The Olympic 1500m champion and world 5000m champion takes on a world-class field to secure victory in New York.
Cole Hawker is no stranger to late waves. In the Olympic 1500m final two years ago, the American famously overtook Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the inside in the final 50m to take the podium in Paris. At the World Athletics Championships last September, he also swept past Jimmy Gresier, Biniam Mehari and Isaac Kimeli as he cruised home in the home straight to win 5000m gold in Tokyo.
So it was perhaps no surprise that Hawker once again made his mark in the eagerly anticipated two-mile race at the 118th edition of the Millrose Games (February 1). Although Grant Fisher pulled out of the race due to illness a few hours earlier, the field still boasted four outdoor world champions (Hawker, Kerr, Gerdy Beamish and Jake Whiteman).
Given the caliber of the lineup, the sold-out crowd at The Armory knew there was a chance someone might even win the race in a world record, bettering the 8:00.67 Kerr set two years earlier in New York.
By the halfway point it was clear that this was going to be a more tactical affair as Hawker crossed the halfway point in 4:07.61. Kerr wasn’t far behind in 4:07.85, with Hubtom Samuel and Ethan Strand also well placed.
Samuel soon raced into the lead group, leading Graham Blanks to pounce, followed by both Hawker and Kerr. Samuel soon faded and, approaching the final two laps, Parker Wolfe challenged him with a burst of power.
As the trio approached the home straight, Hawker was well placed on Wolfe’s shoulder and immediately hit a big kick to cruise past his compatriot to secure the win in 8:07.31. Kerr tried to find a way on the inside but had to settle for second in 8:07.68 with Wolfe not far behind in 8:07.83.
The Wanamaker Mile, normally a Blue Riband event at the Millrose Games, was still plenty of drama and saw two first place winners.
Cameron Myers, fresh off his Australian 3000m record of 7:27.57 in Boston, won the men’s race in a world-leading 3:47.57 to end Jared Nuguz’s run of three straight titles. Myers became only the second Australian male athlete to win the prestigious race after Ollie Hoare in 2022.
Nugus was second in 3:48.31 and Hobbs Kessler was third in 3:48.68. Nico Young finished fourth on the US indoor mile list with a time of 3:48.72.
In the women’s Wanamaker Mile, Nikki Hiltz edged Jess Hull in 4:19.64 and 4:20.11, respectively. That incredible feat moved Hiltz into third place on the all-time US indoor mile list behind only Elle Purrier St. Pierre (4:16.41) and Heather McLean (4:17.01).
Hannah Nuttall produced one of her best ever performances with a second place finish in the 3000m. After Nozomi Tanaka set the early pace, Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren went to the front, but it was the Kenyan who held the pace as Hedengren dropped back. Natal was well positioned in the front two and took the lead with the American a lap to go. However, he was unable to chase down Lemngol, who set an NCAA record of 8:31.39.
The Briton improved her personal best of 8:38.96 to 8:32.94 to move fourth on the all-time Great Britain indoor 3000m list behind Laura Muir, Melissa Courtney-Bryant and Jo Pavey.
Ben Pattison was another Briton who improved his indoor record to finish fifth on the all-time British indoor 800m list in 1:45.53 and third in New York.
Given that Pattison’s last indoor 800m was in Manchester five years ago, his personal best of 1:49.04 was clearly up for revision, with only Elliott Giles, Jamie Webb, Seb Coe and Andrew Osagie now faster indoors.
At the World Athletics Championships, Pattison consoled Cooper Lutkenhaus after his heat, and in the men’s indoor 600m at the Millrose Games, the American teenager set an under-20 world record of 1:14.15.
Dina Asher-Smith continued her excellent start to the season with another 60m win in the USA. After winning in 7.08 at the New Balance Grand Prix last weekend, the Brit followed up that performance with a 7.10 victory in the Big Apple, seeing off Jacious Sears in the closing stages. He is now coached by Michael Ford at Baylor University in Texas.
Tordell Tinch, the 110m hurdles world champion in Tokyo, won the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.52 in New York. He later revealed that he wanted to compete in the long jump for the rest of the indoor season.
In the women’s 60m hurdles, two-time 100m world champion Danielle Williams chased down 60m world record holder Devin Charlton, with the pair running 7.90 and 7.96 respectively.
In the men’s shot put, Joe Kovac was the main attraction, but it was Rajindra Campbell who really took the win, throwing a world-leading 21.77m to Kovac’s 21.21m.
