2024 Millrose Preview: Kerr & Nuguse Headline Loaded Races and WR Attempts

12 months after 12 months, you possibly can rely on the Millrose Video games to ship. It has every little thing you’d need from a regular-season monitor meet: historical past (this 12 months is the 116th version), main head-to-head showdowns, and precise stakes. The latter is difficult to return by lately, however a victory at Millrose is particular, particularly within the famed Wanamaker Mile, which is why Nick Willis spent his total profession chasing one. There’s a motive Willis saved displaying as much as Millrose (whereas Willis earned two Olympic medals, he by no means did win the Wanamaker Mile in 9 makes an attempt).

The 2024 version can be held on Sunday and might be among the finest but. And sure, we’re effectively conscious the meet is on Tremendous Bowl Sunday. Don’t panic. The races are from 1-3 p.m. ET and kickoff in Las Vegas is just not till 6:30. Loads of time to observe each on TV. Although not fairly sufficient time to observe each in-person in case your tight finish boyfriend is taking part in within the sport.

The lads’s mile and 2-mile are each being billed as world report makes an attempt, with Yared Nuguse and Josh Kerr main the chases (3:47.01 within the mile, 8:03.40 within the 2-mile). However the fields are so sturdy that neither is assured victory. Hobbs Kessler, George Mills, Cooper Teare, and Mario Garcia Romo are all working towards Nuguse within the mile whereas Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Geordie Beamish, and Joe Klecker are entered within the 2-mile. Each races needs to be improbable.

The ladies’s races also needs to be sizzling with Laura Muir, Alicia Monson, and Nikki Hiltz squaring off within the 2-mile and a resurgent Elle St. Pierre going for a 3rd Wanamaker Mile title towards Jessica Hull.

Under, a preview on the prime occasions on Sunday’s schedule, in chronological order.

What: 2024 Millrose GamesWhen: Sunday, February 11. TV window from 1-3 p.m. ET on NBC.The place: The Armory, New York Metropolis*Schedule/entries/reside outcomes *Learn how to watch

Males’s 60 (1:22 p.m. ET): Christian Coleman will get the prospect to answer Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles made an announcement final weekend in Boston by working an enormous pb of 6.44 to win the New Steadiness Indoor Grand Prix. After the race, he mentioned he plans on working subsequent month’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, the place he’ll chase 60m gold.

However pretty much as good as Lyles is, Christian Coleman continues to be the king of US 60-meter working proper now. Coleman is the world report holder, has received gold and silver on the final two World Indoors, and is 4-0 lifetime towards Lyles over 60 meters, together with wins at Millrose in 2022 and 2023. If Lyles is to win the world title, he should undergo Coleman to do it.

The 2 won’t race one another this weekend, however with Coleman headlining the 60 at Millrose, it will likely be our likelihood to see him over his specialty distance earlier than USAs. It is going to be a fast turnaround: Coleman races at Millrose on Sunday, after which once more six days later at USAs in Albuquerque.

The Armory straightaway is just not often known as notably quick, however we are going to get an thought of how Coleman compares to Lyles as a result of he’s dealing with Jamaican Ackeem Blake, who was 2nd in Boston in 6.45 (simply .01 behind Lyles).

Males’s 800 (1:32 p.m. ET): Hoppel vs Kibet in battle of World Indoor medalists

Two years in the past in Belgrade, Kenya’s Noah Kibet (who trains within the US with the Nike Union Athletics Membership) edged American Bryce Hoppel for the silver medal on the World Indoor Championships. Final 12 months, they raced once more at Millrose and it was no contest: Kibet took the victory in a fast 1:44.98 whereas Hoppel packed it in and completed seventh in 1:54.43 after getting bumped and dropping momentum with 300m to go.

Their fates would diverge over the remainder of 2023. Whereas Hoppel claimed his second straight US title outdoor and made it to the ultimate at Worlds, Kibet would by no means run sooner than that 1:44.98 all 12 months and didn’t even make the ultimate of the aggressive Kenyan World Championship trials.

