Felix, Claye and Huddle Headline Another All-Star Lineup

By Scott Bush

The NYRR Millrose Games, one of the defining competitions of the international indoor track and field schedule, take place Saturday and as usual a host of global stars take to the track and field at The Armory. Here are eight of the best events to catch, which you can watch live on USATF.tv and NBC.

Allyson Felix Tunes Up for USATF and World Indoors

America's most celebrated sprinter, Allyson Felix, takes to the track Saturday in the women's 60m dash. Felix won a contest two weeks ago in 7.24 seconds over a competitive field at the House of Track, but with USATF Indoors and World Indoors right around the corner, the California-based star no doubt looks to push the 7.10 second barrier this time around. 

Felix finds competition from former University of Oregon champion Jenna Prandini and long-time veteran Tianna Bartoletta, who owns a season best of 7.20. The field is certainly strong enough to see more than one dip under 7.15 seconds and for all three this is one of the final tuneups before the world descends on Portland next month.

Claye, Dendy Seek to Soar in the Long Jump

In case you missed it, Marquis Dendy showed he's in fine form, leaping a world leader in the long jump last weekend at the University of Arkansas with his 8.38 mark. Dendy hits the runway again in New York City, looking to extend his world-leading best and continue to show fans that 2016 is his year.

The former NCAA champion has plenty of competition this time around, as he faces a slew of experienced veterans, including Olympic medalists Will Claye, Ashton Eaton, as well as Omar Craddock, Marquise Goodwin and Chris Benard. Craddock beat the field at the USATF Outdoor Championships last year in the triple jump, finishing fourth at the IAAF World Championships. Goodwin currently ranks #10 in the world in the long jump and looks to contend for a spot on Team USA this year after taking time away from the NFL this summer. 

Claye is the man to watch though. After struggling at the IAAF World Championships last August, Claye looks to regain his dominating form that brought his double medals in London four years ago. 

Add in Eaton and Benard, who placed fourth at the USATF Outdoor Championships in the triple jump last year, and this field is stacked with talent making it a must-watch event Saturday.

Cheserek Versus the Pros

University of Oregon star Edward Cheserek is seemingly unbeatable at the NCAA level, but how exactly will he fair against some of America's best pros? Fans will see for themselves this weekend, as Cheserek takes on an incredible field in the men's 3,000m. 

Cheserek squares off against former teammate and current Nike Oregon Project athlete Eric Jenkins, as well as Jenkins' NOP teammate Cam Levins, Bowerman Track Club's Evan Jager, Ryan Hill, Andy Bayer, Mo Ahmed, Matt Hughes and Lopez Lomong, as well as Olympian Donn Cabral and Oregon Track Club Elite's Hassan Mead. Talk about stacked!

For many in the field, Saturday's race marks the beginning of their 2016 seasons, with Olympic dreams clearly shared by all. While Cheserek could very well be the most sharp in the field, don't overlook Mead, who ran 7:40.95 at the House of Track earlier this month. Similarly, Jenkins ran a strong 7:45.14 3,000m effort, while Levins also went sub-7:47 in Portland. 

Of course, those in the field should not overlook the massive Bowerman Track Club contingent, who could clearly use their numbers to their advantage. Keep a keen eye on reigning USATF outdoor 5,000m champion Hill, American steeplechase record holder Jager and Lomong, who always seems to show well indoors. 

This race is going to be incredibly competitive and fans could very well see 8+ athletes in contention for the win heading into the final lap. 

Who is America’s Top 60m Hurdler?

The 60m hurdles is such a fun event and fans are in for a treat, especially on the women's side. The field is loaded with talent, as reigning indoor world champion Nia Ali, American 100m hurdle record holder Brianna Rollins, Jasmin Stowers, Janay DeLoach, Queen Harrison, Lolo Jones and Brianne Theisen-Eaton headline. Honestly, Saturday's contest could prove stronger than the IAAF World Indoor Championship final next month in Portland.

So who's the favorite? A slight edge must go to Rollins, who owns the best seasonal best out of the group with her 7.87-7.89 victory over Ali last weekend at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. DeLoach finished a close third in 7.92 and each of these three women have gone 7.95 or faster three times this season. 

Add in Jones and Stowers, who placed 4-5 in Boston last weekend, along with the experienced veterans of Harrison and Theisen-Eaton and it would not be at all surprising if a half dozen of them dipped under 7.90 seconds. 

