NEW YORK - Returning for its 104th edition, the Millrose Games in 2011 will give one of its greatest stars his biggest challenge and will feature the most heated national sprint rivalry in the world.
The 104th Millrose Games will be contested Friday, January 28, 2011 at Madison Square Garden. The first event of USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series, the Millrose Games will be televised live from 8-10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2.
Lagat to be tested in Wanamaker Mile
In 2010, American middle-distance ace Bernard Lagat had to beat the Olympic gold medalist in order to win his record eighth Wanamaker Mile, surpassing Eamonn Coghlan as the "Chairman of the Boards" at Millrose. If he wants to win his ninth title in 2011, Lagat will need to turn back perhaps the world's best indoor miler, Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia. At age 36, Lagat owns six American records, two indoor and two outdoor world championship titles and two Olympic medals. A star of the future, Mekonnen is just 23 years old but already has a pair of World Indoor gold medals on his resume from 2008 and 2010, and he won the 2009 World Outdoor silver medal to Lagat's bronze.
Campbell-Brown to lead USA vs. Jamaica Challenge
Few stories in track and field have been as compelling on an international level as the sprint rivalry between the United States and Jamaica - a rivalry that beginning in 2008 went from U.S.-dominated to Jamaica-led.
For the first time, that rivalry will hit the indoor venue at Millrose. The defending indoor 60m world champion, two-time Olympic 200m gold medalist and 2007 100m world champ, Veronica Campbell-Brown is the veteran star of the Jamaican women's sprint corps. She headlines the "USA vs. Jamaica Challenge," where three Americans will race against three Jamaicans in both the men's and women's 60-meter sprints. Points will be awarded according to place, and the scores of the two races combined. Additional athletes in the 60m fields will be announced in early 2011.
Stay tuned for major athlete announcements in all events.
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