by Jeff BenjaminA wildly open Wanamaker Mile will happen on Saturday, and as Jeff Benjamin notes here, the prestigious race has some challengers to the throne, and with only 2014 Millrose champ, Will Leer , who will win? Read on, track fans!
Robby Andrews is in his home environs, along with Kyle Merber, so that would be a very popular win by either athlete. Nick Willis, one of the most seasoned milers in the world, is always a threat. Know one thing, the finish will be insane.
Robby Andrews takes USATF 1500m, Sacramento 2017, photo by PhotoRun.net
Kyle Merber anchors HOKA ONE ONE NJNYTC to 4xMile Indoor WR, Armory, photo by PhotoRun.net
Nick Willis, BAA Mile, Boston, photo by PhotoRun.net
The 111th NYRR Millrose Games can be seen on USATF.TV from 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised live by NBC from 4-6 p.m. There also is the USATF Cool Down show beginning at 6 p.m.
Go to NYRRMillroseGames.org to learn more about the NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets to the Saturday, February 3, 2018meet.
Wide Open Men’s Field at the NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile – by Jeff Benjamin- 2/1
Eamonn Coghlin. Marcus O’Sullivan. Bernard Lagat. Glenn Cunningham. Ron Delaney. Marty Liquori. Noureddine Morceli. Steve Scott. Fred Dwyer.Since 1926, those above and a host of others have achieved the mantle as the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile Champion. Whether the race took place on the wooden board tracks of the old and new Madison Square Garden arenas or in its current forum at the New Balance Indoor Track and Field facility (Armory) in upper Manhattan, the Wanamaker Mile year in and year out has always been the top Mile Race in the world.And this year it looks like anyone can win it.
Defending champion Eric Jenkins will not be competing, and Jenkins’ NIKE Oregon Project teammate Matthew Centrowitz, who has won the coveted trophy 3 Times won’t be there as well.Among the field of 12 competing include sentimental favorite New Zealander Nick Willis, who has a few Wanamaker 2nd place finishes under his belt, and Will Leer, a one time winner.But, as meet director Ray Flynn has stated, no high school boy who has won the mile at the NYRR Millrose Games has ever gone on to win the Wanamaker.Could fans see 2 local guys, who obviously grew up embedded and enthralled in the tapestry of this great traditional meet, crossing the line in first place on Saturday and make history?HOKA ONE NJNY Miler Kyle Merber could. “Since the start of 2018 I have been in Tallahassee, Florida for some warm weather training, Said Merber, a Long Island Native who’s currently coached by Frank “Gags” Gagliano, John Trautman and Tom Nohilly.“Workouts have been going well and mileage has been up.. I’m excited for this weekend to finally open up the season and test my fitness, Said Merber who finished in 3rd last year in 3:54.67. “I maybe wish I had one tune up race before Millrose to get a better idea of where I am at, but figure the Wanamaker Mile will be a good indicator in itself.”Merber’s strategy? “The goal is to put myself in it and dig deep at the bell–That’s all I can do!”Staten Island native and 2016 Olympian Robby Andrews hopes he can make history this Saturday as well. “I spent a month in Flagstaff Arizona preparing,” said Andrews, who runs for ADIDAS and is coached by Jason Vigilante and who’ll be in Albuquerque in a few weeks to run in the National Championships.“I hope it pays off,” Said Andrews, who finished 4th in 2016 Wanamaker with a time of 3 minutes 53.16 seconds and finished 3rd last week in the 800 meters at the Armory Sander Invitational.It’s anybody’s race!
