Millrose Games
The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet (track and field) held each February in New York City. They started taking place at the Armory in Washington Heights in 2012, after having taken place in Madison Square Garden from 1914 to 2011.[1] The games were started when employees of the New York City branch of Wanamaker's department store formed the Millrose Track Club to hold a meet. The featured event is the Wanamaker Mile.
History
The Millrose Games began in 1908 at a local armory the same year when its parent, the Millrose Athletic Association, was formed as a recreational club by the employees of the John Wanamaker Department Store. "Millrose" was the name of the country home of Rodman Wanamaker in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.
In 1914, after overflowing the armory the year before, the Millrose Games moved to Madison Square Garden, and until 2011 was the oldest continuous sporting event held there. For 10 years beginning in 1916, the Wanamaker 1 ½ Mile race was a highlight of the meet. Run for the last time in 1925, the final edition was won by Paavo Nurmi, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist from Finland. In 1926, the distance was shortened, and the Wanamaker Mile was born. It has often been run at 10 p.m., a carryover from the days beginning in the 1930s when noted sports announcer Ted Husing would broadcast the race live on his 10 p.m. radio show.
The Wanamaker Mile has been won by over 44 different men, including Glenn Cunningham, Kip Keino, Tony Waldrop, Filbert Bayi, Steve Scott, Noureddine Morceli, Bernard Lagat, Marcus O'Sullivan, Ron Delany, and Eamonn Coghlan. Coghlan was known as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his dominance on the old wooden Millrose track and won the mile seven times, a feat surpassed only by Bernard Lagat, who won his eighth Wanamaker Mile in 2010.[2]
Some highlights in Millrose history include Ray Conger's 1929 upset win over Nurmi in the Wanamaker Mile; pole vaulter Cornelius Warmerdam becoming the first person to vault 15 feet (4.6 m) indoors, in 1942; John Thomas hitting the first 7-foot (2.1 m) high jump, in 1959; Mary Decker’s run to a 1500-meter World Indoor Record to encouragement from the crowd, in 1980; John Uelses becoming the first person to pole vault the height of 16 feet; Carl Lewis in 1984 breaking the World Indoor Record with a jump of 28 feet (8.5 m), 10.25 inches, a mark that still stands; Eamonn Coghlan notching his then record seventh Wanamaker Mile in 1987; Bernard Lagat breaking Coghlan's record with his eighth Wanamaker Mile triumph in 2010, and Stacy Dragila setting a late-night pole vault world record in 2001.
For 70 of its first 96 years, the role of Millrose meet director was a father-son affair: Fred Schmertz directed the meet in 1934, passing on that position to his son Howard in 1975. In 2003, the title of Meet Director Emeritus was bestowed on the younger Schmertz.
In May 2011 Norbert Sanders, the President of the Millrose Games, announced that, starting January 2012, the games would be moved to the Armory in Washington Heights, at 168th Street, and that a new all-day Saturday schedule would replace the Friday evening format.[3]
The Millrose Games, operated by The Armory Foundation, are also notable for their rigid anti-doping policies. In 2017, Millrose race director Ray Flynn told an ESPN reporter, "We have a mandate that we don't invite any athlete that has had any drug history in their past. We want to keep our meet free of any athlete that really has a violation."[4]
Statistics
The most prolific winner in event history is Loren Murchison, a sprinter who won 13 titles between 1919 and 1926. He is followed by pole vaulter Bob Richards (11), hurdler Greg Foster and 500-600-800m runner Mark Everett (10), and hurdler Harrison Dillard and miler Eamonn Coghlan (9). Coghlan’s total includes seven Wanamaker Mile victories and two Masters Mile wins.
Four women share the honor of most Millrose wins at eight apiece: 400-meter runner Diane Dixon, whose eight victories include five straight from 1988–1992; middle-distance runner Jearl Miles-Clark; shot putter Connie Price-Smith; and high jumper Tisha Waller.
202 athletes share the distinction of being both Millrose Games and Olympic champions.
