In its first 100 years, the Millrose Games hosted the greatest track-and-field athletes ever known – among them Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Seagren, Wyomia Tyus, Miruts Yifter, Sergey Bubka, Mary Decker Slaney, Valery Brumel, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Said Auoita, Carl Lewis, Tirunesh Dibaba and Yelena Isinbayeva. As the hallowed event enters its second century, fans can expect more of the same – and a lot new, besides.
The Millrose Games began in 1908 at a local armory the same year its parent, the Millrose Athletic Association, was formed as a recreational club by the employees of the John Wanamaker Department Store. "Millrose" was the name of the country home of Rodman Wanamaker.
In 1914, after overflowing its capacity the year before, the Millrose Games moved to Madison Square Garden, and is the oldest continuous sporting event held there. For 10 years beginning in 1916, the Wanamaker 1 ½ Mile race was a highlight of the meet. Run for the last time in 1925, the final edition was won by Paavo Nurmi, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist from Finland. In 1926, the distance was shortened, and the Wanamaker Mile was born. It has often been run at 10 p.m., a carryover from the days beginning in the 1930s when legendary sports announcer Ted Husing would broadcast the race live on his 10 p.m. radio show. Regardless of what the clock says at the start, however, the Wanamaker Mile is a timeless centerpiece of the night’s action.
Marking its 82nd running last year, the Wanamaker Mile has been won by 44 different men, including such luminaries as Glenn Cunningham, Kip Keino, Tony Waldrop, Filbert Bayi, Steve Scott, Ron Delany, Marty Liquori, Noureddine Morceli, Marcus O’Sullivan and, of course, the Irish legend whose name is synonymous with the event: Eamonn Coghlan. Known as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his dominance on the old wooden Millrose track, the Irishman won the mile here an unsurpassed seven times. Last year, however, American Bernard Lagat notched his fifth Wanamaker victory, adding extra drama to the already thrilling event. Will Lagat be the man to challenge Coghlan’s mark?
For 70 of its first 96 years, the role of Millrose meet director was a father-son affair: Fred Schmertz took the helm in 1934, handing the reins to son Howard in 1975. In 2003, the title of Meet Director Emeritus was bestowed on the younger Schmertz. Now in his 80s, Howard Schmertz continues to be an invaluable contributor to the success of the event, and last year was the sole entrant to the Hall of Fame to mark its 100th anniversary.
- The most prolific winner in event history is Loren Murchison, a sprinter who won 13 titles between 1919 and 1926. He is followed by pole vaulter Bob Richards (11), hurdler Greg Foster and 500-600-800m runner Mark Everett (10), and hurdler Harrison Dillard and miler Eamonn Coghlan (9). Coghlan’s total includes seven Wanamaker Mile victories and two Masters Mile wins.
- Four women share the honor of most Millrose wins at eight apiece: 400-meter runner Diane Dixon, whose eight victories include five straight from 1988-1992; middle-distance runner Jearl Miles-Clark; shot putter Connie Price-Smith; and high jumper Tisha Waller.
- 122 Millrose winners have also been Olympic Champions.
- Some of the most memorable moments in Millrose history include Ray Conger’s 1929 upset win over Nurmi in the Wanamaker Mile; pole vaulter Cornelius Warmerdam becoming the first person to vault 15 feet indoors, in 1942; John Thomas hitting the first indoor 7-foot high jump, in 1959; Mary Decker’s enchanting run to a 1500-meter World Indoor Record in 1980 to ear-splitting encouragement from the crowd; Carl Lewis in 1984 shattering the World Indoor Record with a jump of 28 feet, 10.25 inches, a mark that still stands; Eamonn Coghlan notching his seventh Wanamaker Mile in 1987; and Stacy Dragila setting a late-night pole vault world record in 2001.
