3 American Records Fall at the Millrose Games in New York City
This article originally appeared on Womens Running
The highly anticipated Millrose Games more than lived up to the hype this weekend. On Saturday, February 11, three American records, a collegiate record, and several world leads, among other breakthrough performances, were achieved at The Armory in New York City.
Here are all the highlights from an exciting night of indoor track.
Yared Nuguse Shatters American Record In The Mile
In his first ever Wanamaker Mile, Nuguse took down one of the toughest American records in the books.
After biding his time with the leaders during the early stages of the race, the On Athletics Club runner unleashed a spectacular kick on the bell lap, ultimately winning the title in 3:47.38. Nuguse's performance shattered the previous 3:49.89 American record set by Bernard Lagat in 2005. The two-time NCAA champion's time was so fast that it nearly broke the 3:47.01 world record set by Yomif Kejelcha in 2019.
When Nuguse decided to push ahead, none of his competitors could respond to the move. But many runners used the lightning fast pace to notch their own personal bests. Runner-up Neil Gorley ran 3:49.46. Olli Hoare, Nuguse's training partner, tied the Australian national record when he finished third in 3:50.83. Sam Tanner finished fourth in 3:51.70, and Mario Garcia Romo shattered the Spanish national record when he placed fifth in 3:51.79.
Laura Muir Comes From Behind to Win Women's Mile
As the defending Olympic silver medalist and world indoor championships silver medalist, Muir had all eyes on her heading into the women's mile. From the gun, the British athlete assumed her position up front, but a late-race move from Josette Andrews provided an unexpected challenge for the prerace favorite.
Around 1200 meters into the race, Andrews maneuvered her way to the front, passing four people in an effort to close on the victory. But Muir fought her way back on the bell lap, sprinting past Andrews and claiming her first Wanamaker Mile victory in 4:20.15. Andrews' aggressive tactics paid off when she finished second in 4:20.88. She is now No. 3 on the U.S. all-time list indoors.
RELATED: Laura Muir Wins the Fifth Ave Mile
3 Records are Broken in the Women's 3,000 Meters
A stellar women's 3,000-meter race led to two national records, a collegiate record, and 10 personal bests.
Behind Dani Aragon, who paced the group through the first 1,000 meters in 2:48, Alicia Monson executed the American record chase perfectly. The On Athletics Club mainstay led the field wire-to-wire, ultimately winning in 8:25.05 with a blazing 31.8 split to cover the final 200 meters. In the process, the Tokyo Olympian broke the previous 8:25.70 U.S. record set by Karissa Schweizer in 2020.
"It was great. We've been looking at [the record] for months now, and it feels so good to come and pull it off," Monson said on the NBC broadcast.
About five seconds behind Monson, Whittni Morgan shattered her previous personal best with a 8:30.13 performance.
On her heels, Katelyn Tuohy of N.C. State added to her collegiate record collection with a personal best of 8:35.20, six seconds faster than the previous record set by Schweizer in 2018. The race followed another breakthrough for Tuohy at The Armory four weeks earlier, when the two-time NCAA champion broke the collegiate record in the mile.
Laura Galvan also shattered a national record by finishing sixth in 8:40.45, well under the Mexican record.
Abby Steiner takes down the American record
The former University of Kentucky standout rolled on the competition in the women's indoor 300 meters. Steiner won the race in 35.54, a new world lead and American record. The performance is just the latest history-making run for Steiner, who also holds the American record in the indoor 200 meters.
RELATED: Abby Steiner Delivers a Solid Debut at the World Championships
Josh Kerr breaks the meet record in the 3,000 meters
With a perfectly timed bell lap, Kerr of Brooks Beasts, ran away with the men's 3,000-meter title in a new meet and facility record. The British middle-distance runner finished in 7:33.47 after passing Luis Grijalva heading into the last 200 meters.
Behind Kerr's blazing 26.98 final 200-meter split, Grijalva held on for second after leading much of the race. The Tokyo Olympian clocked 7:33.86 to break the Guatemalan national record. Joe Klecker of the On Athletics Club also earned a personal best, finishing third in 7:34.14.
Noah Lyles gets disqualified, runs under protest
A shocker in the men's 60-meter dash sent fans reeling when Noah Lyles had a false start. The three-time world champion was disqualified by meet officials but still ran under protest. Competing next to him, Christian Coleman went on to win the race in 6.47, a world lead and facility record. Lyles finished behind him in an unofficial time of 6.53. 3 American Records Fall at the Millrose Games in New York City
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