110th NYRR Millrace Games celebrates return of Metropolitan Relays

New York University will be one of six area schools to participate in the 110^th NYRR Millrose Games’ Metropolitan Relays at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center. Photo by John Nepolitan

RunBlogRun opines: The Millrose Games will be hosted at the New Balance Armory on February 11, 2017. RunBlogRun will be there, will you?

Blast from the past: 110th NYRR Millrose Games

Celebrates Return of Metropolitan Relays

NEW YORK, December 20, 2016 – One of the best opportunities of the year to see the major players of New York-area college track and field go head-to-head is being assembled for theMetropolitan men’s and women’s 4×400 relays at the 110^th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center on Saturday, February 11^th..

Teams from Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, St. John’s University, Manhattan College and Stony Brook University on Long Island all have lanes in this one-of-a-kind event that pits six different area schools from six separate college conferences. All but Stony Brook will compete in the women’s relay.

“There is always a great deal of pride on the line when competing against teams from our local area,” said St. John’s women’s coach Jim Hurt. “To do it in the frame work of the NYRR Millrose Games just heightens the excitement. I know our team will be buzzed to run the best at Millrose.

“We have a very talented teams and the opportunity to run in the most prestigious meet in the country will give them great exposure.”

Many of the athletes from these teams regularly train and compete at The Armory but the 4×400 relay gives them a chance to go head to head. Third-year coach Dan Ireland leads Columbia of the Ivy League and located just a few miles south of The Armory along Broadway. First-year coach Erison Hurtault helms the Violets of NYU, of the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association. NYU, located near Greenwich Village, won the UAA 4×400 relay title outdoors last spring.

Distinguished coach Tom Dewey, in his 36th year, leads Fordham of the Bronx. Another veteran coach, Jim Hurt, leads the St. John’s Red Storm from Queens and is in his 28th season. His women are the reigning Big Ten Conference champions in the 4×400 relay. TheJaspers of Manhattan, located in the Bronx, are led by venerable coach Dan Mecca, entering his 24th season as head coach. Andy Ronan is preparing for his 18^th season as head coach for the Stony Brook Seawolves.

“This is important for the NYC and Metropolitan area schools. It revives a long standing rivalry and tradition,” Mecca said. “This will rejuvenate local interest and fervor from our alums and, of course, from our competitors in the area. It’s also a great showcase and recruiting opportunity for all the local high schools and coaches.”

Added Dewey: “We are committed to competing this year because it hopefully will bring some attention to the area colleges. Long ago that was the real drawing card for the alums of all the local schools.

“It is good to see the event back.”

The return of the Metropolitan 4×400 relay marks a significant return to the historical roots of Millrose. The Fordham Rams were the first college team to participate in a mile relay, competing against club teams back in 1916. Three years later, the first college-only mile relay saw Penn defeat Dartmouth and MIT.

The popularity of the college races mushroomed and eventually the Millrose Games accommodated as many as 10 men’s college mile relay races. In the 1970s, women’s mile races were added to the program.

“It is very exciting for both the colleges involved and the NYRR Millrose Games,” Ireland said. “When Millrose was at Madison Square Garden there was always a local event that gave the schools in NYC something to get excited about. It’s great this opportunity has returned.”

Go to NYRRMillroseGames.org to learn more about the NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets to the February 11^th meet scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Follow The Armory on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @armorynyc or go to ArmoryTrack.com or Armory.NYC.

About the NYRR Millrose Games

With a storied history that spans more than a century, the NYRR Millrose Games is one of track and field’s most prestigious and enduring annual events. A New York City sports staple, the meet moved to the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory in Washington Heights in 2012 after having called Madison Square Garden home from 1914 to 2011. The Games–established by employees of Wanamaker’s Department Store–feature track and field’s most prolific male and female stars as well as collegiate, high school, club and youth competitors. More than 200 athletes share the distinction of being both Millrose and Olympic champions. In November of 2013, New York Road Runners became the title sponsor of the NYRR Millrose Games, which is hosted by the Armory Foundation.