Revised policy for Selection for the Boys & Girls Invitational High School Mile at the 103rd Annual Millrose Games
Two of the featured events at the Millrose Games are the “Boys One Mile Run” (contested since 1974), and the “Girls One Mile Run” (since 1984). Each of these events brings together, by special invitation, TEN (10) of the top scholastic milers in the East to race at New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden. The Millrose Games celebrates its 103rd edition on Friday, January 29, 2010.
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
Each potential candidate’s array of MILE performances in major meets are reviewed, beginning with the 2009 Indoor Season, with particular emphasis on respective State Championships, National Scholastic Indoor Championship (NY Armory), and Nike Indoor Nationals (Boston, MA). Outdoors, our focus is on 2009 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 elite list consisting of those 2009 underclass milers ranked by Track & Field News and DyeStat among all the USA’s top 10-15 for the mile (plus 1,500/1,600m converted.) For the boys, that usually means sub-4:12.0. For the girls, that usually means sub-4:50.0 In December, we will contact these nationally-ranked milers to determine their interest, availability, and authorization to participate. In most years, there are only 1 or 2 in this group, and if they commit to compete—a “pre-season” Millrose Games HS Mile invitation is confirmed.
At this point, it should be noted that the NYC Armory Track and Field Center, under the leadership of Dr. Nobert Sander, Executive Director, has assumed a consequential role to assist the Millrose Games in continuing their long history and tradition as New York’s premier “athletics happening”, and especially to enhance and upgrade the High School Events Schedule of our century-old iconic meet.
In this regard…in addition to the six selectees who earn their invitations to the Millrose High School Mile(s) as a result of performances achieved in the meets listed on reverse…that ranks them…time-wise…at the top of all scholastic milers in the East…on or before January 16, 2010…the Armory’s HS Committee, headed up by Tim Fulton, will determine the remaining four selectees, as follows…winners of the Hispanic Games mile at the Armory on January 9th…winners of the Millrose HS Mile Trials [new event] at the Armory on January 13th. [Boys winner must run sub-4:20.00…Girls sub-5:00.00] Finally, Two “At Large” selections [Three, if requisite times are not produced at above Trials].
Again, we rely only on One-Mile performances. Additionally, be aware that performances achieved at ‘Intra-State”, non-scholastic, or “Open” meets/events will NOT be considered for a Millrose invitation. And, although we review major 2009 cross country meets, primarily to determine current elite competitive fitness, it should be stressed that winning and/or setting course records at these meets is NOT a significant factor in considering Millrose Mile participants, as often the best 5,000m harriers are not top-quality milers.
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 automatic Armory meets specified above. For example, winning the Yale Invitational Boys Mile in 4:21.20, while several others have run sub-4:18.50 at any of the earlier 2009-2010 designated Indoor Meets would considerably lessen that individual’s chances of being selected.
Finally, all accepted invitees in the Boys and Girls High School Miles must agree NOT to run in any scheduled meet after Sunday, January 24th, to ensure being in peak competitive condition for our national-level event(s). Failure to comply with this provision of the selection process will result in our invitation to participate in the 2010 Millrose Games being immediately withdrawn.