Millrose Games Hall of Fame
| Athlete | Country | Event | Career notes | Millrose highlights | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horace Ashenfelter | United States | 2 Miles | Olympic gold medalist, Steeplechase (1952) | 5-time winner | 2001 |
| Earl Bell | United States | Pole Vault | Olympic bronze medalist (1984) | 6-time winner | 2000 |
| Joetta Clark | United States | 800 | 4-time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) | 7-time winner; 23-time competitor | 2003 |
| Eamonn Coghlan | Ireland | Mile | World Championships 5000 m gold medalist (1983) | 7-time winner of Wanamaker Mile | 1999 |
| Glenn Cunningham | United States | Mile | Olympic silver medalist, 1500m (1936) | 6-time winner | 2000 |
| Willie Davenport | United States | Hurdles | 2-time Olympic medalist, gold and bronze (1968, 1976) | 5-time winner | 2003 |
| Harrison Dillard | United States | Hurdles | 4-time Olympic gold medalist (1948, 1952) | 8-time winner | 1999 |
| Diane Dixon | United States | 400 | 2-time Olympic relay medalist, gold and silver (1984, 1988) | 8-time winner | 1999 |
| Mark Everett | United States | 500, 600, 800 | 2-time World Championships medalist | 10-time winner | 2003 |
| Greg Foster | United States | Hurdles | 4-time World Champion indoors and out (1984–1991) | 10-time winner | 2000 |
| Johnny Gray | United States | 800 | American Record Holder, Olympic bronze medalist (1992) | 5-time winner | 2004 |
| Stephanie Hightower | United States | Hurdles | 1980 Olympian, World Record Holder | 5-time winner | 2001 |
| Joni Huntley | United States | High Jump | Olympic bronze medalist (1984) | 4-time winner | 2004 |
| Jackie Joyner-Kersee | United States | Long Jump, Hurdles | 6-time Olympic medalist, including 3 gold (1988–1996) | 5-time winner | 2001 |
| Carl Lewis | United States | Long Jump | 9-time Olympic gold medalist, 100 m, 200m, relay, LJ (1984–1996) | 4-time winner | 2000 |
| Marty Liquori | United States | Mile | Ranked #1 in World three times, 1968 Olympian | 3-time Wanamaker Mile winner | 2003 |
| Martin McGrady | United States | 600 | World Record Holder (1970) | 3-time winner | 2005 |
| Loren Murchison | United States | Dash, 300 | 2-time Olympic 4x100 relay gold medalist (1920, 1924) | 13-time winner | 2002 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah | United States | Hurdles | Ranked #1 in the World 1978-1981 | 4-time winner | 2002 |
| Marcus O'Sullivan | Ireland | Mile | 3-time World Indoor gold, 4-time Olympian (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996) | 5-time Wanamaker Mile winner | 2002 |
| Billy Olson | United States | Pole Vault | 11-time World Record Holder, 1988 Olympian | 4-time winner | 2004 |
| Doug Padilla | United States | 3000, 5000 | 2-time Olympian (1984, 1988) | 6-time winner | 2000 |
| Don Paige | United States | 1000 | Ranked #1 in World, Sullivan Award winner (1980) | 5-time winner | 2001 |
| Joie Ray | United States | 1½ Mile | 3-time Olympian, 1924 bronze medalist 3000 | 7-time winner | 2004 |
| Greg Rice | United States | 2 Mile | World Record Holder, Sullivan Award winner (1940) | 4-time winner | 2005 |
| Bob Richards | United States | Pole Vault | 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1952, 1956) | 11-time winner | 1999 |
| Fred Schmertz | United States | Meet Director, 1934–1974 | 2003 | ||
| Howard Schmertz | United States | Meet Director, 1975–2002 | 2007 | ||
| Mary Slaney | United States | 1000, 1500, Mile | 36 ARs, 17 WR, World Championships double gold (1983) | 6-time winner | 2002 |
| Dwight Stones | United States | High Jump | 2-time Olympic bronze medalist (1972, 1976) | 3-time winner | 2005 |
| John Thomas | United States | High Jump | 2-time Olympic medalist, silver and bronze (1960, 1964) | 6-time winner | 1999 |
| Gwen Torrence | United States | Sprints | 5-time Olympic medalist, including 3 gold (1992, 1996) | 7-time winner | 2003 |
| Cheryl Toussaint | United States | 440, 600, 800 | Olympic 4x400 silver medalist (1972) | 4-time winner | 2005 |
| Cornelius Warmerdam | United States | Pole Vault | World Record Holder, Sullivan Award winner (1942) | 2-time winner | 2001 |
| Mal Whitfield | United States | 600, 880 | 5-time Olympic medalist, including 3 gold (1948, 1952) | 4-time winner | 2002 |
World records
Over the course of its history, numerous world records have been set at the Millrose Games.
