Yared Nuguse set a world record in the last race of the day at the Millrose Games on Saturday at The Armory in New York, winning his third straight title in 3:46.63.
The third time was the charm for Nuguse, who claimed yet another Wanamaker Mile title in what was one of the most anticipated races of the meet.
However, just hours before the event, Josh Kerr pulled out of the race because of an illness.
Still, the competition level was immense and Nuguse faced an ambitious chase from Hobbs Kessler from the start. Nuguse stuck with the pacer’s quick lead set for the pack and he never dropped his position. After the second lap it was only a question of how the final stages would play out and if a record would be in the cards for Nuguse.
Just after the last turn, Kessler showed signs that he could make a move, but Nuguse, the bronze medallist in the men’s 1,500m at the Paris Olympics, soared through the line. The record by Nuguse takes down Yomif Kejelcha’s 3:47.01 mark from 2019 and he received a $25,000 bonus for setting the world record.
“I have more confidence from the Olympics, more confidence in my training, I’m two and a half years into my pro career so I’ve learned a lot,” Nuguse said after the race. “I’m not afraid of the front anymore, willing to go by myself and I need to, and third time’s the charm. I knew if I let up anywhere, they were going to pass me, so I was like ‘don’t let up, not even for a second’ after the pacer dropped, and just hoped that I had more than they did at the end. Millrose is always the best indoor meet every year.”
The third win for Nuguse has established dynasty, of sorts, for him at Millrose as his 2024 mark of 3:47.83 and 2023 version time of 3:47.38 signaled that a world record was a possibility. In the 2023 race, he ran the second best indoor mark of all time.
Kessler was second in 3:46.90, a new personal best, while 18-year-old phenom Cam Myers finished third in 3:47.48, an Australian national record.
“I put forth my best effort, it was a good run, I’m really happy with it,” Kessler said. “Yared is so strong, he’s a worthy competitor, he’s so good. I was closer to beating him than I ever have been, he’s still a little bit better, but I’m closing the gap and I’m proud of my progress. I was pissed off after last week’s race and I still am, but I knew that everything else was pointing towards being ready for this race, and I didn’t let it rattle me. It was hard, but I was able to refocus and really run hard today. Still figuring out racing, there are some things I need to clean up, but I’m really proud of this race.”
Myers, meanwhile, continues to impress on the track as his 3:47.48 national record lowers not only his personal best but improves on 3:53.12 he ran in the mile at the Dr Sander Invitational in January in New York, which was a new under-20 mile record.
“I knew I had a big one in me. I was thinking 3:48 or 3:49 would be great, so I was really pleased when I crossed the line,” Myers said. “My coach told me I’m good enough to hang with anyone in the world for 1400 meters, so I tried to do that and I managed to have a little bit left at the end. It was one of those race situations that played out perfectly, I got to conserve a lot of energy. At 200 to go, it felt like 400 to go, so it was a good time.”
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