The 114th Millrose Games taking place on mostly Saturday, Jan. 29 at New York’s Armory Track, as usual, will be a very exciting indoor track and field meet. One of the more interesting races will be the men’s 800m. The race features Kenyan Michael Saruni who owns a best of 1:43.98.

Saruni set the Kenyan and African national record during the 2019 edition of the meet. His outdoors best is slightly faster at 1:43.25. The 27-year-old specializes in the 800m. If he is in top form expect him to win, however, as listed below there appears to be a competitive field with five Americans, three of which have run 1:46 as well as Bryce Hoppel who may give Saruni a run for his money as he is entering the race with a 1:44.37 best. The 24-year-old has a slightly faster time outdoors at 1:43.23. Indoors on the shorter track may provide the younger American an opportunity to make a race of it over the final 200m lap.

They are both adidas athletes.

USA Bryce Hoppel adidas 1:44.37
KEN Michael Saruni adidas 1:43.98
USA Isaiah Harris Brooks Beasts 1:46.01
MEX Tonatiu Lopez Hoka 1:53.30
IRL Mark English Ireland 1:46.10
ESP Saul Ordonez New Balance 1:46.62
USA Isaiah Jewett Nike 1:46.91
AUS Charlie Hunter Nike 1:45.59
USA Robert Downs USA 1:49.62
USA Kameron Jones USA 1:46.23

The race goes at 11:55 on Saturday.

Men’s Wanamaker Mile

Of course, much of the meet talk has been about the men’s and women’s Wanamaker Mile. As usual, the fields are outstanding.

Can 38-year-old Nick Willis from New Zealand, run with the younger athletes? He came close to running 20 consecutive year with a sub-four-minute mile two weeks prior. All eyes will be on Johnny Gregorek, who has pretty much run each year faster than the previous over the 1500m and mile distances indoors and outdoors. His best of 3:49.98 indoors is from his performance in 2019. The field is loaded with talent and will make the race an exciting one to watch.

Will supershoes be the talk of the race or tactics and kicks?

USA Clayton Murphy Nike 3:53.30
USA Erik Sowinski USA 4:01.44 (outdoors)
AUS Ollie Hoare On Athletics Club 3:54.83
USA Hobbs Kessler adidas 3:57.66
USA Colby Alexander Empire Elite 3:55.99
IRL Andrew Coscoran New Balance 3:56.85
USA Craig Engels Nike Union Athletics Club 3:53.89
ESP Mario Garcia Romo Ole Miss 3:56.46
USA Sam Prakel adidas 3:50.94
ESP Mariano Garcia New Balance
USA Johnny Gregorek Asics 3:49.98
GBR Josh Kerr Brooks Beasts 3:53.65
NZL Nick Willis Tracksmith 3:51.06
USA Henry Wynne Brooks Beasts 3:51.26

Women’s Wanamaker Mile

Athing Mu is a 19-year-old 800m phenom. Can she run the mile with the likes of fellow American Elle Purrier St. Pierre (4:16.85) or Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany (4:17.26). The answer is probably. If so, the question is, will the 800m champion with the ultra smooth form need a kick finish?

If the race was to be over the 800m distance, she would be a sure bet to win like she did at the Tokyo Olympic Games. However, her mile time came down well on Jan. 15 to 4:37.99. The question is, is she ready to make the next step in a race that is slightly more than twice as long as she is used to racing 1609m versus the 800m? Also, is this race a high quality over-distance event for training stimulus for future indoor meets where she may compete over the 800m?

Nikki Hiltz and Mu may be able to throw down with St. Pierre and keep the race honest on the grand stage at the Millrose Games. The race goes at 1:05 PM. The men’s race goes at 1:20 PM Eastern.

USA Nikki Hiltz USA 4:24.45
USA Anna Camp Bennett adidas 4:33.00
USA Elle Purrier St. Pierre New Balance Boston 4:16.85
USA Heather MacLean New Balance Boston 4:25.98
USA Cory McGee New Balance 4:26.79
USA Shannon Osika Nike Union Athletics Club 4:25.71
GER Konstanze Klosterhalfen Nike Union Athletics Club 4:17.26
AUS Jessica Hull Nike Union Athletics Club 4:31.03
USA Ella Donaghu Nike Union Athletics Club 4:33.71
USA Sage Hurta On Athletics Club 4:30.58
USA Josette Norris Reebok Boston TC 4:31.39
USA Athing Mu Nike 4:37.99
USA Charlene Lipsey adidas 4:30.13

The full schedule, line ups and news are available here>>

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