Sheila Reid to Kick Off 2013 at Millrose Wanamaker Mile

NYRR & Millrose Announce Mile Fields
1/22/2013


After a victorious debut in the NYRR Wanamaker Mile at the 2012 Millrose Games, Matthew Centrowitz will return to defend his title this year on Feb. 16. Centrowitz, who ran 3:53.92 last year, the fastest time ever in the Armory, will attempt to break Bernard Lagat's Wanamaker Mile record of 3:52.87.

Arguably America's top miler, Centrowitz is the 2011 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist at 1500 meters and finished fourth in the 2012 London Olympic 1500 meters this past summer. Also last year, he won the Fifth Avenue Mile presented by Nissan, defeating Lagat and Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano.

Centrowitz's top competitor will be two-time Olympian Lopez Lomong, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team flag bearer. They will be challenged by a strong field of professional athletes, including Robby Andrews, who finished fifth in the 2012 Olympic Trials 1500 meters; Ryan Gregson, the Australian record holder for 1500 meters; and Miles Batty, who set an NCAA record of 3:54.54 at the NYRR Wanamaker Mile last year. Also entered are collegians Ryan Hill (North Carolina State), Lawi Lalang (University of Arizona), Chris O'Hare (University of Tulsa) and Mitch Goose (Iona), who will all be gunning for Batty's record.

Rounding out the field are 2012 Olympic steeplechaser Donn Cabral of the U.S., Irish Olympian Ciarán O'Lionaird, and world-class Americans Garrett Heath and Jordan McNamara.

“I've never been this fit this early, it's really exciting for me,” said Centrowitz. “I’m definitely going after Bernard Lagat's meet record; and, if the race goes really well, I could get Bernard's American record, too (3:49.89). Every year when you plan for the season you always plan for a few special meets you get excited for. Millrose is the one for my indoor season, especially now that it's in the Armory on such a great track. I really look forward to racing in New York in front of my friends and family and repeating as NYRR Wanamaker Mile champion."

High school standout Mary Cain of Bronxville, N.Y., will take on a field of top collegians and professionals. Cain, who is coached by three-time New York City Marathon champion Alberto Salazar, will try to break four records in the same race: the USA junior and high school marks for both 1500 meters and the mile. This month, Cain ran 9:02.10 for 3000 meters, the fastest time ever run by an American high school girl. She is also scheduled to run the mile at the New Balance Games at The Armory on Jan. 26.

Joining Cain will be Abbey D’Agostino (Dartmouth), who placed fifth in the 2012 Olympic Trials at 5000 meters; Jordan Hasay (University of Oregon), the 2011 NCAA indoor mile and 3000-meter champion and Emma Coburn (University of Colorado), the reigning Olympic Trials 3000-meter steeplechase champion.

Among the professional women are Americans Ashley Higginson, Delilah DiCrescenzo, Kate Grace, Sarah (Bowman) Brown, Emily Infeld and Renée Tomlin, and Canadians Sheila Reid, Nicole Sifuentes and Hilary Stellingwerff.

*** Correction -- Reid will make her 2013 indoor debut this weekend at the Penn State National, where she will run the invitational mile. ***