NEW YORK - Highlighted by the 99th running of the Millrose Games, New York City once again will become a mecca for the world's most popular sport during the Super "Week of Track & Running," January 30 through February 5. But the sport's presence in New York extends beyond Millrose Week, making February a prime month for track and running in the city, including the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships.
New York's energy and diversity, as well as its sports institutions, have combined to present a full menu of world-class events that can be enjoyed by nearly everyone throughout the tri-state area.
The Millrose Games, the greatest and most historic invitational indoor track & field meet in the world, returns to Madison Square Garden on Friday, February 3 with its deepest fields in years, as world record holders and Olympic gold medalists invade the Garden. The second stop of the Visa Championship Series, the 99th Millrose Games will be broadcast from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sunday, February 5 on ESPN2.
Millrose is by no means the only hot ticket in town. The New York City Sports Commission, New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory, New York Road Runners and USA Track & Field all are part of a week that will bring thousands of athletes to the city.
"On behalf of the City of New York, it is my pleasure to welcome the 99th Millrose Games and the incredible field of world class athletes to New York City," said New York City Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba. "The Millrose Games and the incredible array of track and running events throughout February highlight the passion New Yorkers have for the sport and why New York has become a travel destination for fans and athletes from around the world. New Yorkers are knowledgeable fans that embrace both the world's elite athletes and our young local runners."
The month of February also features the return of the USA Cross Country Championships to Van Cortland Park on February 18-19, as well as a robust schedule of events at the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory.
Among the highlights of New York's Super "Week of Track & Running":
* Community service gets a gold-medal hue on February 2 when world champion sprinter Lauryn Williams and Olympic gold medal hurdler Joanna Hayes speak to New York middle-school students, delivering a message that encourages young people to live a healthy, fit, drug-free lifestyle and urges kids to Be A Champion in life as well as in sports.
* On Friday night, February 3, all eyes are on Madison Square Garden for the Garden's longest-running event, the 99th Millrose Games. The world's most prestigious indoor invitational track meet returns to the Garden for another unforgettable evening. The Wanamaker Mile, women's 60-meter dash and men's shot put promise to be among the highlights, along with New York's Fastest Kid and some of the top high school and college talent in the country.
* On Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4, the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory in Washington Heights will host the premier collegiate invitational track meet in the country. The New Balance College Invitational will play host to 2,000 of the world's best young athletes and the most established track programs in the country. At the conclusion of the day's events on Friday, fans can head from the Armory to the Garden for the Millrose Games. NCAA powerhouse teams including the University of Arkansas, LSU, Stanford and Texas will take on metro-area schools such as Columbia and Manhattan. An additional 3,000 high school athletes running in Armory events over the weekend will push the Armory's year-to-date participant total to 100,000 athletes. More than 350,000 young people will compete by year's end at the facility, which has helped bring indoor track to levels of popularity never before seen in New York.
* The Armory hosts the sport's past as well as its future. The athletes who compete each year at the historic - and blazing fast - track also have the rare opportunity to tour the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, which reopened at the Armory in January 2004. A modern, interactive space that celebrates the legacy of the most celebrated Olympic sport also is a teaching center and a source of inspiration for its visitors.
*Female athletes from around the East Coast fill Madison Square Garden for the finals of the Colgate Women's Games, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
See below for a full list of events during New York's Super "Week of Track & Running." For more information on the Millrose Games and Visa Championship Series, visit
www.usatf.orgSchedule of Events: New York's Super "Week of Track & Running"
Monday, January 30
Track Writers of New York Lunch Meeting, Noon. Some of the top entrants in Friday's 99th running of the Millrose Games will be on hand to speak with New York's finest track and running scribes. MEDIA ONLY. To attend the meeting, contact Walter Murphy:
wmurphy25@aol.com.
Wednesday, February 1
NJ Metropolitan Invitational, 5-10:30 p.m., New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory. New Jersey's finest prepsters hit the track.
www.armorytrack.comThursday, February 2
Millrose Games press conference, 11 a.m., Affinia Hotel. Millrose record holder Bernard Lagat, world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele, world champion Lauryn Williams and Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes will speak to the press. The Affinia Hotel is located one block from Madison Square Garden, at 371 7th. Ave.
