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DONNA ON THE SIDE AT THE MILLROSE GAMES
by Donna Dye
Millrose Games 2005
The Millrose Games is a special event in track and field. It's so special that it is held in the prestigious Madison Square Garden, "the world's most famous arena.". 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.
This year, the 98th year of the Millrose Games, 13,519 fans cheered for the feature events including sprints, hurdles, distance, pole vault, high jump and the famous Wanamaker Mile which this year was one of the more exciting events as Bernard Lagat shattered the Millrose and Madison Square Garden records.
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The Scene is New York and the Garden
The Millrose Games
It's a dynamic atmosphere with lots of cheering from 13,519 fans. |
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The Millrose of Yesteryear
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. 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.
(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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Fans and athletes in the stands and sides.
Warming Up
| Saratoga Springs coaches Art and Linda Kranick with Lindsay Ferguson and Nicole Blood . |
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Dewitt Clinton NY |
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Bellport NY |
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Chaminade NY |
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Sacred Heart NY |
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Coach Ray James with Rolanda Bell, miler |
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South Shore NY |
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Bergtraum NY |
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Winners
Boys 4 x 800 meter Catholic High School Athletic Association
| 1st Fordham Prep: (from left) John Bradley, Brian Doherty, Terrence Egan and Jim Lundy. This is four times in a row that Fordham Prep has won this race at the Millrose Games--a first. Congratulations Guys! |
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Coach George Feebles proudly holds the trophy.  |
| John Bradley, Brian Doherty with Monsignor Farrell friends and competitors Vito Cannabo and Jeff Carbonelea Monsignor Farrell finished 3rd. |
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4th Kellenberg |
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Boys 4x400 meter Suburban
| 1st Camden: (from left) Robert McGriff, Casey Pinchney, Devon Burroughs, Carl Smith |
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Girls 4x400 meter Catholic High School Athletic Association
| 1st Bishop Loughlin: (from left) Santile Blackburn, Saleena Abdur-Rashed, J. Morris, Olinka Crusoe |
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Boys 4x400 meter Long Island
| 1st Uniondale: (from left) Damien Samuel, Conte Cuttino, Coach Dennis Kornfield, Jean Juste, Michael Wright |
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Girls 4x400 meter Long Island
| 1st Hempstead: (from left) Coach Raffington, Jeavon Benjamin, Sabrina Budai, Sanique Leby, René Cousins, Sayoka Daney |
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Boys 4x400 Meter Public School Athletic League
1st Transit Tech: (from left) Mikel Thomas, Matthew Armstrong, Coach Sydney McIntosh,
Monaire. Thompson, Clemone Henry |
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Girls 4x400 meter Public School Athletic League
Benjamin Cardozo NY - WINS.
from left:
Dalilah Muhammad, Lindsay Rowe, Joy Henry and Cody Newman. |
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Tis time to celebrate! |
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| Cardozo Coach Gale Emmanual with daughter Natasha. |
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The Mile
1st place--Aislinn Ryan NY. "This track is a little different than most tracks. I thought the turns were going to be (steeper). When I got here I was happy. I'm good at staying at a pace. Usually I don't go out and fall off in a mile. My goals are to go as hard as I can and work as hard as I can to keep on making bigger goals." Bigger goals? How Exciting!
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Winner--Chris Barnicle MA
Left out of the big junior invitational mile event in Boston a week ago, Chris showed he really does fit in with the top milers this year. |
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| Aislinn with Coach Richard Furst |
Chris Barnicle with his Dad, Paul |
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| Girl Milers: (from left) Rolanda Bell 8th, Kara mcKena 6th; Danielle Tauro 5th; Sarah Bowman 2nd; Aislinn Ryan 1st; Lindsay Ferguson 7th, Brittany Sheffey 3rd; Nicole Blood 4th; Mary Liz McCurdy 9th |
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The Elites at Milrose
| Bernard Lagat not only won the Wanamaker Mile but shattered Eamon Coghlan's Millrose record set in 1981. At the press conference Bernard had this to say: " It was a great atmosphere today. It was one of the greatest miles I've been in. We have people who are great, ready to run, and we showed that today. It was a great challenge. Breaking the record feels good and tells me that my training is good." |
Allen Webb (l) and Bernard Lagat
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Alan Webb said he had a lot of fun. "It was a really different experience. The crowd was so into it. It's a very unique setting. I've been wanting to come here since my junior year in high school. I tried to go as long as I could - I didn't last long at that pace and I paid for it a little bit at the end." |
Mary Saxer, a high school senior from Lancaster NY, pole vaulted with the Elite. Mary set a new high school girls record with her 14' jump last month. So she gave it a try with the Elites at Millrose, making the opening height of 13ft. At the press conference Mary said that she came for the experience. "I cleared 13-6 starting off in practice the other day, so I wasn't shaken by it (the starting height). There's so much energy here. Vaulting against athletes like Stacy Dragila, it was so exciting. At high school meets, I know I'll be 1 or 2, but here it's a different story. A meet like this is a great experience for me. I can only improve from here. I had nothing to lose. My goal was to break my own national record again, even if I only went a half-inch over. I didn't have the best warm-up, so it's not unexpected that I didn't do well in the meet. I was a little bit nervous, but not too bad." |
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Officials on Parade
The Millrose Games Officials come dressed in formal attire to greet, officiate, and announce.
| Jim Spier, (l) Chair of the HS girls mile selection committee, with announcer Ian Brooks. Both have been active in track and field for many years providing invaluable service to the community. Jim is with the National Scholastic Sports Foundation, maintains Jim's Top 5 national high school lists, and manages meets throughout the year. Ian is the public address announcer at New York's Armory Track & Field Center, an executive assistant to New York Road Runners President and Vice President with New York Road Runners Club. Ian announces various meets throughout the country and is one of the most enthusiastic fans of cross country, track and field who works hard to pass the message along to one and all. |
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| Larry Byrne and Larry's granddaughter, Charissa Knox and Bernice. Larry is another track stat nut who maintains high school records in the East. He is also chair of the boys HS mile selection committee for Millrose . |
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More officials on parade. |
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Millrose Games index page
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