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Lagat & Nelson steal the show at 101st Millrose GamesContact: Tom Surber Media Information Manager [email protected] 317-261-0500 Friday, February 1, 2008 NEW YORK - Reigning World Outdoor 1,500m and 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat won the Wanamaker Mile for the sixth time of his storied career and two-time Olympic medalist Adam Nelson posted a new shot put meet record in front of 12,647 enthusiastic fans Friday night at the 101st Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The third event of USA Track & Field's 2008 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the Millrose Games will be televised on NBC from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 2. It will be Webcast by Sportnet next week, available via link from USA Track & Field. Lagat, who grabbed the lead with a lap and a half to go from Australia's Craig Mottram and held on to win in 3 minutes 57.51 seconds, is now tied with National Track & Field Hall of Famer Glenn Cunningham, who also owns six Wanamaker titles. Lagat is only one shy of the all-time record of seven victories by Eamonn Coghlan. Mottram was the runner-up in 3:57.90 with Nick Willis of New Zealand finishing third in 3:58.14 and NCAA 10,000m record holder and Olympic hopeful Galen Rupp placing fourth in 4:02.17 Nelson sets MSG record in Visa men's shot put Two-time Olympic medalist and 2005 World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson set a Madison Square Garden record in winning the Visa men's shot put. Nelson's winning throw of 22.07 meters/72 feet 5 inches bettered the Millrose meet record of 21.88 meters/71-9.50 set by 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell last year. Nelson's performance also is the best in the world this year. Cantwell was the runner-up with a best of 21.33m/69-11, with reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa third with a toss of 21.13m/69-4. For his efforts, Nelson was named the Team USA Athlete of the Meet, presented by Visa. Goucher posts comeback victory The women's mile came down to a trophy dash between 2007 World Outdoor Championships 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher and two-time NCAA 5,000m runner-up Sara Hall. Hall held a slight lead coming off the final turn before Goucher burst past her on the inside just in front of the finish line to win in 4 minutes 36.03 seconds. Hall was the runner-up in 4 minutes 3 seconds. Jeter, Demus win women's sprints 2007 World Outdoor women's 100m bronze medalist and 4x100m relay gold medalist Carmelita Jeter won the women's adidas 60 meters in 7.28 seconds in her Millrose debut. 2007 Pan Am Games 100m gold medalist and World Outdoor Championships 4x100m relay gold medalist Miki Barber was the runner-up in 7.30 seconds. Angela Daigle-Bowen, who was the 2005 Visa Championships Series winner, was third in 7.32. 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist and 2006 Visa Champion Lashinda Demus grabbed the lead with two laps remaining and held on to win the Visa women's 600 yard run in 1 minute 20.79 seconds. Angel Perkins was the runner-up in 1:21.31. Great Scott continues indoor success Reigning World Indoor 60 meters champion Leonard Scott demonstrated his indoor dominance again in winning the Metro men's 60 meters in 6.59 seconds. 2007 Reebok Boston Indoor Games winner DaBryan Blanton was the runner-up in 6.64 seconds, with 2007 World Outdoor Championships 4x100m relay gold medalist Leroy Dixon finishing third in 6.67 seconds. Jackson edges Robinson in men's 600 meters The Metro Mel Sheppard men's 600 yards was a highly competitive tussle between 2005 World 400m hurdles champion Bershawn Jackson and reigning USA Outdoor 800m champion Khadevis Robinson. Jackson seized the lead with three laps remaining with Robinson seemingly glued to his right shoulder. The rest of the race was conducted with Jackson and Robinson remaining in that position with Jackson crossing the finish line first in 1:10.34 with Robinson finishing second in 1:10.53 Schwartz, Skipper, Acuff win vaults, high jump 2004 Olympian Jillian Schwartz posted a personal best with her winning clearance of 4.63 meters/15 feet 2.25 inches in the adidas women's pole vault. American outdoor record holder Jenn Stuczynski was the runner-up, also clearing 15-2.75. Stuczynski had two misses at 4.63m/15-2.25 to Schwartz's one miss, which gave Stuczynski the win. The Fred Schmertz men's pole vault was won by reigning NCAA Outdoor champion Tommy Skipper, who captured the event with a clearance of 5.70 meters/18 feet 8.25 inches. Derek Miles was the runner-up with a clearance of 5.60m/18-4.50. Three-time Olympian Amy Acuff was victorious in the John Thomas women's high jump with a clearance of 1.92 meters/6 feet 3.50 inches. 2005 NCAA Outdoor champion and 2007 USA Outdoor runner-up Sharon Day was the runner-up with a best of 1.89m/6-2.25. Lopes-Schliep, Hicks conquer 60m hurdles Three-time NCAA 100m hurdles champion Priscilla Lopes-Schliep got out of the blocks first and held on the entire way out of lane two in winning the Hershey's women's 60m hurdles in 7.95 seconds. 2003 World 100m hurdles champion and 2004 World Indoor champ Perdita Felicien of Canada was the runner-up 8.05 seconds, with Damu Cherry finishing third in 8.07 After winning last week at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, Antwon Hicks continued his winning ways Friday night in crossing the line first in the Tyson Foods men's 60m hurdles in 7.53 seconds. David Oliver was the runner-up in 7.59 seconds, with Joel Brown, who was the runner-up last week in Boston, was third in 7.66 seconds. Race walk round-up 2004 Olympic Trials champion Teresa Vaill won the women's one-mile national championship race walk in convincing fashion finishing in 7 minutes 01.17 seconds, and the men's one-mile national crown was won by Ricardo Vergara in 6:29.92, finishing just ahead of his twin brother Roberto who was the runner-up in 6:37.17. The USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series will continue February 15 with the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and February 23-24 with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston. For more information, including TV broadcast schedules, visit Championship Series. # # # |
