WannaMake Mile History?

The Millrose game mile race (the Wannamaker mile) has a rich tradition over the years dating back to its days at Madison Square Garden. But this year's field is set up to be one of the most exciting in the events rich history.

Here's the current tentative entries:

Patrick Casey

Matt Centrowitz

Edward Cheserek

John Gregorek

Evan Jager

Bernard Lagat

Lawi Lalang

Will Leer

Leo Manzano

Kyle Merber

Chris O'Hare

Nick Willis

It's unbelievable honestly. It has the potential to be the deepest indoor mile in history and certainly is the most intriguing mile for a US fan in a long time. 

Let me break this down real quick. Toeing the line will be the fastest American ever at 1500m and 5k as well as indoors in the mile (Lagat), the most accomplished world championship runner in US 1500m history (Centrowitz), the last two Olympic silver medalists (Nick Wills and Leo Manzano), the American Record holder in the steeplechase (Jager), anchor of the world record in the DMR (Casey) and the defending champ at this event (Leer). 

Then, just for fun, throw in the most successful NCAA athletes of the past half decade or so. Ches has won 5 of the last 6 distance national championships in dominating fashion with his only loss coming to Lawi Lalang, another man in this field. And yeah, Lawi was pretty good in college too, winning championships in the mile, 3k, 5k, 10k and cross country and holding a couple meet records to boot. He is fresh of a 3:52 DMR split at the Armory Invite as well.

Merber as a special hometown connection to the meet after his running at Columbia and his high school training on Long Island. He won the high school mile at these games back in 2008 over Robby Andrews. And he's the fastest US 1500m collegiate ever (sort of) thanks to his 3:35 at Swarthmore in 2012. Chris O'Hare owns the fastest mile indoors in NCAA history from his run in the Wannamaker mile in the same year (3:52 and change). 

Throw in the fact that Ches holds national high school records for the indoor 2 mile and 5k with a class record in the mile and you have all your bases covered. 

Goodness gracious. We will see if this start list survives the final week before the meet on Valentine's Day (a good number of these guys are racing this weekend in Boston, including a 1k American record attempt from Centro and Casey) so there is always a chance of casualty. 

And somehow there is also going to be a 5k at this meet that may end up just as stacked. But I suppose we will get to that soon enough.

All I know is that the track gods clearly love me back. That's why they are giving me this Valentine's Day gift. 

Happy holidays.