Olympians, Past Champions Headline NYRR Wanamaker Mile Men’s Field
Chris O’Hare, Eric Jenkins, Nick Willis and Filip Ingebrigtsen to line up for signature event at 113th NYRR Millrose Games
From NYRR
NEW YORK - Olympian and 2018 champion Chris O’Hare of Great Britain, 2017 champion Eric Jenkins of the United States, four-time Olympian Nick Willis of New Zealand, and World Championship medalist Filip Ingebrigtsen of Norway will headline a talented NYRR Wanamaker Mile men’s field at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday, February 8 at The Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center.
The signature event at the NYRR Millrose Games has taken place every year on the men’s side since 1926 and will be broadcast live nationally on NBC for the fourth consecutive year from 4:00-6:00pm ET, in addition to streamed live online on NBC Sports Gold.
“Already one of the greatest Mile races in the world, the men’s 2020 NYRR Wanamaker Mile is expected to be one of the best with past champions, Olympians and rising stars all lining up in front of a national audience,” said NYRR Millrose Games Meet Director Ray Flynn.
O’Hare won the 2018 NYRR Wanamaker Mile after building an insurmountable lead on the last lap and crossing the line in 3:54.14. In New York, he has also finished as runner-up at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile three times, most recently in 2018. The Scotland native represents Great Britain on the world stage, having won a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the European Championships and competing in the event at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
“I have always loved having the NYRR Millrose Games and the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in my racing schedule,” O’Hare said. “When you look back at the athletes who have competed in the Wanamaker Mile, it goes to show the nature of the event. It is without a doubt, the most prestigious indoor Mile race in the world and I can’t wait to step on the start line and go to battle with my fellow competitors.”
Jenkins won the 2017 Wanamaker Mile in a last-lap sprint against Olympic 800 meter bronze medalist Clayton Murphy. The year prior in New York, he narrowly defeated Olympic 1500 meter champion Matthew Centrowitz to win the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile by one-tenth of a second. Last year, Jenkins finished third at the USATF 5K Championships in Central Park.
Willis has finished as runner-up at the NYRR Wanamaker Mile three times (2009, 2015-16), was third twice (2008, 2014) and took sixth last year. As a four-time Olympian, the University of Michigan graduate and Ann Arbor, MI resident won the 1500m silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Games, carried New Zealand’s flag at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, and returned to the podium with a 1500m bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Games. In 2019, he won a record-breaking fifth men’s title at the 5th Avenue Mile, adding to his previous victories on Manhattan’s most famous thoroughfare from 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
Ingebrigtsen coached by his father, Gjert, won the 1500m European title in 2016 and a 2017 World Championship bronze medal in the metric Mile.
UPDATE (01/23/20)
► Robby Andrews, a 2016 Rio Olympian, and Robert Domanic have been added to the NYRR Wanamaker Mile men’s field with Johnny Gregorek, Charlie Grice, Morgan McDonald and Josh Kerr no longer competing in the event.
The NYRR Wanamaker Mile women’s field will be announced later this month.
The NYRR Millrose Games highlights the year-round partnership between The Armory Foundation, which oversees the premier indoor track & field center in America, and New York Road Runners, the world’s largest community running organization.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: www.nyrrmillrosegames.org
