The 111th NYRR Millrose Games this Saturday at New York Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center is almost certain to continue this unprecedented excitement for a young indoor track season.
In the Joe Yancey Men’s 60 meters, after being beaten at the Queens Grace Jackson Meet (outdoor 60m), Asafa Powell looks to step his game up this season and hopes to wind down his legendary career in victorious style. He will be joined by countryman Olympic and World champion 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod, who is working on his speed this season, as they take on up-and- coming stars like American 300-meter world record holder Noah Lyles and China’s 200-meter record holder Xe Zhenye.
“This year is a little bit of an experiment year”, McLeod told reporters Friday.
“It’s an off year so I definitely want to branch off and see where my talent lies in regards to sprinting,” added McLeod, who has also broken 10 seconds in the 100m.
Jamaican Schillonie Calvert-Powell will be in the middle of an indoor rematch (of sorts) stemming from the drama that transpired in the Women’s 100m final 2017 between World Champion Tori Bowie and the woman she out-leaned to win that title, Ivorian Murielle Ahoure, in the Women’s 60m.
In the Howard Schmertz Women’s 60 Meter Hurdles Jamaica’s Monique Morgan will have her hands full against a stacked field of American stars, including 400 Meter World Champion Kori Carter, Olympic Champion 2008 Dawn Harper-Nelson, several time U.S. Champion and Olympic finalist Lolo Jones and Queen Harrison.
Trinidadian Lalonde Gordon is in a similar situation running the open NYAC Men’s 400m against an all American field which includes the likes of Michael Cherry who was on the silver medal winning USA 4x4oo meter relay team, although, as a resident of Queens, he is at least competing from the luxury of a semi-home meet (and the confidence of a 4x400m World Championship).
Shaune Miller-Uibo will try to rebound from last year’s disappointment in the London World Championships after abruptly pulling up in the last few meters of Women’s 400m final, by coming in as favorite in the 300m over Americans Ashley Spencer and Courtney Okolo.
Both the Men and Women’s 3000m will feature Jamaica’s first World Championship finalists in the event in Kemoy Campbell and Aisha Praught-Leer, as they continue to push the athletic boundaries of the nation.
Perhaps the most hyped event this weekend will be the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 4×800 Relay, where the U.S. will feature an all-star quartet of Charlene Lipsey, Ajee’ Wilson, Chrishuna Williams and Raevyn Rogers, in great position to break, or at least challenge, the current indoor world record of 8:06.24.
Of course, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, Fellan Ferguson, Simoya Campbell, Kimarra McDonald will try to make their presence felt as well.
All in all, the weekend should be memorable one at the Armory as the championship phase of the season approaches.
Saturday events begin at 11:30 am. For those in the states, 4pm on NBC.