Kibet did open up his 2024 marketing campaign with a 1:47 win in Albuquerque however was solely tenth within the mile at Dr. Sander two weeks in the past. In the meantime Hoppel, who has been coaching at altitude for the primary time in his profession, ran a strong 2:16.91 final week for 2nd within the 1000 meters on the NBIGP in Boston.

That ought to make Hoppel the favourite right here, however this seems like an occasion the place we may see an upset. Princeton/Washington alum Sam Ellis wasn’t far behind Hoppel in Boston final week (2:17.10) whereas the Atlanta Observe Membership’s Luciano Fiore (1:47.44) chopped virtually a second off his indoor pb to win at Dr. Sander. May one in all them give Hoppel a scare?

Girls’s 2-mile (1:38 p.m. ET): Muir takes on American report holders Hiltz & Monson

Muir received the mile at Millrose in 2023 and can step up in distance on Sunday (Kevin Morris picture)

Initially, this was going to be a showdown between the American report holder within the mile, Nikki Hiltz (4:16.35) towards the American report holder within the 3k/5k/10k, Alicia Monson. The race bought much more attention-grabbing this week when British star Laura Muir was added to the sphere. Muir was initially scheduled to defend her mile title at Millrose, however found that the 8:34.49 she ran for 3,000m in Cardiff in December is just not acknowledged by World Athletics as a result of the meet was not listed on its world calendar. Instantly Muir, who’s planning on working the three,000 at World Indoors in her native Scotland, now not had a sound qualifying mark. Thus the swap to the 2-mile, the place there can be an official cut up at 3,000 (the Worlds customary is 8:37.00, which is 9:14 2-mile tempo).

The American indoor report of 9:10.28, set by Elle St. Pierre three years in the past, is certainly attainable (Monson’s US 5,000 report of 14:19 is 9:13 tempo for two miles). However so far as information go, “American indoor 2-mile” (or is it brief monitor now?) is fairly obscure. The battle for the win is way extra attention-grabbing.

We all know Hiltz, who ran 2:34.09 for 1000m two weeks in the past (not technically a US indoor report because it was on an oversize monitor) is match, however Hiltz hasn’t race above a mile since 2019. Does Hiltz have the endurance to hold? In the meantime Monson, who set a US report for 3k at this meet final 12 months, is gearing up for a quick 10,000 in March. Does she have the kick to prevail in a detailed race?

Muir is essentially the most well-rounded athlete within the subject, and as a two-time world medalist within the 1500 outdoor, she can be essentially the most adorned. She’s the favourite right here.

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Males’s 2-mile (2:02 p.m. ET): Kerr debuts in Fisher’s first race post-BTC

One of many nice issues about early-season meets is that most of the athletes are racing for the primary time in months, lending an air of unpredictability to proceedings. After a few races, we normally know who’s poised to have a giant 12 months and who is just not. Proper now, nevertheless, the probabilities are infinite. Did somebody make a giant bounce in health this fall? Is another person off form? Nothing reveals the reality like a race.

Kerr began 2023 with a win at Millrose and ended it as world champion (Kevin Morris picture)

A few of the prime males on this subject have already raced this season. Joe Klecker had a subpar race (by his requirements) at BU two weeks in the past, working 13:06 and lacking the Olympic customary. Cole Hocker ran 2:18.26 to win a 1k over Cooper Teare final week at Virginia Tech (Teare ran 2:19.80) after taking twelfth at USA XC. Geordie Beamish, who received the three,000 at Millrose in 2022, is coming off a 13:04 5k pb at BU.

However the two names drawing essentially the most consideration on this race can be making their 2024 debuts. The primary is Nice Britain’s Josh Kerr. For Kerr, this time of 12 months is all about getting sturdy. Final 12 months, Kerr opened his season by working 7:33 to win the three,000 at Millrose and he ended the 12 months as 1500 world champion in Budapest. He’s working again the identical sport plan (plus an additional 218 meters) in 2024 and can have an incredible shot on the win.

