Millrose Games Madison Square Garden Indoor Track Field Event

AD 2008, the 101st Millrose Games is all decked up to bedazzle New York's Madison Square Garden once again. In 1908, the workers of John Wanamaker Departmental Store had formed a recreational club by the name of the Millrose Athletic Association. In the same year, what is known as the Millrose Games began at a local armory situated there. Rodman Wanamaker, the pioneer of this event was born in 1863 and his parents were John Wanamaker and Mary Brown.

The name of the Millrose Games, which is believed to be the most impressive indoor track and field event worldwide, derived from Rodman's country estate named Millrose. Rodman had also launched the `Wanamaker Mile', an event in the games, which is now into its 83rd year. It is reported that the same gentleman initiated the custom of playing the American national anthem at a sporting ceremony. For the first 70 years since the games were started, the directorship were held by the father-son duo. Currently Howard Schmertz who has contributed in a big way towards the success of this game holds this position.

In 1914, due to lack of accommodation, the Millrose Games was shifted to its current site in Madison Square Garden. The games hold the record for the longest running sporting event to be held in this garden. What is currently known as the Wanamaker Mile is a spin-off of the Wanamaker 1.5 mile race, which was last won by Paavo Nurmi, and was one of the showpieces of the event.

Previously the Millrose Games used to be held on wooden tracks. From 1926 the distance was reduced by 0.5 miles and hence the current name, the Wanamaker mile. Generally, as per tradition this race takes place at 10p.m. Even to this day, this particular event remains one of the biggest events of the meet. As of date, 44 different athletes have won the Wanamaker Mile including the famous Irishman Eamonn Coghlan, famous for his wizardry on the wooden tracks.

Over the years some of the world's legendary track & field athletes have took part in the Millrose Games. Among them are Jesse Owens, breaker of several world records in the 1936 Olympic Games, Sergey Bubka, the unparalled king of pole vaulting and many others including Wilma Rudolph, Carl Lewis, Valery Brumel etc. There is no doubt that as the games moves on the viewers who throng the venue will be treated to even more world-renowned track & field athletes. Millrose games