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
2008 Millrose Games

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 legendary sports announcer Ted Husing would broadcast the race live on his 10 p.m. radio show.

Marking its 81st running last year, the Wanamaker Mile has been won by 44 different men, including such luminaries as Glenn Cunningham, Kip Keino, Tony Waldrop, Filbert Bayi, Steve Scott, Noureddine Morceli, Bernard Lagat, Marcus O'Sullivan, Ron Delany, and, of course, the Irish legend whose name is synonymous with the event: Eamonn Coghlan. Known as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his dominance on the old wooden Millrose track, the Irishman won the mile here an astonishing seven times, a feat surpassed only by Bernard Lagat, who won his eighth Wanamaker Mile in 2010.[2]

Some of the most memorable moments 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 thrilling run to a 1500-meter World Indoor Record to ear-splitting encouragement from the crowd, in 1980; John Uelses becoming the first person to pole vault the height of 16 feet; Carl Lewis in 1984 shattering 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 took the helm in 1934, handing the reins to 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 games, operated by the New York Road Runners (which also operates the New York City Marathon), 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
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 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 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 3:36.1 Bernard Lagat  United States 2005
Mile 3:48.46 Yomif Kejelcha  Ethiopia 9 February 2019 [11]
2000 m 4:54.74 Bernard Lagat  United States 15 February 2014 [12]
3000 m 7:38.82 Ryan Hill  United States 20 February 2016 [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 2004
High jump 2.34 m Jimmy Howard  United States 1985
1986
Pole vault 5.87 m Jeff Hartwig  United States 2002
Long jump 8.79 m Carl Lewis  United States 1984
Shot put 22.33 m Ryan Crouser  United States 9 February 2019 [17]
Weight throw 24.82 m Lance Deal  United States 1993
Mile walk 5:33.53 Tim Lewis  United States 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 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 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 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 8 February 2020 [27]
Mile 4:16.85 Elinor Purrier  United States 8 February 2020 [28]
3000 m 8:41.72 Sally Kipyego  Kenya 14 February 2015 [29]
5000 m 14:57.18 Betsy Saina  United States 20 February 2016 [30]
60 m hurdles 7.76 Gail Devers  United States 2004
High jump 1.97 m Louise Ritter  United States 1989
Pole vault 4.91 m Sandi Morris  United States 8 February 2020 [31]
Long jump 7.00 m Jackie Joyner-Kersee  United States 1992
Shot put 18.59 m Connie Price-Smith  United States 1999
Weight throw 24.19 m Amber Campbell  United States 2010
Mile walk 6:17.29 Rachel Seaman  Canada 15 February 2014 [32][33]
4 × 200 m relay 1:36.34 Bullis
Ashley Seymour
Masai Russell
Leah Phillips
Shaniya Hall		  United States 3 February 2018
4 × 400 m relay 3:40.51 Atoms Track Club  United States 1984
4 × 800 m relay 8:05.89 Chrishuna Williams
Raevyn Rogers
Charlene Lipsey
Ajeé Wilson		  United States 3 February 2018 [34]
Distance medley relay 11:14.16 NJ/NY TC
Heather Wilson
Danielle Tauro
Kimmara McDonald
Caroline King		  United States 16 February 2013 [35]
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References
  1. 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
  2. "Lagat Wins Mile at Millrose, Tying Coghlan’s Record". The New York Times, 2009-01-31.
  3. http://ny.milesplit.com/articles/67357 Armory Track and Field Foundation press release
  4. Williams, Doug (February 9, 2017). "'I've realized what a plague doping is in our sport'". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  5. "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. "Stefanidi and Payne clear 4.90m at Millrose Games - indoor round-up". IAAF. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  7. "NYAC Men's 500m Run Results". nyrrmillrosegames.org. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. "600 Metres Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  9. Jon Mulkeen (10 February 2019). "Kejelcha gets within 0.01 of world indoor mile record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  10. Elena Dyachkova (15 February 2014). "Lagat's US 2000m record highlights Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  11. Jon Mulkeen (10 February 2019). "Kejelcha gets within 0.01 of world indoor mile record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  12. "2000m Results". www.results.nyrrmillrosegames.org. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  13. "Ryan Hill Kicks Best to Win Loaded 3,000 in World-Leading 7:38.82; Edward Cheserek 7:40.51 (#2 All-Time NCAA)". letsrun.com. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  14. "Two Miles Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  15. "Millrose Games 2012 Complete Results". www.armorytrack.com. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  16. Parker Morse (12 February 2012). "U.S. 5000m record for Lagat in New York". IAAF. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  17. Jon Mulkeen (10 February 2019). "Kejelcha gets within 0.01 of world indoor mile record at Millrose Games". IAAF. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  18. "4×800m Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  19. "Distance Medley Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  20. 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.
  21. "Millrose Games 2012 Complete Results". www.armorytrack.com. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  22. Parker Morse (12 February 2012). "U.S. 5000m record for Lagat in New York". IAAF. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  23. "Two American records set during 110th NYRR Millrose Games". runblogrun.com. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  24. "600 Metres Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  25. "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  26. 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.
  27. "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  28. "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  29. "3000m Results". nyrrmillrosegames.org. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  30. "Stefanidi and Payne clear 4.90m at Millrose Games - indoor round-up". IAAF. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  31. "Purrier smashes North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  32. Alfons Juck, Kevin Mangan (17 February 2014). "EME News February 16th". www.american-trackandfield.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  33. "Mile Walk Result". www.results.nyrrmillrosegames.org. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  34. 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.
  35. "Distance Medley Relay Results". www.branchsportstech.com. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
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