussels, clocking a 14:39.92 to shatter Molly Huddle’s previous record. The two-time world bronze medalist ran away with the NYRR Wanamaker Mile title in 2015, winning by three seconds in 4:24.31, the No. 4 indoor time in the world that year. She defended her title last year, easily prevailing to take the tape in 4:24.39. Rowbury is a two-time 5th Avenue Mile champion who finished in fourth place in the 1500-meter final at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“I’m so excited to be back at the NYRR Millrose Games, and to have another shot at the indoor mile American record,” Rowbury said. “Racing in NYC at an NYRR event is one of the highlights of my season. The atmosphere at The Armory and the quality of the competition never fails to impress, and I hope that I can do the same.”

Added NYRR Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn: "We witnessed the fastest men's mile in the world set last year. The NYRR Wanamaker Mile continues to be one of the great indoor races and this year's fields live up to ‎the great competition we've come to expect."

Murphy, 21, of New Paris, OH, was the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials champion over 800 meters and won bronze in the distance at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He set a personal best in Rio, running 1:42.93 to become the third-fastest American in history. Murphy, who won two NCAA titles in 2016 and a Pan American title in 2015, finished fourth the last time he was in New York City at September’s New Balance 5th Avenue Mile.

“To me the most prestigious indoor meet in the world is the NYRR Millrose Games, and the Wanamaker Mile is without a doubt, the feature event,” Murphy said. “I am looking forward to experiencing this historic event from the inside for a change. I have been enjoying myself since turning pro last summer and most of my success has come in the 800 meters, but I really feel my potential in the mile is untapped. I can't wait to show the fans in New York what I can do.”

Added NYRR Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn: "We witnessed the fastest men's mile in the world set last year. The NYRR Wanamaker Mile continues to be one of the great indoor races and this year's fields live up to ‎the great competition we've come to expect."

Additional Top Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances

• Robby Andrews, 25, of Manalapan, NJ, qualified for his first Olympic team last summer after finishing second over 1500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A 2011 NCAA champion at 800 meters, Andrews finished fourth in last year’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile.
• Eric Jenkins, 25, of Portsmouth, NH, won the 2016 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, outkicking Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz at the finish. He narrowly missed an Olympic berth with a fourth-place finish over 5000 meters at last year’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 
• Leo Manzano, 32, of Austin, TX, became the first American to medal in the 1500 meters at the Olympics in 44 years in 2012. He placed fourth in the event at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, ending his 10-year streak of finishing in the top three in the event at the national championships.
• Kate Grace, 28, of Sacramento, CA, won the 800 meters at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in a personal-best 1:59.10 and then ran a new personal best of 1:58.79 in the Rio Olympic semifinals before placing eighth in the finals. She also finished second at the 2016 New Balance Games Mile.
• Brenda Martinez, 29, of Big Bear Lake, CA, made her Olympic Games debut last summer, competing in the 1500 meters in Rio. She finished fifth in the distance at last year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships and owns a bronze medal in the 800 meters from the 2013 IAAF World Championships.
• Nicole Sifuentes, 30, of Canada, made her second Olympic team last summer, getting to the semifinals of the 1500 meters. The 12-time NCAA All-American at the University of Michigan was a bronze medalist in her signature event at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Top Professional Men

Name	Mile Personal Best	Twitter Handle
Leo Manzano, USA	3:50.64	@leomanzano
Robby Andrews, USA	3:53.16	@RA_Andrews
Izaic Yorks, USA	3:53.89	@IzaicY
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, CAN	3:54.52	@Chuck_PT
Kyle Merber, USA	3:54.57	@TheRealMerb
Colby Alexander, USA	3:54.94	@okaycolby
Johnny Gregorek, USA	3:55.27	@JohnnyGregorek
Eric Jenkins, USA	3:57.09	@_EricJenkins
Clayton Murphy, USA	3:57.11	@Clayton_Murph
Drew Hunter, USA	3:57.15	@drewhunter00
Henry Wynne, USA	3:58.74	@Hwynning

Top Professional Women

Name	Mile Personal Best	Twitter Handle
Shannon Rowbury, USA	4:20.34	@ShannonRowbury
Katie Mackey, USA	4:25.48	@KatiefMackey
Amanda Eccleston, USA	4:25.64	@AmandaEcc
Brenda Martinez, USA	4:26.76	@bmartrun
Lea O’Connor, USA	4:27.18	@LeahKayO
Heather Kampf, USA	4:27.23	@HeatherRaeKampf
Alexa Efraimson, USA	4:27.39	@AlexaEfraimson
Nicole Sifuentes, CAN	4:27.93	@ndsifuentes
Kate Grace, USA	4:28.30	@fastk8
Elinor Purrier, USA	4:29.71	@ellepurrier
Dominique Scott-Efurd, RSA	4:31.57	@domscottrunSA
Kaela Edwards, USA	4:32.14	@kaelaAedwards
Kate Murphy, USA	4:39.47	@trackmurph

Purchase tickets to the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11 before they sell out at tickets.nyrrmillrosegames.org/tickets

Olympic Gold Medalist Matthew Centrowitz to Run In Paavo Nurmi Two-Miles at NYRR Millrose Games

The announcement of Matthew Centrowitz participating in the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11th means that 12 Olympic gold medalists from Rio will be competing at The Armory in track & field’s most recognized indoor meet. Photo by John Nepolitan

Olympic 1,500 meters champion Matthew Centrowitz, already a three-time NYRR Wanamaker Mile champion, will turn his attention to the Paavo Nurmi Two Miles at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center on Feb. 11.

