Last night’s Millrose Games at the Armory was where records came to be broken. Naturally, this being Millrose, it was Bernard Lagat that stole the show, as America’s track & field’s grand old man proved he still is far more grand than old.
Lagat ran 8:09.49 in the two-mile to run away from the field and break the U.S. record. The 38-year-old slumped to the track in exhaustion — but not before accomplishing his goal of reclaiming a clean sweep of all five American indoor marks at 1,500-meters, the mile, 3,000, two miles and 5,000.
“I’ve always said the records are a measure of how excellent you’ve been in your sport. All these wins haven’t happened by accident,” Lagat said. “I’ve worked hard, and earned every accolade that comes with it. I train hard and perform my best.’’
“People ask me “How do you do it at 38?” I say ‘The magic is in the training.’ … We’re working now on the speed, because as I get older I need to make sure I have that speed or I’ll never have a chance against these young guys.’’
The featured Wanamaker Mile — which Lagat won a record eight times — saw his friend Lopez Lomong run 3:51.23 to hold off defending champ Matthew Centrowitz (meet-record 3:51.34), the No. 3 and 4 times in U.S. history behind only Lagat.
“It was a blessing to come and run this time,’’ said Lomong, a former Lost Boy of the Sudan. “At the end of the day we don’t run for ourselves but for this great nation of ours.’’
Both 600-meter events saw U.S. records, Queens-born Alysia Montano running 1:23.59 and Erik Sowinski turning in a 1:15.61 to upset record holder Duane Solomon (1:16.04).
“I’m not the talker,” Montano said. “I’d rather get out and show what I can do.”
Rochester’s Jenn Suhr won the pole vault at 15 feet, 3 inches, Franklin High School (N.J.) graduate Jeff Porter captured the 60-meter hurdles in 7.59 seconds and Doc Patton, 35, took the 60-meter dash in a world-leading 6.50 ticks.
Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict’s (N.J.) Prep ran a 8:39.15 in the men’s two-mile to set the high school record and 16-year-old Mary Cain of Bronxville ran 4:28.25 in the Wanamaker women’s mile to break the high school and U.S. junior marks in the mile and high school 1,500-meter mark en route (4:11.72).
“This is a dream come true,’’ Cain said. “I want to stay humble and not sound cocky; but I don’t want to be the little high schooler. My coach [Alberto Salazar] believes in me, and I kept saying to myself ‘I deserve to be here.’ ”