Donna on the Side
at the 97th Millrose Games
by Donna Dye
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(Pictures courtesy of the City of New York) |
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This is the 97th year of the Millrose Games, now the Verizon Millrose Games. The Games date back to 1908, making it the oldest indoor meet in the U.S. What began in a small indoor track has evolved into a meet held continuously at Madison Square Garden since 1914. The Millrose Games boast 86 world indoor records that have been set or equaled. In addition 117 Millrose Games winners have been Olympic Champions.
The Millrose Games were first held by the Millrose AA, the recreational club of the employees of the John Wanamaker Department Store in New York City, the "Millrose" was the name of the home of Rodman Wanamaker, then head of the store.
The meet features sprints, hurdles, middle distance, pole vault, high jump and the famous Wanamaker Mile.The Wanamaker Mile tradition started when Rodman Wanamaker gave the first trophy for the popular mile-and-one-half in 1916. In 1926, the race bacame known as the Wanamaker Mile and soon developed into the highlight of the Games. (Thanks to millrosegames.com for the history.)
This year the High School events have been expanded and include the "Fastest Schoolboy/Schoolgirl" in New York City and the Public School Athletic League "Mayor's Cup" relays.
The Millrose Games is a USATF Golden Spike Tour event, with elite athletes. This year's Olympians included sprinter Marion Jones, Derek Miles, in the pole vault, Amy Acuff and Tisha Waller in the High Jump; and Gail Devers in the 60m hurdles.The Golden Spike Tour is a series of indoor and outdoor events that offers U.S. athletes the opportunity to compete on U.S. soil for substantial prize money in front of large crowds and a national television audience. |
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Meet Hotel: The Sheraton Towers in the heart of New York City |
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The Scene
The Athletes
The Mile
| The Millrose in the 1910s. "The Millrose A.A., a recreational club of the employees of the John Wanamaker Department Store, conducts twilight meets on the roof of Wanamaker's warehouse" (Photo and write up: Courtesy of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame--[Photo: Charmante Studio, Inc. courtesy Millrose Games]) |
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Girls Mile
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Girls Mile 1-2-3: Winner, Nicole Blood-NY, 2nd Heather Iatauro-NY and 3rd Frances Koons-PA. This was the second Millrose win for Nicole. |
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Milers all in a row: 5th Amy Kelly-PA, 7th Allison Kieffer-NY, 6th Laura Cummings-NY, 2nd Heather Iatauro-NY, 4th Lindsey Ferguson-NY,
3rd Frances Koons-PA |
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The Dynamic Duo from Saratoga Springs: Lindsey Ferguson and Nicole Blood. |
| Devon Williams-MD. Though scheduled to run the mile, Devon was on the sidelines watching and nursing an ailing knee. |
Dad, Fred congratulates daughter Frances Koons. |
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Coaches Art and Linda Krannick take time to congratulate and pose with their runners, Lindsey and Nicole. |
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| Nicole could never have run the race she did without the help of Mom, Jill, Stepdad, Jerry and Grandparents Maureen and Mike Haggerty. |
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Boys Mile
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Milers 1-2-3: 3rd Brian McCabe-NY, 1st Hakon DeVries-NY
and 2nd Victor Gras-MA |
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Hakon DeVries with Coach Steve Perks |
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Brian McCabe with Coach George Febles |
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| Brian McCabe Fan Club. During the race, high in the upper deck, the McCabe club went wild sreaming, cheering to movtivate Brian to do his best. Here they pose after composing themselves. |
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 More McCabe and Fordham Fans. |
Relays
Bellport NY 1st Place in the Suburgan Girls 4x400: Brittany Scheffey,
Meghan Polis, Katie Weider and Erica Young |
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Camden NJ 1st Place in the Suburban Boys 4x400: Dwayne Lewis, Devon Burroughs, Coach Booker, Carl Smith, Alonzo Brown |
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Uniondale 4x 400 2nd Place |
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Bishop Laughlin 1st Place 4x400 Meter Relay CHSSA HS |
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Sacred Heart Academy-NY
2nd Place 4x400 Meter Relay CHSSA |
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AP Randolph-PA 1st Place 4x400 Meter Relay PSAL |
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Dewitt-Clinton 2nd Place 4x400 Meter Relay PSAL |
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Dewitt-Clinton 1st Place 4x400 Meter Relay PSAL HS |
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PS 180 1st Place Mixed 4x145 Meter Relay NYRRC Youth |
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Natasha Hastings, AP Randolph NY, visits with family and friends after winning the 4x400 with her team mates. |
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The Doherty Brothers of Fordham Prep: (top left) Dan, Brian, Jack (front left) Christian. Dan and Brian are half of the
1st Place Fordham 4x800. |
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Warming Up
Bishop Laughlin 4x400: (from left) Shantile Blackburn, Saleena Rashed, Uelise Jefffrey, Olinka Crasoe, Lauren Watler |
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Chaminade 4x800: (from left) Gregg Hoffman, Kevin McDermott, Craig Meekers, Mike Weiss |
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Hempstead 4x400: (from left) Dellarese Rutherford, Sayoha Daley, Racquel Anderson, Nikeshia Brown, and Coach Raffington |
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New Rochelle 4x400: (from left) Keesa McKay, Assata Cowart, Shovonne King, Offeibea Hanson-Hall |
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St. John the Baptist 4x400: (from left) Caitlin Petrocelli, Stephanie Mattar, Beatrix Jackson, Denay Spencer and Rachelle Fitzgerald |
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Bellport NY 4x400: (from left) Brittany Scheffey, Katie Weider, Erica Young, Meghan Polis |
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Cornwall NY 4x400: (from left) Charity Brigs, Claire Ciabotti, Kristen Bidosky, Kerry Kwalwasser and Coach Feuer |
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Comsewogue 4x400: (from left) Kevin Gilroy, Melvin Genao,
Jose Genao, Kevin Withers and Coach Brad Posnanski |
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Holy Trinity 4x400: (from left) Yves-Line Ghislain, Katie Decamillo, Jennifer Kennedy, Regine Thervil |
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Dewitt-Clinton 4x400: (from left) Lowery Rhoden, Jeremy Alvarez, Jemel Williams, Dwight Crooks |
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Race Walker, Zachary Pollinger NJ with his friend
Lauren Zaccone. Zachary finished 4th. |
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Donna on the Side at the Millrose Games 2004
Millrose Games home page
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