Kerr leads strong field of collegiate athletes at Millrose Games

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

New Mexico junior Josh Kerr won NCAA Division 1 indoor mile and outdoor 1,500-meter titles last year, but the former European U20 champion will face perhaps the biggest challenge of his collegiate career Saturday when he competes in the men's Wanamaker Mile at the 111th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory in New York City.

VIDEO INTERVIEW

In addition to fellow British standouts Chris O'Hare and Charlie Grice along with New Zealand's Nick Willis, Kerr will be joined by Robert Domanic of Ole Miss, as well as American professional stars Robby Andrews, Ben Blankenship, Kyle Merber and Will Leer.

LIVE WEBCAST

"It means everything. Coming here against these guys, I need to make sure I don't give them too much respect, but I've looked up to these guys for a very long time and everything they've done," Kerr said. "We've got Olympians and medalists in here, it's definitely a stacked field and I'm excited to race against it. Coming in healthy makes it all that much better."

The collegiate record is 3:52.01 set last year by former Oregon star and 17-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek. Kerr's indoor mile best is 3:59.90, and if he or Domanic can run under 3:55, they would break into the top 10 all-time indoor collegiate performers.

"It's definitely a number that's in the back of my mind, but very far back at the moment," Kerr said. "I need to race what's in front of me and what's beside me, so I'm not too worried about the time. (Saturday) the time will come if all goes to plan. I'm just going to race these guys and try to come out on top."

Tyler Mayforth of USTFCCCA breaks down several collegiate entries competing against the professionals, including Justyn Knight of Syracuse in the men's 3,000, Missouri's Karissa Schweizer and New Mexico's Ednah Kurgat in the women's 3,000, along with Arkansas' Nikki Hiltz and New Hampshire's Elinor Purrier in the women's Wanamaker Mile.

In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Youngstown State's Chad Zallow, Syracuse's Freddie Crittenden and Florida State freshman Trey Cunningham are scheduled to compete, with Princeton's Carrington Akosa in the men's 60-meter dash and Sean Tobin of Ole Miss in the men's 'B' mile.

Columbia, Iona and Penn are entered in the women's 4x800 relay, where Americans Ajee' Wilson, Charlene Lipsey, Raevyn Rogers and Chrishuna Williams are taking aim at the world indoor record.