| Year | Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Long jump | 8.79 m | Carl Lewis | United States |
| 1988 | Mile walk | 5:33.53 [WB] | Tim Lewis | United States |
| 2018 | 300 m | 35.45 [WB] | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas |
| 2018 | 4 × 800 m relay | 8:05.89 | Chrishuna Williams Raevyn Rogers Charlene Lipsey Ajeé Wilson | United States |
Meeting Records
Men
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 m | 6.45 | Maurice Greene | United States | 4 February 2000 | |
| 300 m | 32.35 | Rai Benjamin | United States | 8 February 2020 | [5] |
| 400 m | 45.35 | Bralon Taplin | Grenada | 20 February 2016 | [6] |
| 500 m | 1:00.06 | Brycen Spratling | United States | 14 February 2015 | [7] |
| 600 y | 1:07.53 | Mark Everett | United States | 7 February 1992 | |
| 600 m | 1:15.61 | Erik Sowinski | United States | 16 February 2013 | [8] |
| 800 m | 1:43.98 | Michael Saruni | Kenya | 9 February 2019 | [9] |
| 1000 m | 2:17.63 | Pierre-Ambroise Bosse | France | 15 February 2014 | [10] |
| 1500 m | 3:33.17+ | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia | 9 February 2019 | |
| Mile | 3:47.38 | Yared Nuguse | United States | 11 February 2023 | [11] |
| 2000 m | 4:54.74 | Bernard Lagat | United States | 15 February 2014 | [12] |
| 3000 m | 7:33.47 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 11 February 2023 | [13] |
| Two miles | 8:09.49 | Bernard Lagat | United States | 16 February 2013 | [14] |
| 5000 m | 13:07.15 | Bernard Lagat | United States | 11 February 2012 | [15][16] |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.43 | Allen Johnson | United States | 6 February 2004 | |
| High jump | 2.34 m | Jimmy Howard | United States | 26 January 1985 | |
| 14 February 1986 | |||||
| Pole vault | 5.87 m | Jeff Hartwig | United States | 1 February 2002 | |
| Long jump | 8.79 m WR | Carl Lewis | United States | 27 January 1984 | |
| Shot put | 22.58 m | Ryan Crouser | United States | 11 February 2023 | [17] |
| Weight throw | 24.82 m | Lance Deal | United States | 3 February 1993 | |
| Mile walk | 5:33.53 | Tim Lewis | United States | 5 February 1988 | |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:27.01 | Shore AC Charles Cox Derrhyl Duncan Jr. Jamal Roberts Kelly Fisher | United States | 15 February 2014 | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:11.53 | Atlantic Coast Club | United States | 8 February 1988 | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 7:21.37 | Penn State Brannon Kidder Casimir Loxsom Za'Von Watkins Ricky West | United States | 16 February 2013 | [18] |
| Distance medley relay | 9:42.79 | NJ/NY TC Travis Mahoney Ben Scheetz Nick Reid Christian Thompson | United States | 16 February 2013 | [19] |
Women
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 m | 7.00 | Gail Devers | United States | 4 February 1994 | |
| 300 m | 35.45 WB | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 3 February 2018 | [20] |
| 400 m | 50.89 | Sanya Richards-Ross | United States | 11 February 2012 | [21][22] |
| 500 m | 1:07.34 | Courtney Okolo | United States | 11 February 2017 | [23] |
| 600 y | 1:20.79 | Lashinda Demus | United States | 1 February 2008 | |
| 600 m | 1:23.59 | Alysia Montaño | United States | 16 February 2013 | [24] |
| 800 m | 1:58.29 | Ajeé Wilson | United States | 8 February 2020 | [25] |
| 1:58.27 X | Ajee' Wilson | United States | 11 February 2017 | [26] | |
| 1500 m | 3:59.87+ | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | Germany | 8 February 2020 | [27] |
| Mile | 4:16.85 | Elinor Purrier | United States | 8 February 2020 | [28] |
| 3000 m | 8:25.05 | Alicia Monson | United States | 11 February 2023 | [29] |
| 5000 m | 14:57.18 | Betsy Saina | United States | 20 February 2016 | [30] |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.76 | Gail Devers | United States | 6 February 2004 | |
| High jump | 1.97 m | Louise Ritter | United States | 3 February 1989 | |
| Pole vault | 4.91 m | Sandi Morris | United States | 8 February 2020 | [31] |
| Long jump | 7.00 m | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | United States | 7 February 1992 | |
| Shot put | 20.03 m | Chase Ealey | United States | 11 February 2023 | [32] |
