99th Millrose Games Feb 3, 2006 at Madison Square Garden, New York City |
Selection policies for high school boys and girls miles.from the selection committeesTwo of the featured events at the Millrose Games are the “Boys One Mile Run” (contested since 1974), and the “Girls One Mile Run” (contested since 1984). Each of these events brings together, by special invitation, eight (8) of the top scholastic milers in the East to race at New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden. The Millrose Games celebrates its 99 th edition on Friday, February 3, 2006. These are “scholastic events” sanctioned by National Federation of State High School Associations and the State of New York. Therefore, all competitors must represent their school and wear their school’s team uniform. The Millrose Games’ long-established policy for selecting competitors is based on evaluating each candidate’s “ One Mile Performance Profile”, which includes: - Honors Won. (i. e. winning and placing high in major [interstate] meets) - Win-Loss Record against other top prep milers - Time Performances at ONE MILE, 1500m, and 1600m. - Rankings on National and Eastern Performance Lists. We review each potential candidate’s array of performances in major meets, beginning with the 2005 indoor season, with particular emphasis on State Championships, National Scholastic Indoor Championship (NY Armory), and Nike Indoor Nationals ( Landover, MD). Outdoors, our focus is on 2005 State Championships, as well as “major interstate meets”: Arcadia, Penn Relays, Hartford, Loucks, etc., with primary emphasis on “end-of-season” competitions such as the Golden West Invitational, Nike Outdoor Nationals, USATF Junior Nationals, USATF Youth Championships, Junior Olympics and various State “Summer Games”. By early Fall we will have identified two groups of candidates. Our “A” List consists of the elite 2005 underclass milersranked by Track &Field News and DyeStatamong all the USA’s top 10-15 for the mile (plus 1,500/1,600m converted.) For the boys, that usually means sub-4:11. For the girls, that usually means sub-4:50. In December, we will contact these nationally-ranked milers to determine their interest, availability, and authorization to participate. In most years, only 1 or 2 of this group commits to compete—in which case their Millrose Games invitation is confirmed. Our “B” List consists of the additional top 10-15 returning milers within the East (ME--VA) as ranked by DyeStat. For boys, that usually means sub-4:21 indoors or sub-4:18 outdoors. For girls, that usually means: sub-5:05 indoors or sub-5:00 outdoors. Although we review major 2005 cross country meets, it should be stressed that winning and/or setting course records at these meets is NOT a significant factor in selecting Millrose Games Mile contestants, as often the best 5,000m harriers are not top-quality milers. In December, as the 2005-6 indoor season gets underway, it’s “show time” for these “B” List milers to produce a mile performance, on or before January 21, 2006, that ranks them at the top of all scholastic milers in the East. Again, we emphasize that one mile performances [only] in “major interstate meets” carry considerably more weight than those in small, local meets. Also, it should be noted that performances in non-scholastic events or “Open” meets will NOT be considered for a Millrose invitation. These Eastern “major interstate meets” (listed below) in which most of our leading “B” List candidates will compete, are attended or monitored by our Invitations Directors, or their representatives. Many of these meets are limited to competitors from immediate bordering states, so you must check with each respective Meet Director [Contact] to determine whether your entry will be accepted. We emphasize that winning the Mile (or placing in top 2-3-4) at these designated meets does not ensure an invitation to the Millrose Games—other than the two automatic qualifying meets specified below . For example, winning the Yale Invitational Boys Mile in 4:21.2, while several others have run sub-4:18.5 at any of the earlier 2005-2006 Indoor Meets would considerably lessen that individual’s chances of being selected. As was our procedure in 2004 and 2005, we are selecting two competitors from two major meets as “automatic qualifiers”: The Hispanic Games on January 7th and New Balance Games on January 21st—both conducted at the New York City Armory Track & Field Center. In each of these meets, the winner of the Boys and Girls One Mile events will be automatically selected to participate in the 2006 Millrose Games Invitational H.S. Mile races. Finally, a ll accepted invitees in the Boys and Girls High School Miles must agree NOT to compete in any scheduled meet after Sunday, January 29th, to ensure being in peak condition. Failure to comply with this provision of the selection process will result in our invitation to compete in the 2006 Millrose Games being immediately withdrawn. LARRY BYRNE JIM SPIER
2005-6 Major Eastern High School INDOOR Meets or Meets with High School Events
** PLEASE NOTE: Saturday, January 21 is the last day performances will be considered for selection for the Invitational Boys and Girls High School Mile Races at the 2006 Millrose Games on Friday, February 3rd at Madison Square Garden. For questions, contact: LARRY BYRNE JIM SPIER “TO RANK WITH ‘EM...YOU’VE GOT TO COMPETE WITH ‘EM”...per Neil Kerr, Editor/NYSSWA
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