“I’m Not Ready for Millrose Games”: World Record Holder Under Pressure Shortly Before Season Opener

The 116th Millrose Games is scheduled for Sunday, February 11, 2024, at The Armory in NYC. The Millrose Games play a crucial role in preparing the athletes for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in addition to posing as a challenger ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Yared Nuguse, the American long-distance record holder, is one of the slated competitors defending his Wanamaker Mile championship title. But as everyone eagerly anticipates this exciting event, Nuguse shares some genuine insights that raise concerns about the strain leading up to the 1500-meter sprint.

Millrose Games American sensation

Dubbed as “the world’s premier indoor track and field event,” heading to New York, Nuguse has enough to worry about; from defending his title, squaring off with potential rivals, and keeping up with existing impression. In an interview featured in CITIUS MAG Podcast, he shared last year’s Millrose Games experience saying, “I never (raced at) Millrose before because I always had a bad feeling about it, like something bad would happen if I went… I was like, ‘I’m not ready for Millrose. I’ll get there when I get there.’ And I finally did and came out with a big bang.”

Nuguse established the Wanamaker Mile record, only 0.37 seconds away from breaking Yomif Kejelcha’s World indoor record. The 24-year-old track sensation broke the outdoor mile mark later after placing sixth in the 1500 meters at September’s World Championships. With a newfound resolve, Nuguse now aims to surpass Kejelcha’s indoor record entering his new record.

Nuguse will be up against Spain’s Mario Garcia Romo, a two-time World Championship finalist. Along with Hobbs Kessler, this year’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 1500m champion, and George Mills of Britain, who also beat Nuguse in a personal best time of 12:58.68 over 5000 meters. Now, in the Millrose Games, the middle-distance rivals are ready for an exciting battle.

The battle of title defenders

Apart from the middle-distance rivals, the NCAA standout also has some veterans he wishes to rejoin. When questioned about any athletes he wishes to see at the race, Nuguse said, “It would be really interesting to battle either Josh (Kerr) or Jakob at this point to see where we’re at in February.”

READ MORE Millrose Games: Tara Davis-Woodhall Inspires National Champion to Try Their Hands at Something Unexpected, Says, “Embrace the Uncomfortable”

Scotland’s Josh Kerr was the gold medalist in the 1500-meter race at the Budapest 2023 World Championships, while Norwegian runner

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the 1500m Olympic and Diamond League gold medalist, who will be missing the race due to an Achilles injury. While Nuguse is focused on setting the global indoor mile record, Kerr is aiming for the world indoor best over two miles.

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