Centrowitz, who became the first American man to take gold in the Olympic 1,500 meters since 1908, will line up against a field that includes Ryan Hill, the World Indoor 3,000 meters silver medalist, Olympians Ben Blankenship, Hassan Mead, Mo Ahmed, Donn Cabral, and also Ben True.

“I’m kind of excited about a couple of things,” Centrowitz said. “One is about racing some of (coach) Jerry Schumacher’s guys (Hill and Ahmed). I’ve heard they’re going out to run a fast time, so it sounds like it will be set up for a fast race. There are not many opportunities to run a 2-mile, especially against those guys.”

Centrowitz ran 3:50.63 to win the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in 2016 and that time held up as the fastest mile in the world for 2016.

He opened his 2017 season with a strong 7:49.89 clocking for 3,000 meters at the University of Washington Indoor Preview on January 14 in Seattle.

By moving up in distance, Centrowitz said he is aiming to become more versatile and would like to keep his options open by the time 2020 comes around.

“As long as I’m having success in the 1,500 meters, which is such a signature event and fan favorite, I’ll stay with it,” Centrowitz said. “I have spoken to (coach) Alberto (Salazar) and it’s no secret that I’ll probably do a 5K this outdoor season. If I do move up down the road it won’t be such a foreign event, but a lot of my training is strength-based anyway.” 

The Paavo Nurmi Two Miles is an NYRR Millrose Games event named for the famous “Flying Finn,” who won nine Olympic gold medals from 1920 to 1928. In 1925, Nurmi came to New York City and broke the world record in the 2,000 meters at The Armory. 

The event is also supported by Finland’s Paavo Nurmi Games, which celebrates its 60th year on June 13.

For Centrowitz, it means twice as many laps and twice as much time in front of an enthusiastic NYRR Millrose Games crowd.

The American record of 8:07.41 by Centrowitz’s Nike Oregon Project teammate, Galen Rupp, could be in play.

“I’ve noticed that I do a lot better when I put myself in a race to try and win rather than go for time,” Centrowitz said. “I’m pleased where I’m at right now. I feel like I can run a fast time. Eight-oh-seven seems like a strong record. It’s only four seconds off Mo (Farah’s) world record. But if some of those guys get around that (pace) and I’m competitive I could be near it. But I’m more concerned about trying to beat those guys.” 

Centrowitz’s entry makes it 12 Olympic gold medalists who will be competing at the NYRR Millrose Games. 

Purchase tickets for the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11 HERE.

Olympic Gold Medalist Dalilah Muhammad Returning Home to Run in NYRR Millrose Games

Olympic gold medalist and former Benjamin Cardozo High School standout Dalilah Muhammad is looking forward to returning to The Armory where she remembers running as a seven-year-old. Photo by Victah Sailer

Olympic gold medalist and Queens native Dalilah Muhammad will make a triumphant return to The Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center for the 110th NYRR Millrose Games set for February 11th.  

Muhammad, who graduated from Benjamin Cardozo High School, hasn't competed at The Armory since running for the University of Southern California in 2011. 

“I'm really excited," Muhammad said. "I've been racing at The Armory since I was seven years old. I remember my very first race at The Armory was the 1,500 meters."

Muhammad long ago gave up distance running and in 2016 became the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles. At the Olympic Trials she ran a lifetime best 52.88 seconds to win the national title and move to No. 5 all-time in U.S. history.  

Chasing the record of 52.47 by Lashinda Demus from 2011 and defending her global title at the IAAF World Championships are goals for 2017, Muhammad said.

“Getting a little bit close to (the record) makes it seem like an attainable goal," she said.

At Millrose, Muhammad is entered in the 500 meters, which is an event she has seldom run. But the chance to use the race as a test of fitness as she heads into the outdoor season is valuable. 

“Every race I do is preparing me for the 400-meter hurdles," she added.

The opportunity to compete in front of family and friends is an added bonus.

Two of her best Armory memories involve running the 400 meters as a high school junior in 2007. She beat a field of college and pro athletes at the New Balance Games when she ran 54.28 seconds. She later won the National Scholastic title that year.

"It will be nice to go back and see the fans in New York," Muhammad said. "It's a chance for my family to see me run, feel the love, and get ready for the outdoor season."

