Nuguse Closes Millrose Games With Show-Stopping 3:47.38 For American Record And Second-Fastest Indoor Mile Ever

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan Photos | INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Yared Nuguse's ascent to the top of professional distance running took another dramatic step forward Saturday when he ran the second-fastest indoor mile in history to win the famed Wanamaker Mile at the 115th Millrose Games. 

Before a packed house and a national TV audience, the former standout from Notre Dame ran his final quarter mile in 54.23 seconds and finished in 3:47.38 to smash Bernard Lagat's American indoor record by two and a half seconds. 

"Cool," Nuguse said when asked about the historic nature of his performance. "I've always gotten more thrill off of the doing well on a big stage part versus the record part. Still, super happy to get that record and still excited to see what I can do next and what else I can accomplish.

"I just turned pro and I feel like I've got a lot more coming."

Nuguse bettered the American record in the 3,000 meters when he ran 7:28.24 two weeks ago in Boston. 

Nuguse won an NCAA title in the 1,500 meters back in 2019 and was part of an indoor Distance Medley Relay championship, but his final years of college included two runner-up finishes at NCAA finals but no more titles. 

He has thrived in a new training environment with On Running and coach Dathan Ritzenhein and been a revelation to start 2023, which is starting to feel like the Year of the Goose. 

Behind him, Neil Gourley of Great Britain ran a personal-best 3:49.46 for second. Ollie Hoare of Australia ran the exact same time that he did while winning in 2022 (3:50.83) to place third. And Sam Tanner ran a personal-best 3:51.70 for fourth.

Nuguse's run was one of three American records on Saturday and followed equally stellar performances by Alicia Monson in the 3,000 meters and Abby Steiner in the 300. 

In the Women's Wanamaker Mile, Great Britain's Laura Muir showed her global medalist bona fides on the way to her first track victory on U.S. soil in a winning time of 4:20.15. She was able to pull away late from Josette Andrews, who finished in 4:20.88. 

Muir won the 5th Avenue Mile last summer on the street that borders Central Park. 

"I really wanted to race (at Millrose) and ultimately come to win," Muir said. 

World champions Ryan Crouser, Katie Moon and Chase Ealey all won their respective field events. 

Crouser won the men's shot put with 74-1 (22.58m) and broke his own meet record, while Joe Kovacs finished second with 70-0.50 (21.34m) on just one legal mark out of six attempts. 

Moon cleared 15-9.25 (4.81m) to hold off Bridget Williams (15-7.25/4.76m) to win the pole vault competition. Moon took three attempts at an Armory record height of 16-1.75 (4.92m). 

Ealey won the women's shot put with a meet record 65-8.75 (20.03m) despite not feeling 100 percent. Her mark was also a world leader and Armory record. 

Noah Kibet, an 18-year-old Kenyan who has joined Nike's Union Athletics Club, won the men's 800 meters in a world-leading 1:44.98. Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts led for 600 meters and finished second in a personal-best 1:45.64.

Josh Kerr won an entertaining men's 3,000 meters in a meet and facility record time of 7:33.47. After pacer AJ Ernst dropped off, Cooper Teare went to the lead for a lap and then he was subsequently passed by Luis Grijalva. 

Kerr ruled that last lap and closed in 26.98 seconds. It was his first 3,000 race since high school and he lopped a full minute off of his personal best. 

Grijalva broke the Guatemalan record with 7:33.86, taking nearly four seconds off his own record. Joe Klecker (7:34.14) and Teare (7:34.70) were part of a train of 11 runners who all ran personal bests. 

Ajee' Wilson won her 16th straight race at The Armory to prevail in the 600 meters in 1:24.85. The race felt the absence of Athing Mu, who pulled out of the meet recently. 

In the men's 60-meter dash, Christian Coleman prevailed in his showdown with Noah Lyles, although it went a bit off script. Lyles was flagged for a false start and ran the race under protest, disagreeing with the reaction-time ruling. But ultimately, his time was not counted in the official results and Coleman beat him to the tape anyway. 

Coleman's time of 6.47 was a world-leading time and also a track record. 

Aleia Hobbs kept her strong start to 2023 going by winning the women's 60 dash in 7.04 seconds. Tamari Davis ran 7.08 seconds for second place. 

Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas won the women's 60-meter hurdles in 7.91 seconds. 

Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago won the men's 400 meters in 45.84 seconds.