The 112th New York Road Runners (NYRR) Millrose Games held at The Armory in Washington Heights, New York, saw impressive performances, including world leads and meet records by American 800m Ajee Wilson, Kenyan Michael Saruni and American thrower Ryan Crouser. Wilson, who was winning her 2nd race in as many weeks, won the women’s 800m in a national record time of 1:58.60. Running out of lane 5, she took early command of the race and never relinquished the lead to improve on her personal best of 1:58.99 set back in March 2018. Wilson finished ahead of Jamaica’s Natoya Goule (1:59.13) and American Ce’Aira Brown (1:59.74). Wilson, of Neptune New Jersey, is in fine form this season having established a world lead in the 600m (1:25.91) at the Dr Sander Invitational meet last month.
Saruni leads the world.
Michael Saruni won the men’s 800m in a world leading time of 1:43.98, a new Kenyan national record and a new meet record. The former NCAA 800m outdoor champion and the 600m indoor world record holder (1:14.79) used his powerful kick in the final 200m to best American Donavan Brazier and the rest of the field. Brazier finished in 2nd with a time of 1:44.41, a new American record, with American Sam Ellison (1:46.13) in third. Saruni, a 23 year-old former UTEP star, is positioning himself for a podium appearance at the upcoming IAAF World Championship later this summer.
Crouser throw a world leading bomb
After throws of 21.60m, 21.34m and 21.51m in his first three attempts, American Ryan Crouser unleashed a 22.33m bomb on his 4th attempt to take the win in the men’s shot put event. Crouser’s throw of 22.33m is a personal best and established a new Millrose Games record in the event. American Joe Kovacs (20.86m) was second with Jamaican Ashina Miller throwing a personal best 20.54m for third. Crouser winning throw of 22.33m is the 4th longest throw in indoor shot put history behind the longest mark of 22.66m set by Randy Barnes back in January 1989.
Gardner and Teeters takes the Sprints
Using a reasonably good start, American English Gardner ran a controlled race to win the Ray Flynn women’s 60m race in 7.10 seconds ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Aye (7.15 seconds) and American Javianne Oliver (7.19 seconds). The victory signaled great news for Gardner who has undergone several surgeries to address her injury woes. Gardner winning time of 7.10 seconds makes her the second fastest women over 60m this season. Only Poland’s Ewa Swoboda has gone faster (7.08 seconds). Gardner, a two-time 100m national champion and current volunteer assistant coach at Princeton University, by virtue of her Millrose Games performance, signaled that she is back to full fitness.
Running out of lane 6, American John Teeters recovered from an average start to take the Joe Yancey Men’s 60m race in 6.56 seconds ahead of Ameer Webb (6.66) and Tevin Hester (6.69). The 25-year-old Teeter who has a personal best 6.52 seconds in the 60m which he set four years ago, is in fine early form this season.
Nelvis and Allen took hurdles honors
American 60m hurdles indoor record holder Sharika Nelvis won the Howard Schmertz women’s 60m hurdles in 8.01 seconds just ahead of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (8.03) and Norway’s Isabelle Pederson (8.24). Nelvis is the reigning 60m indoor national champion.
On the men’s side, Devon Allen captured the men’s 60m hurdles race in a season best time of 7.61 seconds ahead of Freddie Crittenden (7.61) and Chad Zallow (7.69). Photo-finish technology was used to determine the winner as Allen and Crittenden posted the same time of 7.61 seconds.
Klosterhalfen and Kejelcha victorious in Wanamaker Mile
Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen and Ethopia’s Yomif Kejelcha were both victorious in the women’s and men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile races. The Wanamaker Mile is the signature event at the Millrose Games and is rich in historical significance. Klosterhalfen won the women’s section in a world leading time of 4:19.98 ahead of Americans Colleen Quigley (4.22.86) and Kate Grace (4:24.27). Klosterhalfen took control of the race early and never relinquished the lead and cruised to an impressive time of 4:19.98, a new German national record.
On the men’s side, Kejelcha also took control, in the middle of the race, and cruised to victory in an Ethiopian national record and world leading time of 3:48.46. Kejelcha finished ahead of Kenya’s Edward Cheserek (3:53.29) and American Clayton Murphy (3:53.30).
Other Events
American Vashti Cunningham took the John Thomas women’s high jump competition with a leap of 1.95m ahead of Antigua’s Priscilla Frederick (1.88m) and St Lucia’s Lavern Spencer (1.88m).
Written by O’Neil A. Reid and edited by Raymond Byfield
