Strong Field Expected For Millrose 600m

There’s a good chance for a new American record there.

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An attempt at the 31-year-old American record for 600 meters indoors looks to be in the making, as Olympic Trials champion Alysia Montaño, former U.S. Indoor champion Phoebe Wright, World Indoor bronze medalist Erica Moore, and former high school star Ajee’ Wilson will all toe the line for a three lap contest at the 106th Millrose Games on February 16th in New York City.

“This race has all the potential to produce a new American record,” said meet director Ray Flynn in a prepared statement.

Montaño, 26, finished fifth in the 800m at the London Olympics, timing 1:57.43.

“I have been looking forward to racing at Millrose for some time now, but could never fit it in the training schedule,” said Montaño, who was born in the New York City borough of Queens. “This year is the perfect opportunity. The 600-meter run at Millrose is a wonderful opportunity to run fast, have fun and gauge my potential 800-meter time at this point in the season.”

Challenging Montaño will be Moore and Wright, last year’s indoor national champion and runner-up over 800m. Both athletes opened their indoor seasons at the Kentucky Track & Field Invitational last weekend, with Wright placing second in the mile (4:45.94) and Moore winning the 400m (54.03).

Moore’s indoor 600m personal best is 1:28.02, less than two seconds shy of Delisa Walton-Floyd’s American record of 1:26.56, set in 1981.

Also racing is Wilson, the 800m World Junior Champion from a year ago. On January 11, Wilson timed 1:10.79 for 500m on the very same track at The New Balance Armory Track and Field Center which she will be competing on at the Millrose Games.

The Millrose Games is the second stop of the USATF Championship Series.