Lagat's Win is Millrose Games Highlight

Bernard Lagat’s record-tying seventh Wanamaker Mile victory highlighted Friday’s Millrose Games at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Distance great Eamonn Coghlan, the first runner to win seven Wanamaker Miles, was on hand as Lagat dueled with 2008 Olympic 1500-meter bronze medalist Nick Willis Friday. Willis grabbed the lead with less than two laps remaining, but Lagat surged past the New Zealander entering the final turn and raced to victory in 3:58.44. Willis finished in 3:59.48. Lagat earned the Team USA Athlete of the Meet award.

In the women’s mile, Kara Goucher easily won her second consecutive Millrose title, finishing in 4:33.19.

There were plenty of other highlights at the 102nd Millrose event, including attempts at two pole vault records. Australian Steven Hooker, the Beijing gold medalist, easily won the men’s pole vault at 6.01 meters (19 feet, 8.5 inches). The clearance marked Hooker’s personal best indoor jump and set Australian, Millrose Games and Madison Square Garden records. It was also the best indoor vault ever on U.S. soil. Hooker then took his first-ever shot at Sergei Bubka’s world record of 6.15/20-2, but missed on all three attempts at 6.16/20-2.5.

On the women’s side, Jenn Stuczynski cleared 4.71/15-5 to win the event. With U.S. record- holder Stacy Dragila watching, Stuczynski took aim at Dragila’s U.S. record of 4.82/15-9.75, narrowly missing on her third attempt. Dragila finished second Friday (4.61/15-1.5).

In a highly-competitive women’s 60-meter hurdles race, Beijing 100-meter hurdles bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada edged 2008 silver medalist Sally McClellan of Australia. Lopes-Schliep won in 7.95 seconds while McClellan, in her first-ever indoor 60-meter contest, was second in 7.96. NCAA hurdles champion Tiffany Ofili from the University of Michigan showed that she’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the future with a strong third-place finish (8.02).

Terrence Trammell won decisively in the men’s 60-meter hurdles (7.45), but he had to settle for second in the 60-meter dash, where 2008 U.S. indoor champion Michael Rodgers won in a personal best 6.51, edging Olympic medalists Trammell (6.54) and Shawn Crawford (6.62). Another lesser-known name, Bianca Knight, made her Millrose debut an impressive one by winning the women’s 60 in 7.23. U.S. 100-meter champion Muna Lee was second (7.28).

The “Big Three” American shot putters fought to the last throw when, for the second consecutive year, Adam Nelson won on his fourth and final attempt. Nelson’s final toss traveled 20.79 meters (68 feet, 2.5 inches). Reese Hoffa led after three rounds at 20.48/67-2.25, but had to settle for third place as Christian Cantwell took second with his fourth-round toss (20.53/67-4.25).

In other men’s elite events, Thomas Freeman won the weight throw (23.77/78.0) and Trinidad’s Renny Quow won the 600-yard run (1:11.32). Amber Campbell won the women’s weight throw (23.33/76-6.5) while Monica Hargrove won the 600 (1:19.50).