CJS Press Box

Every year, hundreds of both aspiring and professional track & field athletes attend the historic Millrose Games at the Nike Track and Field Center in Washington Heights. Known as “The Armory”, the 65,000 square foot indoor track and field venue is one of the largest in the world. Hosting events across two days from shot-put to the 600-meter dash, the 118th Millrose Games boasts athletes as young as 8 to over 70 years old. 

The 2026 Millrose Games drew athletes from over 10 different countries and over 20 U.S. states, with the most coveted event being the Wanamaker Mile — the one mile race which produced the indoor mile world record in 2025 by Yared Nuguse of Kentucky, who returned over the weekend. With pressure to shave more seconds off of his time, Nuguse finished with a time of 3:48.31; just 0.74 seconds behind Cameron Myers of Australia.

Myers, 19, spoke eagerly of his future plans, “I think this is one of the best meets I’ve ever done, so yeah, I wanna come back next year and beat my time,” said Myers. 

Regardless of their event, athletes who compete on this world stage rack up ranking points and visibility which can only further their careers, making the Millrose Games a dream benchmark to compare themselves internationally. 

An onlooker takes a photo of the 2026 Millrose Games at the Armory, Feb. 1, 2026 ©Amalia Wompa

While the Wanamaker Mile highlights a runner’s overall abilities, the men’s two-mile and the women’s 3000-meter race are more endurance-based, lasting 8 to 9 minutes each. 

All three men’s two-mile podium winners placed within milliseconds of each other, with Cole Hocker of Indiana claiming first with a precise time of 8:07.31.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be a gimme,” said Hocker, who won gold in the 1,500-meter race during the 2024 Summer Olympics. “It’s kind of been an elusive title for me, and every year it doesn’t get easier.” 

The 3000-meter women’s equivalent saw a similar close call, with Doris Lemngole of Kenya in first. Lemngole’s time clocked at 8:31.39, an NCAA record. 

“Racing so many talented women– it’s so great, we keep pushing each other,” said Lemngole, who was born and raised in Kenya before moving to the U.S. to represent the University of Alabama. 

Meanwhile, the 60-meter and 600-meter dashes made the crowd go completely still in anticipation of the athletes’ quick bursts. In these moments between the start and the finish line, runners are in complete tunnel vision. 

Winning the men’s 600-meter was Cooper Lutkenhaus of Texas, standing just over six feet at 17 years-old. His time of 1:14.15 broke the Under 20 event record, as well as making him the world lead, meaning that Lutkenhaus is currently the fastest athlete in the world for this event so far in the season. 

Lutkenhaus climbed steadily to the front of the line, showing little signs of stress, and reported feeling “a little tired” after his stunning performance. 

Adding one more lap, the men’s 800-meter race drew cheers from the crowd for its predictable last-minute sprints by athletes in the final stretch. Colin Sahlman of California made his 1:44.70 victory known after breaking a 37-year long NCAA record. The crowd roared as Sahlman held his winning bouquet high. 

Sahlman debated even accepting his invitation to the event, “I was telling myself all week that I belong  there, that I belong on that field. I told myself so much that I ended up believing it,” said Sahlman. 

Dina Asher-Smith of the United Kingdom beat Jacious Spears of Florida by only 0.2 seconds in the women’s 60-meter dash. The two raced shoulder to shoulder. 

“It was fairly good. I could have definitely had a sharper start, but at the same time I was really obviously happy with my finish,” Asher-Smith said with a smile.

The women’s 1000-meter race concluded with Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia running the fastest time in 1000-meter Armory history at 2:35.50. 

Although many consider running to be the main event, there were plenty of standout performances in both men and women’s hurdles, pole-vaulting, and shot-put. 

Every male athlete competing in the men’s 60-meter hurdle event was American, with World Champion Cordell Tinch of Wisconsin leading with 7.52 seconds. His eyes fixed ahead of him, Tinch won his first indoor professional race in three years. 

Additional events included relays between local running clubs, dozens of participating youth, high school and collegiate races, and even a racewalk. Notably, both the Union Catholic High School boys’ and girls’ teams of New Jersey won the 4×800 race, with the girls shaving six seconds off the national record. 

Union Catholic High School posing for a photo at the Armory, Feb. 1, 2026 ©Amalia Wompa

“It felt amazing. Everybody had done their job,” said Paige Sheppard of the Union Catholic girls’ team.