The 111th staging of the Millrose Games, held at the Armory in New York this past weekend, was simply record-breaking. Athletes geared-up for qualification and selection to their country’s team to the 2018 World Indoor Championship that is set for Birmingham, England, March 1 -4.
Miller-Uibo display her quality
Bahamas’s Shaunae Miller-Uibo equaled the women’s 300m with a world-leading time of 35.45 seconds. Miller-Uibo finished ahead of Canada’s Sage Watson (37.08) and USA’s Jaide Stepter (37.23). The reigning Olympic 400m champ seized control of the race from the outset and spent the last 150m running against the clock. In her post-race interview, Miller-Uibo pointed out that since that is a non-championship year [no Summer Olympics or World Outdoor Championship], the focus is on having fun with the 200m and the 400m. The talented 23-year-old holds the Bahamian outdoor records in both the 200m (21.88) and 400m (49.44) and has a personal best time of 50.88 seconds in the 400m indoors.
World Record Performance
New Jersey product Ajee Wilson led the USA 4x800m relay team of Chrishuna Williams, Raevyn Rodgers and Charlene Lipsey to victory in a world record time of 8:05.89. The NY All Stars (8:11.45) and Team Jamaica (8:17.75) settled for the minor places. Wilson ran a brilliant anchor leg and posted a time of 1:58.37 to destroy the field. Lipsey ran a splendid 3rd leg to hand over the baton to Wilson with a slight lead, which Wilson gradually extended to win the race in impressive fashion. Wilson, the 800m outdoor American record holder with a lifetime indoor best of 2:00.09, is capping her second victory in as many weeks after winning the 800m at the 18th Dr. Sander Invitational (2:00.90) on January 27. Wilson will now set her sights on the USA Indoor Track and Field Championship set for Albuquerque, New Mexico from February 16-18.
Wanamaker Mile Winners
Colleen Quigley of Nike Bowerman TC and Chris O’Hare of Great Britain respectively captured the women’s and men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile, the marquis events of the meet. Quigley had control of the race heading into the homestretch but faded badly in the final moments and was able to hold on to narrowly defeat her training partner, Kate Grace (4:30.08) with Ciara Magean (4:30.99) finishing third. Quigley’s winning time was 4:30.05.
O’Hare ran a gutsy race to take the men’s Wanamaker mile in 3:54.14. He took early control of the race by separating himself from the pack and had enough in the end to repel the fast finishing collegian Josh Kerr (3:54.72) and veteran Ben Blankenship (3:54.77).
Baker and Ahoure sizzle in the 60m
American Ronnie Baker ran a smooth and well-executed race to beat a competitive field in the men’s 60m. Baker took control of the race at the 30m mark and was never challenged. He stopped the clock at 6.48 seconds just 0.03 seconds off his personal best time of 6.45 which he set in March 2017. Noah Lyles (6.59) and China’s Xie Zhenye (6.59) settled for the minor places. The Jamaican duo of Omar McCleod (6.63) and Asafa Powell (6.69) finished 5th and 6th respectively. Baker will now set his sights on the USA Indoor Championships.
Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast won the women’s 60m race in 7.11 seconds ahead of American Torie Bowie (7.14) and Javianne Oliver (7.15). Ahoure is proving her fitness as this is her second victory in the 60m in as many weeks. Last week in Houston, Ahoure ran a world leading time of 7.07 seconds for the victory.
Others
In the men’s 400m, Trinidadian LaLonde Gordon took early command of the race to take the lead at the 200m mark but began tighten-up and faded badly to finish in third in 47.24 seconds. The race was won by American Michael Cherry, who ran a controlled race to stop the clock in 46.46 seconds ahead of countryman Vernon Norwood (46.75).
Twenty-two-year-old Emmanuel Korir of Kenya won the men’s 800m in 1:44.21, a new meet record and the fastest time in the world so far, this year. Korir finished ahead of the American duo of Donavan Brazier (1:45.35) and Drew Windle (1:45.53).
Edited by Raymond Byfield.
Picture (above) by Nicholas Reid
O'Neil A Reid, is the author of the book "Banned for Life, The Steve Mullings Story"
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