LARRY BYRNE
Boys Invitations Director
401-738-4232
LByrne6825@aol.com
JIM SPIER
Girls Invitations Director
919-490-5206
jispier@aol.com
TIM FULTON
Chair Armory HS Committee
Millrose Games HS Events Director
tim@armorytrack.com
2009-10 Major Eastern High School INDOOR Meets
DESIGNATED AS MILLROSE “QUALIFIERS”
Saturday, December 12 ~ HOWARD COUNTY WINTER TRACK FESTIVAL. Prince Georges County Sports Complex, Landover, MD Sanctioned by MPSSAA for competitors from MD, DC, VA, PA & DE only. 200m flat track
Contact: Norman Belden @ (W) 410-880-5988… (Fax) 410-880-5996… (C}) 410-917-8010 or norman_belden@hcpss.org
Saturday, December 19 ~ 56th BISHOP LOUGHLIN GAMES. NYC area “Season Opener” at NY Armory Track & Field Center, 168th St. & Broadway, NYC ~ 6-lane banked 200m Mondo Track. Contacts: Ed Bowes @ 718-857-2700 ext. 2233 or Mike Botti @ 718-788-0716…BLGames.org
Sun-Mon, December 27-28 ~ SETON HALL GAMES. Regan Field House, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Individual events, including B & G Mile on 12/27. Relays 12/28. Contact: John Marshall @ 973-761-9639 or marshajo@shu.edu
Monday, December 28 ~ 2nd ANNUAL BOSTON HOLIDAY CHALLLENGE. Reggie Lewis Track Center, Roxbury Crossing, MA ~ 6-lane banked 200m Mondo Track [where Nike Indoor Nationals are held in March]
Contact: Bill Jennings jetjennings@aol.com
Wednesday, December 30 ~ FIRST ANNUAL RHODE ISLAND HS CLASSIC, Athletic Wing of Career & Technical HS, Providence, RI. (New Facility…w/ 200m flat synthetic track- spikes OK) [Replaces traditional Brown Univ. Invitational Meet]
Contact: Bob Rothenberg @ 401-294-9946 or arothenberg2@cox.net
Saturday, January 9 ~ 16TH HISPANIC GAMES. “Automatic Qualifier” NYC Armory Track/ Field Center. 6-lane banked 200m Mondo track. Contact: Tim Fulton @ 212-923-1803 ext. 36 or tim@armorytrack.com
Fri-Sat, January 8-9 ~ 41th DARTMOUTH RELAYS. Leverone Field House, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Top H.S. competitors from 8 states & Canada (200m flat synthetic- spikes OK) DMR on 1/8… B & G Mile on 1/9
Contacts: Barry Harwick @ 603-646-2540 or barry.harwick@dartmouth.edu or www.lancertiming.com
Saturday, January 9 ~ MONTGOMERY INDOOR INVITATIONAL. Prince Georges County Sports Complex, Landover, MD
Top competitors from MD, DC, VA, PA, DE only. 200m flat track
Contact: Tom Rogers @ (c) 240-476-1720 or (H) 301-770-7292 or Thomas_W_Rogers@mcpsmd.org
Wednesday, January 13 ~ “NEW” MILLROSE MILE “TIME” TRIALS, NYC Armory Track/ Field Center. 6-lane banked 200m Mondo track. Contact: Tim Fulton @ 212-923-1803 ext. 36 or tim@armorytrack.com
Saturday, January 16 ~ ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY-STANNER GAMES. NYC Armory Track & Field Center.
6-lane banked 200m Mondo track. Contact: Joe Dombrowski @ 718-441-2100 (school) or 718-849-8251 (Fax) or jdombrowski@molloyhs.org
Fri-Sat, January 15-16 ~ 28TH YALE TRACK CLASSIC. Coxe Cage, Yale University, New Haven, CT
(200m banked synthetic track-spikes OK) Top HS competitors from 8 states. DMR on 1/15. B & G Mile on 1/16.
Contact: (Boys) Dan Ireland @ 203-432-1404 or daniel.ireland@yale.edu…(Girls) Mark Young @ 203-432-1405, mark.young@yale.edu
“To Level the Playing Field”…these meets run a MILE and are held on 200 meter tracks…SIX BANKED…FIVE FLAT!
** IMPORTANT NOTE: Saturday, January 16 is the last day performances will be considered for selection for the Invitational Boys and Girls High School Mile Races at the 2010 Millrose Games on Friday, January 29th at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
QUESTIONS? Contact…
LARRY BYRNE
Boys Invitations Director
401-738-4232
LByrne6825@aol.com
JIM SPIER
Girls Invitations Director
919-490-5206
jispier@aol.com
TIM FULTON
Chair Armory HS Committee
Millrose Games HS Events Director
tim@armorytrack.com
“TO RANK WITH ‘EM...YOU’VE GOT TO COMPETE WITH ‘EM”...per Neil Kerr, Editor/NYSSWA