| Weight throw | 24.19 m | Amber Campbell | United States | 29 January 2010 | |
| Mile walk | 6:17.29 | Rachel Seaman | Canada | 15 February 2014 | [33][34] |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:36.30 | Garden State TC Taylor Anderson Felicia Brown Edwards Gabrielle Farquharson Haisha Bisiolu | United States | 11 February 2023 | [35] |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:40.51 | Atoms Track Club | United States | 27 January 1984 | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 8:05.89 WR | Chrishuna Williams Raevyn Rogers Charlene Lipsey Ajeé Wilson | United States | 3 February 2018 | [36] |
| Distance medley relay | 11:14.16 | NJ/NY TC Heather Wilson Danielle Tauro Kimmara McDonald Caroline King | United States | 16 February 2013 | [37] |
References
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high_school/2011/05/12/2011-05-12_millrose_games_after_almost_100_years_at_madison_square_garden_will_be_held_at_t.html New York Daily News May 12, 2011
- ^ "Lagat Wins Mile at Millrose, Tying Coghlan’s Record". The New York Times, 2009-01-31.
- ^ http://ny.milesplit.com/articles/67357 Armory Track and Field Foundation press release
- ^ Williams, Doug (February 9, 2017). "'I've realized what a plague doping is in our sport'". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "Stefanidi and Payne clear 4.90m at Millrose Games - indoor round-up". IAAF. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ . nyrrmillrosegames.org. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "600 Metres Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ Jon Mulkeen (10 February 2019). "Kejelcha gets within 0.01 of world indoor mile record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Elena Dyachkova (15 February 2014). "Lagat's US 2000m record highlights Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ Rosen, Karen (February 12, 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ . www.results.nyrrmillrosegames.org. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ Rosen, Karen (February 12, 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Two Miles Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ . www.armorytrack.com. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ Parker Morse (12 February 2012). "U.S. 5000m record for Lagat in New York". IAAF. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ Rosen, Karen (February 12, 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "4×800m Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Distance Medley Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ Bob Ramsak (4 February 2018). "USA breaks 4x800m world indoor record, Korir runs 1:44.21 African indoor 800m record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ . www.armorytrack.com. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ Parker Morse (12 February 2012). "U.S. 5000m record for Lagat in New York". IAAF. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ "Two American records set during 110th NYRR Millrose Games". runblogrun.com. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "600 Metres Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Jon Mulkeen (12 February 2017). "Wilson, Hassan and Okolo shine on night of world leads and records at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Rosen, Karen (February 12, 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Stefanidi and Payne clear 4.90m at Millrose Games - indoor round-up". IAAF. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Rosen, Karen (February 12, 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Alfons Juck, Kevin Mangan (17 February 2014). . www.american-trackandfield.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ . www.results.nyrrmillrosegames.org. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Women's 4×200m Relay Results". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 11 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Bob Ramsak (4 February 2018). "USA breaks 4x800m world indoor record, Korir runs 1:44.21 African indoor 800m record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ "Distance Medley Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
External links
- Official website
- Millrose Games & Wanamaker Mile