Yared Nuguse clocks 3:46.63 to win the Wanamaker Mile while Grant Fisher out-kicks Olympic 1500m champ Cole Hocker to register 7:22.91 over 3000m

The 117th Millrose Games did not disappoint as there were world records in the men’s mile and 3000m in New York on Saturday (Feb 8).

The Wanamaker Mile saw winner Yared Nuguse and runner-up Hobbs Kessler both inside Yomif Kejelcha’s world mark of 3:47.01 from 2019 with 3:46.63 for Nuguse and 3:46.90 for Kessler.

Nuguse’s quarter mile splits were 57.38, 55.91, 56.95 and 56.41 as he found himself in the lead once pacemaker Abe Alvarado dropped out at halfway. At the bell he looked to be working hard as Kessler cruised on his shoulder but Kessler tried and failed to take the lead in the back straight and had to settle for second as Nuguse held his form to win.

Nuguse said: “It’s absolutely insane. I’ve not had a world record in my career but I felt I was good enough to do it, especially in the mile.”

In a race full of fast times, Cameron Myers, 18, ran an Australian record of 3:47.48 – only marginally slower than Seb Coe’s world outdoor record from 1981 – and Azeddine Habz clocked a French record of 3:47.56.

The unheralded Gary Martin of the United States made his mark with a time of 3:48.82 in fifth as Britain’s Neil Gourley ran a PB of 3:49.22 in sixth, while in seventh place Andrew Coscoran ran an Irish record of 3:49.26.

A terrific battle between Fisher and Hocker saw both men break Lamecha Girma’s world indoor 3000m record.

Fisher holds the US records over 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m outdoors and earned bronze in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Olympics last year, whereas Hocker won the Olympic 1500m gold in Paris.

So when the pacemakers Jack Salisbury and Casey Comber peeled off it appeared to be unfolding into a classic ‘front runner versus the kicker’ race with Fisher pushing the pace. But Hocker surprised everyone by moving into the lead with three laps to go. He remained there until the home straight, too, when Fisher out-kicked the tiring miler to clock 7:22.91 as Hocker’s 7:23.14 was also inside Girma’s 7:23.81 from 2023.

The outdoor record is held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen with 7:17.55 set in Poland last year.

On Saturday in New York, Fisher went through 400m in 59.02, 800m in 1:58.70, 1200m in 2:58.64, 1600m in 3:58.18 and 2000m in 4:58.01 before the 29-30-second lap pace cranked up to 29.25, 28.84 and 27.50 for the final three laps.

“It was a battle for the ages out there,” said Fisher. “Cole’s a really good competitor and it was a really good race. I was kind of glad Cole went so early. On the last lap against the Olympic 1500m champion it was a little scary, but I’m glad I pulled it off.”

In third, Jimmy Gressier ran a French record of 7:30.18 with Ky Robinson setting an Australian record of 7:30.38 after having gamely tried to stick with Fisher and Hocker until he lost contact with three laps to go.

In eighth, Adam Fogg of Britain ran a PB of 7:40.84.

Whittni Morgan ran an inspired race in the women’s 3000m to out-kick fellow American Josette Andrews in 8:28.03 as runner-up Andrews ran 8:29.77.

In third, Sarah Healy was dropped slightly in the latter stages but held on to clock an Irish record of 8:30.79 just ahead of Olympic 1500m silver medallist Jess Hull, the Australian running 8:30.91.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant was a late withdrawal.

Georgia Bell, the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist from Britain, negotiated a tricky tactical race to win the women’s Wanamaker Mile in 4:23.35 ahead of Heather MacLean and Nikki Hiltz of the United States with Susan Ejore of Kenya fourth.

With the field not keen to follow the pace, Bell went through the quarter-mile in a modest 67.12 and half-mile in 2:14.55 before passing the three-quarter-mile mark in 3:21.39 and then uncorking a swift 61.97 last lap, despite having to run wide on the final bend.

“I watched this from last year at home from the sofa so I was excited to get the call to run here,” said Bell, who had been badly boxed at times but found space when it mattered to make her winning move.

“It was hard and messy but fun! So much of racing, especially indoors, is about positioning and keeping calm when there’s some pushing and shoving,” added Bell, who bounced back from a 3000m defeat in Boston a few days earlier.

Josh Hoey’s fine form continued in the 800m as he held off Bryce Hoppel to set an American record and world lead of 1:43.90. Despite losing his form slightly as the finish approached, runner-up Hoppel also ran a PB with 1:44.19 as Ireland’s Mark English ran a national record in fourth with 1:45.15

In the sprint hurdles Dylan Beard set a world leading mark and PB of 7.38 to win the men’s race to repeat his victory at the Millrose Games from 2024, whereas Olympic champion and fellow American Masai Russell also clocked a world lead in the women’s race with 7.76.

The 60m sprints also sizzled with Jacious Sears of the United States winning in a world lead of 7.02 as Marcellus Moore of the United States ran 6.56 to beat former world indoor champion Trayvon Bromell by three hundredths of a second.

An attempt on the world indoor 600m record of 73.77 held by Donavan Brazier fell a little short but Will Sumner of the United States nevertheless impressed with a world lead of 74.04 to beat Isaiah Hewitt and Brandon Miller with Quincy Wilson a couple of seconds back in fourth.

In the field, Katie Moon of the United States won the women’s pole vault in a world lead of 4.82m.

» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here