Stars Aligned For 112th Edition Of NYRR Millrose Games

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

NEW YORK – The 112th NYRR Millrose Games is the sport of track and field’s biggest and best indoor track meet and one that might not work in any other city.

Even amidst of a 100-meet winter schedule, The Armory in uptown Washington Heights undergoes a transformation for Millrose.

In the city that never sleeps, this one of the buildings that never sleeps.

Millrose is an occasion for a spit-shine. It’s red carpet time. There is an elaborate plan of ingress and egress for every person who comes for Millrose – from elite athletes to amateur athletes to fans and media. Parking, food, ticketing, coat-check, dress code, meet program – everything takes on an extra layer of detail.

The meet itself weaves together all of the constituencies of the sport – from Master’s races to high school races to kids’ races; race walks; weight throws (on Thursday); and a leveling up through Saturday’s schedule that leads to the TV window and Olympic-caliber talent.

Who will win the day and produce Saturday’s biggest headline?

Will Yomif Kejelcha of the Oregon Project break the world record in the indoor mile? Those who witnessed his workout Thursday afternoon at The Armory said he looked amazing.

Will Colleen Quigley, who first came to New York as a teen model in the fashion industry, win the Women’s Wanamaker Mile in back to back years? She'll have to hold off teammate and altitude-camp roommate Kate Grace again to do it.

Will a men’s 3,000 meters filled with current or recent NCAA champions – Grant Fisher, Morgan McDonald, Pat Tiernan and Ben Flanagan – produce something special.

Will Ajee' Wilson extend her Armory dominance with an 800 meters that approaches her own U.S. record?

Will high school superstar Katelyn Tuohy steal the thunder of the professionals and do something amazing in the high school girls mile? Or maybe the boys from Bullis MD will chase their own national record in the 4x200 relay.

One event after another, Millrose is all about upstaging what just happened with whatever comes next.

Maybe the big boys in the shot put, Olympic gold-silver combo Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, will push each other to a building record as they work together to give their event the best possible shine.

English Gardner, at 26 and a veteran of two knee reconstructions, is back with a vengeance to take on the 60 meters, an event she won here in 2013. She said Friday her ambitions are alive again and she hopes to one day be one of the three fastest women in history.

Emma Coburn is in the 3,000 with teammate Aisha Praught-Leer, hoiping to re-stage one of 2018's best races.

Vashti Cunningham in the high jump.

Donavan Brazier in the men’s 800.

Devon Allen in the 60-meter hurdles.

New Jersey preps Athing Mu and Luis Peralta in the 600s.

Taylor Ewert taking on pregnant Olympian Maria Michta-Coffey in the 1-mile racewalk.

They’ll all do their best and try to capture imaginations on a day of wall-to-wall action.

All that’s left is to watch it unfold.