(Bernard Lagat and Deresse Mekonnen, through an interpreter, answer questions. Photo by Geoffrey Decker )
History and tradition took a backseat Friday night at the 2011 Millrose Games, where track and field’s future ran faster, threw further and jumped higher.
A collection of record holders, world champions, and Olympic medalists bowed to a trio of young track athletes, who with their mighty performances announced their arrival to the sport's international stage. Before tonight, at press conferences and in photo shoots, they stood in the shadows of a Madison Square Garden spotlight directed for others.
No longer.
Ryan Whiting was the first party crasher, winning the shotput title on his final throw of 69 feet and 11 inches. Before the throw, Christian Cantwell, a thrower Whiting had never beaten, was in position to win.
Whiting, 25, also beat 36-year-old Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic Silver medalist, and Reece Hoffa, an Olympic gold medalist and 4-time World Champion, on his way to the title.
"I've been waiting to beat them for a long time," said Whiting, who attended Arizona State. "They've been watching me come up for the last 10 years. And now I'm finally beating them.”
Hoffa, who with Nelson represented the old guard of American shotputting for the last decade, tipped his cap to the new kid.
"I think he’s the future," Hoffa said. "But I like the challenge and it’s good that there's a shot-putter out there who's up to the standard that we kind of put out there."
Next up was a mini decathlon created specifically for the Millrose Games. It was heavily hyped and showcased the event's two top stars, Bryan Clay and Trey Hardee - or "Clay and Trey" as they came to be known. Between them, they owned three World Championships and an Olympic gold medal (Clay).
But 23-year-old Aston Eaton stole the show, winning the 60 meter hurdles (7.64) and high jump (6 feet, 8.75 inches), both personal bests, to take the overall title. It was the first time he ever beat Hardee, 26, and Clay, 31.
"I think it’s good in a psychological sense that they can be beaten," said Eaton. "For me its a good step. It’s a good kickoff start to my professional career."
And like Hoffa was with his younger counterpart in the shot put, Hardee was a statesman in defeat.
"We both had our eye on Ashton when he broke 8000 points," Hardee said, referring to Eaton's world record score, which he set while at . "We both thought if he sticks with it he’s going to be good and it comes with getting older."
Last, but certainly not least, was the Wanamaker Mile, the meet's most anticipated event. Bernard Lagat returned to the Garden as the winningest athlete in meet history. Last year he beat Eamon Coughlin's seemingly unbeatable record of seven Wanamaker titles, and thought he was through with the arena's tiny wooden track. But he decided to come back because New York has been good to him and, of course, he wanted to win again. As a world champion and Olympic silver medalist still very much in the prime of his career, having broken the 5000 meter American record in June, a ninth win was in his grasp.
In his way stood Deresse Mekonnen, the 24 23-year-old indoor track specialist and two-time world indoor champion in the 1500 meters, credentials that posed the fiercest opposition for Lagat in his Wanamaker title run.
"I knew coming in here that I was going to be racing an athlete who is very, very smart an very good indoor runner," Lagat said. "So I knew that in order for me to win, I would have to run like I never run before."
It wasn't enough. Mekonnen three times held off late surges from Lagat that in previous years were his bread and butter. But Mekonnen was ready for them and won in 3:58.58. Lagat was second in 3:59.01.
“I knew it could go either way, but in my mind I wanted to come and win again, try to see if I could get a ninth win,” said Lagat. “But I’m not disappointed.”
(Bernard Lagat and Deresse Mekonnen, through an interpreter, answer questions. Photo by Geoffrey Decker )