byLarry Eder
Each and every year, the Millrose Games presents the world with some amazing races, one event after another. The women’s 3000 meters will be one of the most amazing events of the 2023 meeting. Alicia Monson and Konstanze Klosterhalfen will battle on February 11, 2023, and could be epic.
Anticipation continues to build for the 115th Millrose Games, the most historic indoor track & field event in the world. Adding to the excitement is the announcement of the Women’s 3000m, which will feature Alicia Monson, looking to defend her title against European Champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen in a field that also includes Katelyn Tuohy, the top collegiate distance runner in the nation.
The 115th Millrose Games is scheduled for Saturday, February 11th, at the famous New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory.
Monson ran away from the field in 2022, setting a new Millrose Games and Armory facility record of 8:31.62. This performance was a springboard to more success for Monson, an Olympian and NCAA champion at the University of Wisconsin. She had the best season of her career outdoors, running personal bests at 3000m, 5000m, and 10000m, competing in the World Championship final, and placing in the top five at numerous Diamond League meetings, moving up to third on the all-time U.S. 5000m list.
“Last year’s Millrose Games was an electric moment for the On Athletics Club with three wins, all while debuting our new spikes,” said Monson, referring to herself and her teammates Ollie Hoare and Geordie Beamish. “I’m looking forward to coming back to defend the 3000m this year! The atmosphere in The Armory makes for an awesome start to the track season, and it’ll also be special to have my teammates back defending last year’s wins.”
The American Record of 8:25.70 held by Karissa Schweizer could be in jeopardy with the talent assembled in the field.
The main challenger may be Klosterhalfen, European champion and 2019 World Championship bronze medalist in the 5000m. Klosterhalfen holds eight national records for Germany, and she won the 2019 Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. Her outdoor personal best in the 3000m is 8:20.07, the tenth fastest in history and the fastest in the field.
Other athletes to watch include a trio of former NCAA Champions in Elly Henes, Courtney Wayment, and Whittni Orton Morgan. Wayment and Morgan were teammates at BYU. A sleeper in the field could be the young Ethiopian Fantaye Belaynah, national champion and African Championships silver medalist in the 5000m.
Tuohy has been a phenom since her days at North Rockland HS, winning three national cross-country championships and setting all sorts of records on the track. Now a two-time individual NCAA champion after leading North Carolina State to a team cross-country title last month, Tuohy will return to The Armory for the first time since high school to test herself against a field of top professionals.
As always, the Millrose Games will feature the absolute best athletes in the sport, including dozens of Olympians and world champions. Some of the big names already announced include Abby Steiner, Jenna Prandini, Geordie Beamish, Cooper Teare, Josh Kerr, Katie Nageotte, Sandi Morris, Katerina Stefanidi, Ryan Crouser, and Joe Kovacs, with many more still to come.
The Millrose Games is a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet. With the highest-level competition at the youth, high school, collegiate, club, and professional levels, there is truly something for everyone at the Millrose Games.
Stay tuned over the coming months as more athletes and events are announced. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.millrosegames.org/
The Armory hosts more than 100 track & field meets throughout the indoor season and for more information on all Armory Track events, visit https://www.armorytrack.com and https://www.armory.nyc
Follow The Armory on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @armorynyc.
Follow the Millrose Games on Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram at @millrosegames.
Media planning to cover the Millrose Games can register for credentials by clicking on Credentials – 115th Millrose Games and filling out the request form.
About The Armory Foundation
The Armory Foundation is a New York City non-profit institution with the mission of “Keeping Kids on Track.” Each season The Armory – the proud home of the Millrose Games – hosts more than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 220,000 athlete visits. Among its many youth sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meets with the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge and the HBCU Showcase sponsored by KPMG and hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with the Hispanic Games, The Officials Hall of Fame Invitational, the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational and Holiday Classic. New York Road Runners is a proud sponsor of all athletic events at The Armory. The Armory runs the CUIMC Team Relay Marathon presented by New York Road Runners, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more: Please visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.com.