"Be A Champion" Olympic Athlete School Visit, 1:30 p.m., Center School. World champion sprinter Lauryn Williams and Olympic gold medalist hurdler Joanna Hayes will speak to students at MS 243 Center School, located at 270 W. 70th Street. Delivering the message of living with integrity, promoting health and wellness and striving to succeed, athletes encourage kids to Be A Champion in life as well as sports. Media are invited to attend this event that is crucial to USA Track & Field's core strategic initiatives.
Friday, February 3
99th Millrose Games, Madison Square Garden. The world's most prestigious indoor invitational track meet returns to Madison Square Garden for another unforgettable evening. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster by phone (212-307-7171); via Internet at
www.ticketmaster.com; at a Ticketmaster outlet near you; or by visiting the Madison Square Garden ticket office. Information can be found at
www.Millrose-Games.com. For media credential forms, visit
www.millrose-games.comNew Balance College Invitational, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. Some of the best college teams in the world will be at The Armory over the weekend. More than 2,000 athletes will participate in the most competitive college invitational meet in the country. Adam Nelson, winner of the 2005 World Champion Shot Put title, will throw out the ceremonial "First Ball" to inaugurate the new throwing cage on February 4th at 1:00 pm. Tickets $5 students/$15 adults, available at the Armory ticket office.
www.armorytrack.comSaturday, February 4
New Balance College Invitational, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory
Colgate Women's Games, 11 a.m., Madison Square Garden. The 32nd edition of this indoor track & field series culminates with the Colgate Women's Games finals, held at the world-renowned Madison Square Garden. More than 11,000 registrants - from first grade through age 30 plus and from Boston to Virginia - competed in four weeks of preliminary and semi-final competition at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute.
www.colgategames.comSunday, February 5
NYRR Gridiron Classic (5 km)/Longest Football Throw Competition, 8:45 a.m., Central Park. Start this Super Bowl Sunday right with a 5 km through Central Park. With a run under your belt you'll have all the more reason to indulge in the nachos, wings, and beer later on. Event starts at Central Park's East drive at 102nd Street. The Football Throw is at 8:45 a.m. and the race will kick off at 9:30a.m. For more information, or to register, please visit:
www.nyrr.orgCatholic HS Athletic Association Frosh/Soph Boys Championships, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. The next generation of great high school athletes compete at The Armory.
www.armorytrack.comGirls Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA Championships, 3-6 p.m. New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. A battle of the boroughs, track & field style.
www.armorytrack.comMetropolitan Intercollegiate Championships, 5-11 p.m., New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory.
www.armorytrack.comAdditional February events
Bank of America Empire State Building Run Up, February 7. It is 86 floors or 1,576 steps from the lobby to the Observation Deck of The Empire State Building. On February 7, men and women from all around the globe will take the long way to the top of New York's most famous building in the annual Bank of America Empire State Building Run Up. It's an exciting event at one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. Since 1978 this quintessential New York event has been one of New York Road Runners signature races.
www.nyrr.orgCatholic High School Athletics Association Championships -February 11, NBTFC at The Armory. The final championships, following regional competition earlier in the month.
www.armorytrack.comUSA Cross Country Championships -February 18-19, Van Cortland Park. The finest distance runners in the country gather in the Bronx for the USA Championships, vying for the national title as well as a berth on Team USA for the 2006 World Cross Country Championships. Team USA has excelled at the World Championships in the 21st century, winning individual and team silver and bronze medals.
www.usatf.orgCoca-Cola National HS Hall of Fame Classic - February 18, NBTFC at The Armory. Now in its third year, the Coca-Cola National HS Hall of Fame Classic will attract over 4,000 athletes from over 200 schools to compete at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory.
www.armorytrack.comNYRR Al Gordon Snowflake 4 Miler - February 25, Central Park. Come out for the run and be inspired by Al Gordon, a 104-year-old NYRR board member and benefactor. Men and women race separately.
www.nyrr.org103rd PSAL Championships - February 25, NBTFC at The Armory.
www.armorytrack.com69th Eastern States Championships - February 28, NBTFC at The Armory. High school students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia will compete in the 69th Eastern States Championships.
www.armorytrack.comA full schedule of events at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory, visit
www.armorytrack.comFor a full schedule of NYRR events, visit
www.NYRR.orgFor more information on the New York Sports Commission, visit
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sports/html/home.htmlFor more information on USA Track & Field, visit
www.usatf.org
