the NYRR Wanamaker Mile

An event that has attracted the best middle distance runners from all over the world for nearly a century, The NYRR Wanamaker Miles are the centerpiece of the Millrose Games.

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The race was named in honor of Rodman Wanamaker, owner of the Wanamaker department store. Employees of the Wanamaker branch in New York City organized the first Millrose Games in 1908. In the early days, the signature race of the meet was 1.5 miles, before it was shortened to one mile in 1926, and the Wanamaker Mile was born.

The race quickly became famous for its 10 PM start time and its intimate setting with the crowd right on top of the 146-meter track, creating an unrivaled fan experience at Madison Square Garden, the storied venue which had begun hosting Millrose in 1914.

The winner of the first Wanamaker Mile was James J. Connolly. Connolly had previously represented the United States at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics, winning the bronze medal in the 3000 meter team race in 1924.

One of the first athletes to dominate the event was the great Glenn Cunningham, who won six out of seven races from 1933-1939. Cunningham's record for most victories stood until 1987, when Eamonn Coghlan won his seventh Wanamaker title. Coghlan was nicknamed the "Chairman of the Boards" because of his dominance on the Millrose track, which was supported by wooden boards.

In 2010, Bernard Lagat won his eighth Wanamaker crown, solidifying his status as one of the greatest milers of the modern era. Other legendary runners who have won the Wanamaker Mile include Marty Liquori, Kip Keino, and Steve Scott.

In 2019, Yomif Kejelcha ran 3:48.46 to miss the existing world record at the time by just .01 seconds. In 2023, Yared Nuguse lowered the event record even further, running a staggering 3:47.38. Nuguse’s mark is the American Record indoors, and he sits second on the world all-time list.

Mary Decker won the inaugural women's Wanamaker Mile in 1982 before adding three more victories in 1983, 1985, and 1997. She shares the record for most wins with Doina Melinte and Regina Jacobs. In 2020, Elinor Purrier ran 4:16.85 to set a new event record as well as a new American record.

The explosion of fast times in recent years is undoubtedly due in part to the 2012 relocation of the Millrose Games to The Armory. Like Millrose as a whole, the NYRR Wanamaker Miles marry the best of old and new, as nearly 100 years of distance running history is now on the line at the premier indoor track facility in the United States with its ultra-fast 200-meter Mondo oval. With this legacy, it is no surprise that the best milers in the world flock to Washington Heights each February for the chance to etch their names alongside the greats.