Reserve your seat to the world's longest-running and most prestigious indoor track and field competition by purchasing tickets HERE.

11 Gold Medalists from Rio Ready to Shine In 110th NYRR Millrose Games

100-meter hurdle sensation Brianna Rollins is one of 11 gold medalists from last year’s Summer Olympics in Rio who will compete in the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11 at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center.  Photo by Victah Sailer

Eleven Olympic gold medalists from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games are among the confirmed entries for the 110th  NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center on Feb. 11.

“USATF had a history-making performance in Rio," USATF CEO Max Siegel said. "It is only fitting that so many medalists from our 2016 team compete at the most historic indoor meet in the world.”

One of the best fields in the history of the NYRR Millrose Games promises to once again to be a hot ticket and a rare New York City opportunity to see so many stars from Rio as they begin building up to the 2017 IAAF World Championships. 

Three reigning Olympic hurdles champions -- Americans Brianna Rollins (100 meters) and Dalilah Muhammad (400 meters) and Jamaican Omar McLeod (110 meters) -- lead the parade of champions. Shaunae Miller from the Bahamas, who dove across the finish line to win gold in the women's 400 meters final, is also entered.

Long jump champions Jeff Henderson and Tianna Bartoletta, both of the U.S., men's high jump champion Derek Drouin of Canada, and women's pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece all come to Millrose riding a wave of Olympic glory. Sprinters Courtney Okolo, Phyllis Francis and Natasha Hastings were teammates on the U.S. women's gold-medal winning 4x400 relay.

“Eleven gold medalists, with a surprise possible 12th committing, must make this year’s NYRR Millrose Games a world record in itself,” Armory Foundation President Dr. Norbert Sander said. “The Olympic Games is the feature story of this, the 110th edition of the world’s most historic indoor track & field meet.”

Tickets for the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11, 2017 are available HERE.

Blast from the past: 110th NYRR Millrose Games Celebrates Return of Metropolitan Relays

New York University will be one of six area schools to participate in the 110th NYRR Millrose Games’ Metropolitan Relays at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center.  Photo by John Nepolitan

One of the best opportunities of the year to see the major players of New York-area college track and field go head-to-head is being assembled for the Metropolitan men’s and women’s 4x400 relays at the  110th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center on Saturday, February 11th.. 

Teams from Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, St. John’s University, Manhattan College and Stony Brook University on Long Island all have lanes in this one-of-a-kind event that pits six different area schools from six separate college conferences. All but Stony Brook will compete in the women’s relay.

“There is always a great deal of pride on the line when competing against teams from our local area,” said St. John’s women’s coach Jim Hurt. “To do it in the frame work of the NYRR Millrose Games just heightens the excitement. I know our team will be buzzed to run the best at Millrose.

“We have a very talented team and the opportunity to run in the most prestigious meet in the country will give them great exposure.”

Many of the athletes from these teams regularly train and compete at The Armory but the 4x400 relay gives them a chance to go head to head. Third-year coach Dan Ireland leads Columbia of the Ivy League and located just a few miles south of The Armory along Broadway. First-year coach Erison Hurtault helms the Violets of NYU, of the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association. NYU, located near Greenwich Village, won the UAA 4x400 relay title outdoors last spring. 

Distinguished coach Tom Dewey, in his 36th year, leads Fordham of the Bronx. Another veteran coach, Jim Hurt, leads the St. John’s Red Storm from Queens and is in his 28th season. His women are the reigning Big East Conference champions in the 4x400 relay. The Jaspers of Manhattan, located in the Bronx, are led by venerable coach Dan Mecca, entering his 24th season as head coach. Andy Ronan is preparing for his 18th season as head coach for the Stony Brook Seawolves.

“This is important for the NYC and Metropolitan area schools. It revives a long standing rivalry and tradition,” Mecca said. “This will rejuvenate local interest and fervor from our alums and, of course, from our competitors in the area. It’s also a great showcase and recruiting opportunity for all the local high schools and coaches.”

Added Dewey: “We are committed to competing this year because it hopefully will bring some attention to the area colleges. Long ago that was the real drawing card for the alums of all the local schools.

“It is good to see the event back.”

The return of the Metropolitan 4x400 relay marks a significant return to the historical roots of Millrose. The Fordham Rams were the first college team to participate in a mile relay, competing against club teams back in 1916. Three years later, the first college-only mile relay saw Penn defeat Dartmouth and MIT. 

The popularity of the college races mushroomed and eventually the Millrose Games accommodated as many as 10 men’s college mile relay races. In the 1970s, women’s mile races were added to the program.

“It is very exciting for both the colleges involved and the NYRR Millrose Games,” Ireland said. “When Millrose was at Madison Square Garden there was always a local event that gave the schools in NYC something to get excited about. It’s great this opportunity has returned.”

Purchase your tickets for the 110th NYRR Millrose Games on February 11 HERE.