From Hawker’s promotion to Myers’ arrival, Millrose has delivered again
The Millrose Games proved once again why it remains one of the most meaningful indoor stages in track and field as established champions and rising talent met under the lights of the Armory with intent, confidence and something to prove.
From long-awaited breakthroughs to wins that redefined expectations, the weekend unfolded as a reminder that Millrose delivers moments that change stories and athletes who leave New York knowing they’ve truly been tested.
1. A meeting served across the board
This year’s Millrose flourished as excellence emerged everywhere from Rajindra Campbell’s A commanding 21.77m shot Dina Usher-Smiths A sharp 60m finish and Akeem Blake’s sprint reputation all reinforce the depth and variety that define this match. The 800m produced the toughest finish of the afternoon Colin Sahlman timing his move perfectly while distant events continued to set standards that echoed beyond the walls of the Armory.
What stood out the most was how purposeful each race was, with athletes competing to win rather than simply testing fitness, a quality that separates Millrose from early season meets. Records, world leaders and tactical battles blended seamlessly in an afternoon that honored the meeting’s history while pushing it forward. When the competition shows moments that feel significant long after the results are archived, it confirms why Millrose remains one of the sport’s most meaningful stages year after year.
2. Cole Hawker finally owns Millrose
Cole Hawker arrived at the Armory with a resume that few athletes can match, and a quiet frustration that has followed him for years. despite the Olympic and world titles, Millrose never quite bent to his will. That changed at two miles, where patience once again became his most dangerous weapon as he stayed close enough to feel the rhythm of the race without ever revealing his intentions. Parker Wolff made hard work at the front and Josh Kerr waited for his opening, but Hawker trusted the preparation that had taken him to world gold and used the last lap as his moment. His acceleration was controlled, clean and ruthless, a move based on confidence rather than rush, and the 8:07.31 finish felt like a statement that Millrose belonged in the same sentence as the sport’s biggest stages. A win here is important as the pitches demand respect and the margin for error is slim, and this win now sits comfortably as Hawker’s most meaningful non-championship triumph, a performance that felt earned rather than borrowed.
3. Cam Myers heralds a new era in the middle distance
Cam Myers came to win, and the Wanamaker Mile became the moment where potential turned into certainty. At just 19, Myers ran with a level of composure that suggested someone much older, in control when the race needed clarity and pressing the pace with a sense of belief that never wavered. His 3:47.57 was world-leading and historic, featured a finishing sequence that showed both strength and endurance, and denied Jared Nugus another Wanamaker title, only heightening the significance.
Myers knew when to make his move and trusted himself to stick with it down the stretch, and the ensuing Ocean record was a natural outcome rather than an accident. What made this performance resonate wasn’t just the time or place, but the way Myers showed he could dictate a race against Olympic medalists, a sign that this wasn’t a breakthrough performance, but the start of a much bigger presence.
Follow-up meeting
January 24, 2026
Boston, MA USA, photo by Kevin Morris
4. Nicky Hiltz wins on their own terms
The women’s Wanamaker Mile has some of the best lines in the world, and when Nikki Hiltz faced a race that required more than a late kick, what followed was a performance shaped by guts and confidence. Hiltz chose to move earlier than usual, trusting their strength with 300m remaining and fully committed to the decision, knowing that once the move was made it would have to be respected.
Jessica Hull’s response was immediate and relentless, but Hiltz never looked uncertain as they took the lead through the closing stages and crossed the line in a world-leading 4:19.64. This was a race decided by intent rather than reaction, and winning their first Wanamaker Mile was a product of growth rather than surprise. Hiltz not only won a title. they expanded the way to win races, adding another layer to an already dangerous racing profile.
5. Cooper Lutkenhaus redefines opportunity
Cooper Lutkenhaus continues to wow the world with his performance and the 600m at Millrose became another chapter in a story that continues to push the boundaries of what is expected of the teenager. At just 17, Lütkenhaus handled the traffic, positioning and pressure like someone with years of professional experience, moving decisively after 400m and pulling away for a finish that left no doubt. Her 1:14.15 was an under-20 world best and a US high school record, and the context made it all the more impressive because she navigated the race, not just ran it.
The debate over classification hardly matters when the performances speak for themselves this well, and Lutkenhaus’ racing while still in high school adds to the sense that something this talented is rare, and he brought it all to the table at Millrose.