Huddle v. Infeld Revisited

One of the most shocking and inspiring performances at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships occurred when Emily Infeld won bronze in the women's 10,000m, completing her journey from nearly dropping out of the sport to becoming one of the shining stars in American track and field. One of the most shocking and dejecting performance of those same championships occurred when Molly Huddle, America's best 5k/10k runner on the track, was outleaned by Infeld at the line, missing out on her first global medal. 

The two meet for the first time since Beijing this Saturday in the 5,000m. While Huddle clearly enters as the favorite, Infeld enters with a new level of confidence and is ready to push the 15-minute barrier. Huddle will be looked upon to push the pace, but don't be surprised to see Infeld and Bowerman Track Club teammate Betsy Saina take over lead duties earlier rather than later, employing some of the same tactics their fellow BTC teammates Amy Cragg and Shalane Flanagan employed over the marathon distance last weekend in Los Angeles. 

Not to be overlooked, Ethiopian Geleta Burka has the fastest PR in the field, but she ran that mark back in 2007 and while her 10,000m track PR is from last year, she's seemingly moved on to thriving on the roads rather than the track. 

Other top Americans to watch are Nike Oregon Project's Jordan Hasay, who looks to show that she'll be a Team USA contender this year after struggling with injury in 2015. Joining Hasay are last weekend's runner-up and third place finishers in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 3,000m in Abbey D'Agostino and Laura Thweatt, along with former NCAA champion and Infeld's and Saina's teammate Shelby Houlihan, who makes her indoor 5,000m debut.

Expect this race to be fast, competitive from top to bottom and telling as to who fans should expect to push for a Team USA spot for the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Payne v. Morris – Round 1

One of the best track and field rivalries last year was Demi Payne v. Sandi Morris in the women's pole vault. The two battled all season long, both qualifying for the IAAF World Championships, while Payne won the NCAA outdoor title, Morris taking the NCAA indoor title and the two showing that the future of American pole vaulting is in good hands. 

The two clash for the first time in 2016, as the 24 year old Payne enters having already thrown down a 4.88m earlier this month, while the 23 year old Morris has cleared 4.80m. Both continue to show consistency and that a big stage is far from intimidating, meaning Saturday's clash between the two could set up a very exciting season among two rising stars. 

Willis v. Centro – Round 2

Round 1 was scored 3:51.35-3:51.46. Those were the finishing times of Matthew Centrowitz and Nick Willis in last year's NYRR Wannamaker Mile, in what was a dramatic and exhilirating finish. Fast forward to this season, where Willis and Centrowitz currently rank first and second in the world with their leading times of 3:53.27 and 3:54.02. They are both in prime shape, ready to take on the other and fans should once again be in for a delight between two Olympic-caliber medal contenders.

While Willis v. Centrowitz will capture much of the pre-race buzz, do not discount Great Britain's Chris O'Hare, who is the only other man in the world this year under 3:55 thus far, having run 3:54.59 earlier this month at The Armory. O'Hare has shown the leg speed to compete with nearly anyone in the world and if the race is a bit more tactical from the gun, don't be surprised to see him take the win. 

The rest of the top contenders are Robby Andrews, Kyle Merber, Garrett Heath, Daniel Winn, Cory Leslie and Jordan McNamara. While these half dozen men may not quite be on the same par as the "big three" yet this year, the indoor season is really starting to heat up and all have shown when they are fit they cannot be overlooked.

Kynard Ready to Jump Back to the Top

Since 2013, high jumper Erik Kynard has soared over 2.37m (7-9.25) each year. However, after finishing with silver in London, Kynard has been overshadowed by a handful of other top-level high jumpers, finishing eighth at the most recent IAAF World Outdoor Championships and fifth at the 2013 IAAF World Outdoor Championships. With another Olympic year upon us, Kynard looks to jump start his season, eyeing the 2.30m (7-6.5) barrier and pushing his way towards the top of the world leaderboard. 

The two-time U.S. outdoor champion finds his most notable challenger Saturday in JaCorian Duffield, the former NCAA champion from Texas Tech. Duffield had a strong 2015 campaign, earning a new personal best of 2.34m (7-8.25), winning the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, earning a spot on Team USA for the World Championships in Beijing and winning the NACAC Championship title. Duffield is not to be overlooked. 

Joining the top contenders list are Olympian Jesse Williams, Ricky Robertson and Canadian Mike Mason.