Marion Jones in action in the Women's 100m World Cup race (© Getty Images)
New YorkHaving made treks through the snow which fell during the blizzard that swept up the U.S. northeast last week, New Yorkers are preparing to brace against nippy temperatures (-1C) and near imminent rain showers on Friday night (6 Feb) as they head to Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan to watch the 97th edition of the Millrose Games.
The spectacle that awaits them on the track laid inside the World famous arena is certain to warm up the hands of all, from seasoned track fans to curious first-timers.
Marion Jones' return headlines
The premiere act of the show will, of course, be Marion Jones’ return to the International track circuit. Marion, a triple Sydney gold medallist who gave birth to her child earlier last year, is eager to get back into the thick of competition and considers the Millrose Games a perfect home-turf start to her Olympic season. Torri Edwards (100 m silver, 200 m bronze, 2003 Outdoor World Championships), Angela Williams (4x100 m gold, 2003 World Championships) and prodigiously talented Allyson Felix are a perfect bunch to make the return intriguing.
Quality opposition for Johnson
On the men’s side, casting on the straightaway will be the reigning indoor 60m and 4-time World outdoor high hurdles champion Allen Johnson. With Ron Bramlett, Larry Wade, and Ladji Doucoure stepping into starting blocks alongside, this quartet of sprinters – all of whom are in the top ten of the IAAF World Ranking for the discipline – is sure to provide for an electric men’s 60m Hurdles race.
Heading the field in the flat dash will be John Capel (9.97 100 m PB) last summer’s World 200m champion, who returned to the boards last winter after a two-year professional football career spent with Chicago and Kansas City. Capel who headed the 2003 World indoor lists with a best of 20.39 will face Rae Edwards (USA) and Asafa Powell (JAM).
American David Krummenacker, coming off a somewhat exasperated third place effort in the 1000m in Boston (2:21.33) last weekend, will arrive at the Millrose ready to defend his title of two consecutive years in the men’s 800m. He will be looking for a successful performance at the Garden to give him an extra boost in preparation for the forthcoming World Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary (5-7 March), just like it did last year when he segued from his Millrose gold to a medal of the same kind in Birmingham.
Devers and Dragila
Gail Devers heads into the competition with her “one-meet-at-a-time” mentality, and the challengers ought to stay alert. After getting into great rhythm at the inaugural meet of the season in Boston, where her explosiveness put her ahead of the field by the first hurdle and secured a 7.85 victory, this American sprint diva will look to make yet another impressive showing at the country’s most prolific invitational track meet. Incidentally, this is where she set an American record of 7.78 last year, a time improved to 7.74 on 3 March 2003 in Boston.
As part of the effort to reach out to the future stars of American track & field, the Millrose Games conducted a learn-by-doing clinic for female high school pole vaulters on Tuesday afternoon (3 Feb). Undoubtedly, those young ladies will be watching from close proximity when Stacy Dragila, a 4.61 winner in Boston last weekend, steps into the sector.
The 2000 Sydney Olympic champion and former World record holder may just put on a performance of her own while trying to hold off the challengers, compatriots Tracy O’Hara, Mary Sauer, Jillian Schwartz and Kellie Suttle.
In Boston, Dragila seemed to be coming to terms with some of the changes in her technique incorporated in the off-season under her new coach Greg Hull. Lifted by the apparent great physical shape, her jumps appeared smoother and much more controlled.
Now Stacy is looking forward to some great heights over the next couple of weeks, building on her current season’s best of 4.71m, and what better place to start than in front of the galvanic crowd at the Garden.
As the Millrose Games are about to take centre stage in the World’s entertainment capital, the programme - jam-packed with 40 events featuring athletes from shot putters to local eight and nine-year olds vying for the inaugural ‘Fastest kid in NYC’ crown - promises yet another successful remake of a hit that has risen to the locale and the occasion ever since its conception in 1908.
