Joanna Hayes of the US sets a new PB in the women's 100m Hurdles semis (© Getty Images)
New York, USAThe 98th Millrose Games on 4 February will feature two 2004 Olympic medallists in the women's 60m Hurdles, while the men's Pole Vault, will include at least one Olympic medallist and the last two Millrose Games and U.S. indoor champions.
The meet which takes place in New York City's Madison is the second stop on USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, featuring over $1 million in prize and athlete support dollars, including a $50,000 jackpot and prize package.
Hayes versus Morrison
Olympic gold medallist and 2004 Jesse Owens Award winner Joanna Hayes will go head-to-head with two-time Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison in the women's 60m hurdles. Gail Devers' Millrose Games record, a then-American record of 7.78 seconds set at the 2003 Millrose Games, could be in jeopardy as two of the world's hottest hurdlers hit the track.
The 2003 Pan Am Games gold medallist in the 400 hurdles and 1995 USA Junior and Pan Am Junior champion in the 100 hurdles, Hayes ran a stunning 12.37 seconds in the 2004 Olympic final to break the 16-year-old Olympic record of 12.38, previously held by World record holder Yordanka Donkova, to become only the second American ever to win Olympic gold in the event. Hayes went on to win the World Athletics Final (12.58), and she had three of the six fastest times in the world in 2004, including four clockings of 12.50 or faster. Indoors in 2004, Hayes posted a personal best of 7.83 seconds in the semi-finals of the World Indoor Championships.
Morrison is a four-time U.S. indoor champion, winning crowns in 1998-2000 and 2002, who is the only American woman to win two Olympic medals in the sprint hurdles. The 2003 World Indoor bronze medallist and 1997 U.S. outdoor champion was a surprise Olympic bronze medallist in 2000, and took that same prize again in Athens last summer.
Stevenson heads Pole Vault line-up
Olympic silver medallist Toby Stevenson returns to defend his 2004 Millrose title in the men's Pole Vault. His 2004 Millrose title was the first hint Stevenson gave to the U.S. public that even bigger things were to come for the 2003 Pan Am Games champion. Stevenson's astounding 2004 season included winning the USA indoor title in March. Outdoors, he cleared the magical 6-metre barrier at the Modesto Relays (6.0m/19-8.25) in May, then finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games in Athens. His outstanding vaulting, unique showmanship and signature "crash" helmet has made him a fan favourite and a threat to win any competition.
Stevenson will encounter competition from his predecessor in 2003 Millrose and U.S. indoor champion, Derek Miles. The seventh-place finisher in Athens and sixth at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships, Miles has consistently cleared 19 feet each year since 2001.
USATF