Kerr has additionally mentioned focusing on Mo Farah‘s world indoor report of 8:03.40, although it’s value noting Kerr mentioned that again in November earlier than he knew the place his health can be for Millrose. The report may go, however, as within the ladies’s 2-mile, it’s the race that’s extra thrilling.

Hocker and Beamish are large kickers and might be threats if the tempo lags. If it’s quick, Kerr should fear about Grant Fisher. Fisher missed the group for final 12 months’s World Championships resulting from a stress damage however rebounded late within the season to indicate why he’s one in all America’s biggest distance skills, working 12:54 for five,000 in Zurich earlier than setting an American report of seven:25 within the 3,000 on the Diamond League last in Eugene. Only a month after that race, Fisher surprised the monitor world by asserting he had left the Bowerman Observe Membership, and he revealed to LetsRun in January that he’s now dwelling in Utah and has reunited together with his highschool coach, Mike Scannell, citing the will for extra time at altitude and extra management over his coaching.

It was a giant determination to make forward of an Olympic 12 months. At Millrose, we are going to begin to see if it was the precise one. Paris in August would be the final arbiter, in fact, however a win and world report over the world champ in Fisher’s season opener can be an indication that issues are shifting in the precise route.

LRC Grant Fisher Explains His Determination to Go away Bowerman, Reuniting with Coach Mike Scannell, & Opening 2024 at Millrose

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Girls’s 800 (2:27 p.m. ET): Goule-Toppin v Rogers

Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and the USA’s Raevyn Rogers are the highest entries on this race, and whereas Rogers has a far superior championship report, she will take some time to spherical into type. Goule-Toppin, in the meantime, had a terrific near her 2023 season, working a 1:55 pb at Prefontaine, and can be opening her 2024 marketing campaign at Millrose. 2023 Worlds qualifier Kaela Edwards and NCAA out of doors runner-up Gabija Galvydytė of Lithuania/Oklahoma State are additionally ladies to observe right here.

Girls’s Wanamaker Mile (2:42 p.m. ET): St. Pierre v Hull, half II

Hull topped St. Pierre in Boston final week (Kevin Morris picture)

There are three ladies who may realistically win this race: Elle St. Pierre, Jessica Hull, and Josette Andrews. We noticed St. Pierre and Hull duel final Sunday in Boston over 3,000. Hull, who has left the Nike Union Athletics Membership and is now being coached by her father Simon again residence in Australia, received that one in an incredible race, 8:24.93 to eight:25.25. Each ladies are clearly extremely match proper now — which is especially spectacular for St. Pierre contemplating she gave delivery 11 months in the past.

St. Pierre has received this race twice in differing fashions. In 2020, she got here from behind to win in a kick whereas in 2022, she managed the race from the entrance and burned off her opposition. St. Pierre tried the latter method towards Hull final week and it didn’t work. Will she run it again in New York and attempt to drop Hull by the bell, or will she depart her possibilities all the way down to a kick?

Andrews was one of many ladies St. Pierre left in her wake in 2022, ending 2nd, and Andrews returned to Millrose in 2023, the place she was runner-up once more, this time behind Laura Muir. Is third time the allure? We all know she’s in good cardio form after working 14:46 in Boston two weeks in the past. Although Andrews has run effectively at 1500 up to now, she is specializing in the 5,000 in 2024. Can she dangle with the milers St. Pierre and Hull on Sunday?

Millrose all the time tries to herald a school star for Wanamaker. This time it’s NCAA 1500 champion Maia Ramsden of Harvard, who will attempt to be a part of the sub-4:30 membership after working 4:30.01 for 4th at BU final weekend.

