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MANHATTAN, New York – Two of the Caribbean’s high profile athletes will compete at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games to be held here at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Centre.
Photo: Getty Images
Jamaica’s reigning IAAF World Indoor 60m and 110mh Olympic champion, Omar McLeod, and Bahamian superstar, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who won gold in the women’s 400m at the Rio Olympics in stunning fashion, will kick off their 2017 season.
McLeod, a fierce competitor, must be keeping a watchful eye on the performances of his rivals. Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi is the world leader after dipping below 7.50 twice and recording a personal best 7.44. The Rio Olympic silver medallist, Orlando Ortega, of Spain with 7.51, follows him on the world list. McLeod, whose personal best is 7.41, will be hoping on Saturday to send out a reminder that he currently wears the crown and will still be around. McLeod will have his Rio teammate Andrew Riley as well as the speedy American, Aleec Harris, to push him towards a fast time.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo, in her first race since getting married, will renew her rivalry with Rio finalist and hometown favourite Natasha Hastings in the women’s 300m. The 22 year-old Bahamian has signalled her intentions to do the 200m/400m double at the London World Championships and this race is seen as a work in progress. Miller-Uibo, a tall, powerful and extremely fast athlete, has fond memories of the NYRR Millrose Games where she registered her personal best (36.10) over 300m in 2014.
Hastings, a two-time 1600m relay gold medallist, will no doubt be motivated to compete in front of family and friends. It will be Hasting’s season opener and with her customary aggressive front running style, a very keen battle with Miller is expected.
World U20 record holder in the women’s 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin, will be joining Miller and Hastings adding lustre to the event. McLaughlin, who set tongues wagging last year when she made the US Olympic team at 16, will be targeting the national high school record (36.96) set by Francena McCorory in 2006. The teenage sensation has a personal best of 37.11 done in January this year.
Dalilah Muhammad, the first US woman to win 400m hurdles gold at an Olympic Games, was one of the great stories of 2016. The New Yorker from Queens who has been competing at the Armory since the tender age of seven (7), makes her return to one of her favourite venues for the first time since 2011.
SOURCE: Track Alerts
