Top Collegians Ready For 2018 NYRR Millrose Games

History smiles favorably upon collegians fortunate enough to compete at the iconic NYRR Millrose Games.

The collegiate indoor record book is dotted with efforts turned in over the years at The Armory during “The World’s Longest-Running and Most Prestigious Indoor Track & Field Competition.”

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Even though Lawi Lalang’s mark of 13:08.28 in the 5000 stands as the only current collegiate indoor record set on that fabled track, 19 other performances pepper the all-time lists. Those outings include five more in the men’s 5000, five in the men’s mile, three in both the women’s mile and 3000, two in the men’s 3000 and one in the women’s 800. Four of those performances are former collegiate indoor records, including Suleiman Nyambui’s terrific 13:20.4 over 5000 meters in 1981 that stood as the world record for 15 years.

Expect a few more additions to the all-time collegiate charts on Saturday when the elite portion of the 111th annual Millrose Games gets underway in the heart of Washington Heights on Fort Washington Avenue.

Are you curious as to what events could see their all-time chart shaken up? We’ve got you covered right here.

Women’s 3000

Collegians: Ednah Kurgat, New Mexico; Karissa Schweizer, Missouri

Call this “Kurgat-Schweizer 2: Attacking The Track.”

Ednah Kurgat and Karissa Schweizer squared off on the track back in November at the Boston University Season Opener. Both were fresh off incredible cross country seasons (Kurgat won the individual NCAA title; Schweizer only lost twice all season) and blistered the 200-meter oval inside the BU Track & Tennis Center.

When the dust settled, Schweizer and Kurgat left the rest of the field in the dust. Schweizer crossed the finish line in 15:17.31 – the fifth fastest time in collegiate indoor history – while Kurgat wasn’t too far behind in 15:19.03 – the seventh fastest time.

Now they’ll duel over 3000 meters with a number of talented professional runners pulling them to fast times, namely 2017 IAAF World Champion Emma Coburn and former Arkansas standout Dominique Scott-Efurd, who owns the ninth fastest time in collegiate indoor history in the event.

A time of 8:55.28 pushes Vicki Huber out of the top-10. If Kurgat or Schweizer run 8:42.02 or better, that would be a new collegiate indoor record.

In case you forgot, Schweizer just ran the fourth fastest mile time by a woman in collegiate indoor history this past weekend on the same track (4:27.54).

Wanamaker Men’s Mile

Collegians: Josh Kerr, New Mexico; Robert Domanic, Ole Miss

Josh Kerr thrives in big races on the track.

Kerr had a breakthrough sophomore campaign when became the first man since Leo Manzano to sweep the indoor mile and outdoor 1500. He unleashed a ferocious kick in both races to beat a host of talented runners, including collegiate indoor mile record holder Edward Cheserek.

Between those moments, Kerr also ran the sixth fastest time in collegiate outdoor history over 1500 meters (3:35.99) when he won the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Kerr now turns his attention to the NYRR Wanamaker Mile, the cornerstone of the Millrose Games. He will get a chance to get his name on the collegiate all-time chart like Lawi Lalang (No. 2, No. 5), Chris O’Hare (No. 3), Miles Batty (No. 4) and Ryan Hill (No. 7) did before him. Fun fact: Batty, O’Hare and Lalang broke the collegiate indoor mile record in back-to-back-to-back years.

O’Hare, the former collegiate indoor record holder in the event, is entered in Saturday’s race, as are the likes of Robby Andrews, Ben Blankenship, Kyle Merber and Nick Willis.

If Kerr – or Ole Miss’ Robert Domanic (4:00.19 PR) – run 3:55.0 or better, they’re in the top-10. Drop that time to 3:52.00 or better, they’ll take down the King (Cheserek).

Wanamaker Women’s Mile

Collegians: Nikki Hiltz, Arkansas; Elnior Purrier, New Hampshire

If anybody knows how to run fast at The Armory, it’s Elinor Purrier.

Last year Purrier turned in what is now the ninth fastest time in collegiate indoor history (4:29.44). Purrier finished right behind Kaela Edwards of Oklahoma State, who clocked what is now the eighth fastest time (4:28.75).

Both Edwards and Purrier return to the NYRR Wanamaker Women’s Mile in 2018, yet Purrier is the only one still left in the NCAA system. Purrier is one of two collegians set to tango in The Big Apple: Arkansas’ Nikki Hiltz (4:34.57 PR) is the other.

They’ll be joined by the likes of Kate Grace, Brenda Martinez, Colleen Quigley and Sara Vaughn. Quigley holds the 10th best mile time in collegiate indoor history at 4:29.67, so that’s what Hiltz and Purrier will be hunting to get on the list. The record is 4:25.91.

Dr. Sander Men’s 3000

Collegian: Justyn Knight, Syracuse

We know Justyn Knight can run fast.

Knight made his 2018 track debut this past weekend at the John Thomas Terrier Classic and clocked a time of 3:55.82 in the mile. That puts him No. 2 on the NCAA DI Descending Order List behind Jonathan Davis of Illinois, who ran 3:55.46 on a flat track the next day.

Last year Knight ran the fourth fastest time over 5000 meters outdoors with his effort of 13:17.51 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

And just like last May in Palo Alto, California and last August at the IAAF World Championships, Knight will have a talented field to pull him to a fast time in the Dr. Sander Men’s 3000. Knight will be flanked by Kemoy Campbell, Ryan Hill (No. 7 on the all-time collegiate indoor mile list) and Shadrack Kipchirchir, among others.

If Knight runs 7:45.21 or better, he’s in the top-10. The record is 7:38.59.