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Males’s Wanamaker Mile (2:53 p.m. ET): Nuguse chases world report

Twice within the final 5 years, we have now come very near seeing a world report within the Wanamaker Mile. In 2019, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha ran 3:48.46 to overlook Hicham El Guerrouj‘s WR by simply .01. Kejelcha would break the report three weeks later together with his 3:47.01 in Boston, which nearly went down in final 12 months’s Wanamaker Mile when Yared Nuguse ran 3:47.38.

The Wanamaker Mile has been round since 1926, and in that span it has seen 4 world information, however none since 1955. Right here’s a take a look at the earlier 4:

Athlete
Nationality
Date
Time

Gene Venzke
USA
February 6, 1932
4:11.2

Charles Fenske
USA
February 3, 1940
4:07.4*

Gilbert Dodds
USA
January 31, 1948
4:05.3

Gunnar Nielsen
Denmark
February 5, 1955
4:03.6

*Tied earlier world report

I dug via the New York Instances archives to search out out just a little bit extra about every race. Do you know that Gilbert Dodds raced in a truss after creating a hernia in highschool? Or that he missed the 1948 Olympic Trials resulting from mumps? Or that he was nicknamed “The Flying Parson” and would change into a minister after his working profession? The NY Instances recap referred to him as a “chesty, iron-thewed preacher.” The whole lot about him feels like a caricature of a Nineteen Forties runner.

I used to be additionally struck by how every little thing previous is new once more. The week earlier than his WR at Millrose in 1932, Venzke had received an indoor race in Boston. Besides as an alternative of the TRACK at New Steadiness and the Armory, he was working on the Boston Backyard and Madison Sq. Backyard. And when you assume oversize monitor drama is a latest growth, let me guarantee you it’s not: Fenske and Dodds’ instances had been world information solely as a result of nobody seen Glenn Cunningham‘s 4:04 — run on a six-laps-to-the-mile monitor in a handicap race at Dartmouth — as illegitimate.

In fact, some issues have modified. Dodds’ WR in 1948 drew 15,000 individuals to Madison Sq. Backyard; by the 2000s, Millrose had stopped drawing these sorts of crowds and needed to relocate to the Armory in 2012. And the New York Instances now not has a sports activities part.

Nuguse will hope the clock reads just a little sooner on Sunday

Trying to Sunday’s race, Nuguse has made no secret that he’d just like the world report, although he has performed so in his typical aw shucks method. The logic is just not arduous to comply with. When Nuguse ran 3:47 at Millrose final 12 months, he wasn’t even making an attempt for the WR. However the first 1200 was fairly fast, and Nuguse was feeling so good late within the race (he cut up an unbelievable 25.94 from 1400 to 1600) that he virtually broke the WR accidentally.

If Nuguse breaks the WR this time, it will likely be by design. Nuguse ran a 3:43 mile in September at Pre. Even when he isn’t in 3:43 form proper now, Nuguse advised LetsRun in Boston two weeks in the past that he feels he’s in higher mile form than this time a 12 months in the past. If he’s in higher form, it is sensible to focus on a pb. And Nuguse’s indoor pb is simply .37 slower than the WR.

Nuguse is just not the one man on this race, nevertheless. 2022 US 1500 champ Cooper Teare, initially entered within the 2-mile, is dropping all the way down to run the mile. Nuguse’s coaching accomplice Mario Garcia Romo of Spain, 4th and sixth on the final two Worlds, is working. So is 20-year-old American Hobbs Kessler, contemporary off a win over 2022 world champ Jake Wightman in Boston final week, who says he views Nuguse as his “journey” to a quick time at Millrose.

The man with the perfect likelihood to beat Nuguse is Nice Britain’s George Mills. The 24-year-old Mills ran 3:47 to complete third within the Diamond League last final 12 months and beat Nuguse two weeks in the past over 5,000, working 12:58 to Nuguse’s 13:02 in Boston. He’s very sturdy proper now, and if Nuguse is chasing the WR, don’t be shocked to see Mills go along with him.

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MB: Offical 2024 Millrose Video games Dialogue Thread – Will the lads’s mile and 2-mile WRs fall?