Hoffa’s heroics anchor exciting 99th Millrose Games

NEW YORK - An impressive crowd of 14,851 filled Madison Square Garden for the 99^th running of the Millrose Games Friday night anticipating one of the greatest Millrose Games in recent history. Led by a world-leading performance by Reese Hoffa in the Visa men's shot put, a photo finish in the adidas women's 60m and an impressive run by Bernard Lagat in the Wanamaker Mile, the athletes did not disappoint.

The second stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the 99^th Millrose Games will be broadcast from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, on ESPN2.

Reese does it again

Visa Championship Series leader and 2004 World Indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa made good on the gold bib he was wearing as the Series leader, winning the men's shot put with a Madison Square Garden record of 21.65m/71-0.5, a 2006 world leader. Reigning World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell was second with 20.88m/68-6, and World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson was third with 19.42m/63-8.75, a potential winning throw being negated by a foot fault.

Hoffa's performance earned him the Fred Schmertz trophy as the top performer of the meet.

Campbell wins a close one

Olympic women's 200m gold medalist Veronica Campbell of Jamaica and U.S. outdoor 100m champion Lisa Barber lived up to their identical personal bests in the adidas women's 60m dash. Barber burst from the blocks with a huge lead, but Campbell ran her down in the final stages of the race. The two women crossed the finish line together, in what appeared to be a dead heat. Only a photo finish separated the two, with Campbell getting the win and Barber placing second, both timed in 7.10 seconds - just .01 off their personal bests. World 100m champion Lauryn Williams was third in 7.19.

Lagat wins fourth Wanamaker

The showdown between American Bernard Lagat and Ethiopian hero Kenenisa Bekele in the Wanamaker Mile provided the closing excitement for the 99^th Millrose Games. The two-time Olympic 1,500 meter medalist, Lagat has become a specialist on the Garden track, entering the meet with three victories. With world records at 5,000 and 10,000 meters and an Olympic medal over the longer distance, Bekele brought long-distance credentials.

It was Lagat's speed that ruled the evening.

Elkanah Angwenyi of Kenya led Lagat through 800 meters in 1:53.7, with Bekele training by a meter or two. At that point, Lagat pulled away for his fourth Millrose victory in 3:56.85, with Bekele holding on for second in 4:01.57. Olympic bronze medalist and World Indoor champion Rui Silva of Portugal was third in 4:01.79.

Crawford takes men's 60

Like Campbell in the women's sprint, Olympic men's 200m champion Shawn Crawford used a strong finish to win the Hershey's men's 60m dash in 6.59 second. World Outdoor 200m bronze medalist John Capel was second in 6.63, and two-time Olympic 110m hurdles silver medalist Terrence Trammell was third in 6.67.

Hartwig gets better with age

At age 38, Jeff Hartwig won his fifth Millrose title in the Fred Schmertz men's pole vault, clearing 5.73m/18-9.75 to relegate #1 world-ranked Brad Walker to second (5.68m/18-7.75). Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson was third with 5.60m/18-4.5.

Hayes returning to form

Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes showed great form in the women's 60-meter hurdles, putting on an impressive show in the last half of the race to win in 7.93 seconds. Jenny Adams was second in 8.05, Nichole Denby was third in 8.07 and Gail Devers, the American and Millrose record holder, was fourth in 8.13 in her first race since giving birth to daughter Karsen Anise on June 20.

Dominique Arnold also had a strong second half in the men's hurdles, coming from behind Terrence Trammell to win in 7.59 seconds. Antwon Hicks was second in 7.64, and Trammell was third in 7.66.

Multi-lap winners

Carmen Douma Hussar survived a near spill with two laps to go to win her third consecutive Fred Lebow women's mile in 4:35.64. Fellow Canadian Courtney Babcock, with whom Hussar tangled legs, was second in 4:36.00, and Malindi Elmore made it a Canadian sweep in third with 4:36.28.

Employing his traditional fast start, Khadevis Robinson held off David Krummenacker to win the men's 800 meters in 1:49.98. Krummenacker was second in 1:50.35, with Berhanu Alemu of Ethiopia third in 1:51.13.

Tim Seaman, a native of Long Island competing for New York AC, racked up his third Millrose victory and the 27^th national title of his career at any distance in the Susan Rudin men's 1 mile race walk, cruising to a time of 5:47.59 to win easily. David McGovern was second in 6:04.66, and David McGovern was third in 6:32.27.

More winners

Chaunte Howard won the women's high jump for the second straight time in the indoor Visa Championship Series with a clearance of 1.93m/6-4. Hazel-Ann Regis of Grenada won the women's 400 meters in 55.54 seconds over Tiffany Ross-Williams (56.08); Mary Sauer took first on fewer misses in the women's pole vault, leading four women who cleared 4.40m/14-5.25. Dana Buller of Canada and Jillian Schwartz tied for second, while 2006 U.S. leader Jenn Stuczynski was fourth. Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica won the women's 800 meters in 2:05.62, while LaShawn Merritt won the men's 500 meters (1:03.38) over World Outdoor 400m hurdles gold medalist Bershawn Jackson (1:03.80).

High school thrills

In high school action, Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional became the first New Jersey athlete to win the girls' high school mile. Tauro moved impressively from third to first in the last half-lap of the race, winning in 4:51.89. Colleen Wetherbee of Dennis-Yarmouth (Mass.) was second in 4:52.78, and Lindsey Ferguson of Saratoga Springs was third in 4:54.74.

In the boys' mile, Dan McManamon of Shenendehowa High School ran 4:17.18 to win, holding off Mark Amirault of Xaverian Brothers (Mass.) in second (4:18.10) and Greg Kiley of Saratoga Springs (4:18.42).

Fordham Prep became the only school ever to win five consecutive Millrose relay crowns in the boys' 4x800m relay, finishing in 8:04.07 to best Monsignor Farrell (8:05.15).