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Grant Fisher, Yared Nuguse Smash World Records At Millrose GamesPublished by
U.S. Distance Running Picks Up Where It Left Off In Paris With String Of Sensational Performances By David Woods for DyeStat John Nepolitan Photos NEW YORK – Running renaissance by American men is real. The Paris Olympics were more prelude than capstone. Four U.S. men ran under world indoor records – and two of them lost – during a historic Saturday afternoon at the 117th Millrose Games. The meet was appropriately climaxed by the Wanamaker Mile, in which Yared Nuguse and Hobbs Kessler both ran under the world indoor record at The Armory. In the absence of Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, who did not start because of illness, the United States reclaimed this record for the first time since 1978. Nuguse held off Kessler, 3:46.63 to 3:46.90 – both under the record of 3:47.01 set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in 2019. Nuguse said his strategy did not change without Kerr in the race.
"I was going to go to the front and grind no matter what anyone else did," Nuguse said. "I have more confidence from the Olympics, more confidence in my training. I’m not afraid of the front any more.
"I knew that if I let up anywhere, they were going to pass me, so I was like, ‘don’t let up, not even for a second’, and just hoped that I had more than they did at the end." The 21-year-old Kessler said he was closer to beating Nuguse than he ever had been. "Instead of expecting that not to be hard, I'm gonna say, 'I'm capable of doing these hard, stressful things,' " said Kessler, who was badly beaten in a 3,000 a week ago. In third place, dropping his PB by nearly six seconds, was 18-year-old Cam Myers of Australia in 3:47.48. Myers thus broke the under-20 world record of 3:53.12 he set here two weeks ago in his first indoor race. Azeddine Habz of France was fourth in a national record of 3:47.56. Virginia’s Gary Martin was fifth in 3:48.82, just off the collegiate record of 3:48.32 set by North Carolina’s Ethan Strand at Boston on Jan. 31. Between 1962 (by Jim Beatty) and 1978 (by Dick Buerkle), five different Americans broke the world indoor mile record -- but none since. No runner had broken it in this race since Denmark’s Gunnar Nielsen did so at Madison Square Garden with a time of 4:03.6 in 1955. Most recent American to set a world record in the Wanamaker Mile was Gilbert Dodds with 4:05.3 in 1948. Nuguse became the first miler to win three straight since Bernard Lagat’s six in a row (2005-10). Nuguse passed 1,500 meters in 3:31.74, also an American indoor record. In the Paris 1,500-meter final, Cole Hocker took gold, Kerr silver, Nuguse bronze and Kessler fifth. For the first time, Hocker went under a world record. Like Kessler, he was beaten by another American. Grant Fisher, whose closing speed carried him to bronze medals in 5,000 and 10,000 meters at Paris, passed Hocker on the homestretch to take the 3,000 in 7:22.91. He and Hocker, second in 7:23.14, were under the record of 7:23.81 set by another Ethiopian, Lamecha Girma, in 2023. Two more Americans, Josh Hoey and world indoor champion Bryce Hoppel, ran under the American record in the 800 meters. Hoey was first in 1:43.90 (No. 3 of all time) and Hoppel second in 1:44.19 (No. 6 of all time). Previous American record was 1:44.21 by Donavan Brazier in 2021. Jonah Koech was third in 1:44.82 and Mark English fourth in an Irish record of 1:45.15. A third men’s world record was set by Mexico’s Ever Palma with a time of 5:24.50 in the mile walk. Will Sumner is back and better In other men’s highlights: >> Will Sumner, whose Olympic year was spoiled by injury, set a meet record of 1:14.04 in the 600 to become No. 3 in world history. Isaiah Jewett was second in 1:14.17 for No. 4 all-time, and Brandon Miller (No. 2 all-time at 1:14.03) was fourth in 1:14.37. >> Dylan Beard repeated as winner of the 60 hurdles in a world-leading 7.38, a meet and facility record. He was just outside the all-time top 10. Cordell Tinch was second in 7.43. >> Marcellus Moore, a 22-year-old former prep football star from Plainfield, Ill., tied his PB of 6.56 to win the 60 meters. It was his fourth victory this season. In second at 6.59 was resurgent Trayvon Bromell. The 29-year-old was a 100-meter world bronze medalist at age 20 back in 2015. Bell surges to mile win In women’s highlights: >> Olympic bronze medalist Georgia Bell of Britain patiently stayed off the lead and surged late to take the Wanamaker Mile in 4:23.35. Heather MacLean was second in 4:23.41 and Nikki Hiltz third in 4:23.50. Oregon’s Wilma Nielsen, of Denmark, improved her PB to 4:25.78 and remained No. 2 on this year’s NCAA list. >> Whittni Morgan topped a deep field to win the 3,000 in 8:28.03. Josette Andrews was second in 8:29.77 and Sarah Healy third in an Irish record of 8:30.79. Australia’s Jessica Hull, silver medalist at Paris in the 1,500, was fourth in 8:30.91 but met her goal of reaching the 8:33 standard for March’s World Indoor Championships. Steeplechaser Olivia Markezich was seventh in a PB of 8:37.37. >> Olympic champion Masai Russell won the 60-meter hurdles in a world-leading 7.76 seconds. Grace Stark was second in 7.81 and the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, the world record-holder and Russell’s training partner, third in 7.83. >> Jacious Sears took the 60 meters decisively in 7.02 – also a world leader -- over Celera Barnes (7.15) and American record-holder Aleia Hobbs (7.16). >> Saint Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney broke the 800 meet record of 1:59.07 – also a world leader – and led seven women under 2:01. Olivia Baker was second in 2:00.02. Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007. More news |
