Laura Muir, Josh Kerr and Neil Gourley in brilliant form at the 115th Millrose Games in New York
It was quite a night for Scottish runners at the 115th Millrose Games on Saturday (Feb 11). Laura Muir sealed an historic Wanamaker Mile title with a blistering finish. Josh Kerr went No.3 on the UK all-time 3000m rankings with a commanding victory. Neil Gourley finished runner-up behind Yared Nuguse’s US record in the men’s Wanamaker Mile but his sub-3:50 performance puts him No.2 on the UK all-time lists.
One week after winning the 3000m at the New Balance Indoor GP in Boston, Muir took to the track in New York chasing a Wanamaker title to go with her 5th Avenue road mile crown from last September. The European champion went with the pace through 800m in 2:08.89 but then relinquished the lead before rallying on the final lap to see off Josette Andrews (née Norris) (4:20.88).
The UK mile record of 4:17.88 held by Jemma Reekie survived. Reekie finished a disappointing ninth in this race too.
Katie Snowden, however, excelled with an English record of 4:21.19 as she tried to keep up with the flying Scotswoman.
Earlier in the night Kerr had made his 2023 racing debut with an impressive 7:33.47 win in the 3000m ahead of Luis Grijalva of Guatemala (7:33.86) and American duo Joe Klecker (7:34.14) and Cooper Teare (7:34.70). Such was the quality of the race, the 2022 Millrose winner Geordie Beamish ran a New Zealand record of 7:36.22 in sixth.
Content to hang back in sixth place as the leaders passed 1km in 2:31 and 2km in 5:06, the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist moved up ominously in the latter stages before really letting rip on the final lap.
Kerr broke Andy Butchart’s Scottish record of 7:37.42 and now sits No.3 on the UK rankings behind Mo Farah and Sam Atkin’s recent UK record of 7:31.97.
The flying Scotsman 🏴 🚂
Josh Kerr enjoys a big 7:33.47 win over 3000m at the Millrose Games. pic.twitter.com/vPov1Tdg4n
— Jason Henderson (@Jason_AW) February 11, 2023
Amusingly Kerr also took more than a minute off his rather dated PB too. On a more serious note it shows the 25-year-old’s training has been going well this winter with his Brooks Beasts group and, after a disappointing 2022, he will be looking to get back on a global podium in Budapest this summer.
Such is the standard of British miling right now, though, it be difficult to simply make the team for the World Championships later this year. This was shown in the…
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