At last February's Millrose Games, the 100th edition of one of the most storied events in all of U.S. athletics, the crowd at Madison Square Garden was on their feet when Bernard Lagat and Craig Mottram were at the front of the Wanamaker Mile with three laps to go.
"This is not going to be easy," Lagat remembered saying to himself.
It wasn't. Mottram was ratcheting up the pace, giving Lagat his most serious challenge in the Wanamaker Mile since he lost to Laban Rotich in 2002. Lagat, who had already won five Wanamakers, knew the quirky 145.5 meter track well, and decided to wait until the bell to launch his bid for victory. Lagat moved into lane two and tried to set himself up for a pass on the backstraight. He drew even with the taller Australian, who was running flat out, then surged ahead on turn three to seal the victory. He broke the tape in 3:54.26 --his second-fastest mile at the Millrose Games in six appearances-- with Mottram just 55/100ths behind.
"That's why he's the best in the world," Mottram said of Lagat. "He's just got another gear."
Lagat used that same gear to win both the 1500m and 5000m world titles in Osaka last August, and now the double world champion is planning to return to the Millrose Games in search of his sixth Wanamaker Mile title. Again, he'll be facing Mottram, organizers announced today, as the Millrose Games moves into its second century on Feb. 1.
"We are proud to be caretakers of Millrose, with its traditions and history, and at the same time excited to be helping bring it into a new era," said Mark Wetmore, meet director and president of Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., which is in its third year of producing the event. "The return of Bernard Lagat and Craig Mottram is a great tribute to both the past and the future."
Lagat, 33, won the Wanamaker Mile in each of his six appearances but one, and holds the event record of 3:52.87 which he set in 2005. He has said wants to match Eamonn Coughlan's record of seven Wanamaker victories before he retires, one of the greatest legacies in all of indoor track. He knows Mottram will be tough to beat.
"One thing," Lagat said after last year's race, "Mottram is not intimidated by anyone." He added: "This guy is really amazing."
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