102nd Annual Millrose Games
| Date: |
January 30, 2009 |
| Place: |
Madison Square Garden |
| Time: |
5:40pm |
Many of the world’s top track & field athletes will run straight into the history books in the 102nd edition of the legendary Millrose Games. The oldest continuing sporting event held at Madison Square Garden, the Millrose Games has touched generations of sports fans, uniting them in a yearly ritual that has hosted the greatest names in track & field history, among them Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Eamonn Coghlan, Mary Slaney and Carl Lewis.
In the 102-year history of the Millrose Games, a remarkable 88 world records have been tied or set and 202 Millrose winners have been Olympic medalists. The Games will feature men’s and women's sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, pole vaulting, men’s shot put, invitational high school and collegiate races and the famed Wanamaker Mile. Additionally, the Millrose Games will feature the New York's Fastest Kid competition.
The prestigious list of long distance runners that have won the Wanamaker Mile throughout the past 82 years includes James Connolly (4:17.2), Glenn Cunningham (4:11.0), Ron Delany (4:04.6), Kip Keino (4:03.9), Eamonn Coghlan (3:53.0) and Bernard Lagat (3:57:51). In the 2008 Millrose Games, American Bernard Lagat stole the show as he outpaced Craig Mottram for the second consecutive year en route to winning his sixth Wanamaker Mile title. Also at the 2008 games, Adam Nelson, named the Outstanding Athlete of the event, uncorked a meet record 72’5” toss on his final shot put throw to beat Christian Cantwell and reigning world indoor and outdoor champ Reese Hoffa.
For more information, please visit www.Millrose-Games.com.
Notable Millrose Games Facts:
-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.
-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 indoors, in 1942; John Thomas hitting the first 7-foot high jump, in 1959; Mary Decker’s thrilling run to a 1500-meter World Indoor Record in 1980 to ear-splitting encouragement from the crowd; Carl Lewis in 1984 shattering the World Indoor Record with a jump of 28 feet, 10.25 inches, a mark that still stands; Eamonn Coghlan notching his seventh Wanamaker Mile in 1987; and Stacy Dragila setting a late-night pole vault world record in 2001.
Athlete Quotes from past Millrose Games
Reese Hoffa, men's shot put winner - "Needless to say, the atmosphere out there was electric. They did a great job. From the moment I stepped out there on the track, I knew I had the possibility of going over 70, but I kept going too far too the left. It's one of my problems. So I thought, make an adjustment and do everything as my last throw. I put it together - I was amazed. I've had some troubles putting it together. Plus, it's my PR, so that was great."
Angela Daigle, winner, women's 60 meters - "It's so amazing. It was absolutely amazing. This was huge for me - I've never won anything in my elite career yet. I almost won last year, I got snipped at the line. So I wanted to come back this year and do well. Outdoors in the 100, I'm pretty much leading for the first 60 meters. That's a good opening time for me. Last year I opened with 7.24, so improvement is good."
Bernard Lagat, winner, Wanamaker Mile - "It was a great atmosphere today. The race was well-assembled. We had Laban Rotich and my great friend and competitor, Alan Webb. It was one of the greatest miles I've been in. We have people who are great, ready to run, and we showed that today. It was a great challenge. I wanted to have my own race plan. It's a good thing, knowing I'm going into my next race in a week. It's a confidence boost. [On the fast pace]: I felt strong. I told the guy, keep on pushing, keep on moving. That was good. I wanted to run [the record] because 3:52 is not easy. Breaking the record feels good and tells me that my training is good."
Click on the camera above to view pictures from the 2004 "Fastest Kid in NY" competition.
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