By T. Patrick O'Dowd
This year marked the 93rd Annual Millrose Games. The Games are the oldest invitational track meeting in the United States if not the world. When asked about the Millrose Games Marcus O'Sullivan said, "Millrose is the one thing standing by itself. It's a credit to it at a time when track and field seems to be in decline." The marquee event at the Millrose Games is the Wanamaker Mile.
James Nolan, Vinny Mulvey & Mark Carroll
Relaxing Before the Race
The Wanamaker Mile is a tradition-laden event for the Irish. The trophy reads like a history of Irish milers. The cup contains the names of Ron Delaney (1956-1959), Eamonn Coghlan (1977, '79-'81, '83, '85 and '87), Marcus O'Sullivan (1986, '88-'90, and '92) and Niall Bruton (1994 and '96). It was at the Millrose Games where Coghlan earned the monicker, "Chairman of the Boards" for his masterful races on the rickety boards of Madison Square Garden. O'Sullivan's title of "Master of the Indoor Mile" was cemented with 11 sub-4 minute miles in the Wanamaker mile. The 1998 Wanamaker Mile was special for Marcus O'Sullivan. The Leevale runner, a five-time winner of the Millrose mile placed third in 3:58.10 giving him an even 100 sub-4:00 minute miles. Before O'Sullivan, only Steve Scott and John Walker had previously accumulated that total. "Undoubtedly, I'm blessed," said O'Sullivan. Ray Flynn who never won the race, has two of the top seven times (3:53.8 and 3:54.70) earned while in pursuit of Coghlan
Just prior to his race at last year's Millrose Games, Eamonn Coghlan unsuccessfully tried to convince Mark Carroll to enter the Wanamaker Mile and abandon the 3,000 metres. Carroll was trying to win his third consecutive title but was beaten by Kenyan Paul Bitok.
This year Carroll was focusing on the mile and entered the race owning the year's best mile and 1,500m times set in the same race of 3:54.98 and 3:38.13 respectively. One of Carroll's biggest rivals in the Millrose Mile race was fellow Irishman, James Nolan. Nolan, who has been primarily an 800m runner, debuted this season in the 1,500m in 3:38.72. Until this year, Carroll's indoor best was 3:41.41. When asked about his thoughts and chances of winning the race, Nolan told Irishrunner.com, "In Ireland, they'll care more about if I beat Carroll than if I win the race outright." Carroll himself had some pressure put on him by Wanamaker Mile veterans Coghlan and O'Sullivan saying, "Both Eamonn and Marcus told me, 'Your trophy cabinet is not full unless you've won the Wanamaker Mile'."
It seems the Irish aren't the only ones fond of the Wanamaker prize, it is also heralded honour among Kenyans - winners of the last two races. So much so, that when Ken Nason, training partner and Irish schoolmate of Carroll, the Kenyan camp objected and insisted that they have their own pacesetter. In true Kenyan fashion, an ambitious pace of 56 seconds at the quarter and 1:53 at the half was pledged. Nason was redirected to pacing duties in the 3,000m.
Mark Carroll and James Nolan
With 1 Lap To Go
As promised, the race began with Robert Kibet, the Kenyan rabbit darting to the front and attempting to drag the pack of talented runners through a quick first quarter. While Kibet hit the first checkpoint in 56 seconds, Nolan and Carroll were several seconds behind in fifth and sixth. Laban Rotich, the 1998 winner trailed in second with recovering American Olympian Paul McMullen in third and Kenyan William Tanui. Just before the halfway mark, Carroll moved ahead of Nolan and Tanui and McMullen began to fade. Kibet hit the half-mile split in a 1:56 and dropped out a half lap later. Rotich was now in the lead with Carroll comfortably perched on his outside shoulder with Tanui and Nolan right behind. For the next quarter mile, Carroll settled on Tanui, warily looking around, avoiding a box. The pair passed the three-quarter point at 3:00. As the penultimate lap began, the Corkman accelerated, opening a ten-yard gap leaving the tentative Kenyan in his wake. Nolan tried to react straightaway but couldn't match his countryman's charge. The Offlayman dispensed of the exhausted Rotich and American Richie Boulet but his chase of Carroll was in vain. Carroll savored his victory, smiling and waving to the crowd then leaping for sheer joy across the line in 3:58.19. Nolan, wearing a white NYAC (New York Athletic Club) vest with UCD stenciled above was second in 4:00.06. Rotich (4:01.93) held off fast finishing American Seneca Lassiter (4:01.94) for third. Lassiter is a protégé of Mayoman John McDonnell where he attended the University of Arkansas.
Mark Carroll
Talks With The Press
After the race, the victorious Carroll was not short on words. He said, "They [the Kenyans] were talking about how they were going out in 1:54. Sometimes it's a tactic to put it in people's minds - almost like calling a bluff. Staying patient, staying controlled and running your own race is the way to go.
The women's mile was two races in one. First, American favourite Regina Jacobs ran a time trial and the remaining competitors battled for second spot. Jacobs is a two-time World outdoor silver medallist in the 1,500 metres. From the gun she established an insurmountable lead accompanied for the first half by pacer Michele Ave. Jacobs never relented winning in 4:24.04.
Sinead Delahunty
Irish Indoor Mile Record Holder
Sinead Delahunty was in the pack chasing Jacobs. Delahunty, who competes for New Balance in America ran a solid race despite still recovering a bout with the flu that hampered her training and racing plans for the last two weeks. The Kilkenny athlete shadowed American Cheri Goddard Kenah for the entire race and nearly caught her at the finish line. Kenah edged Delahunty 4:38.15 to 4:38.85. This has already been a fine season for Delahunty who set the Irish record in the 1,500m (4:11.06) and mile (4:30.41) in a race at the 168th Street Armory in New York on 8 January.