posted on 10/5/2011

Armory Track & Field and New York Road Runners jointly announced that NYRR will sponsor both the Wanamaker Mile for Men and the first ever Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women at the 105th Millrose Games on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at its new location, the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in Washington Heights.

Millrose Games' Meet Director Ray Flynn sees the new partnership as another positive step forward. "We want to announce that the Millrose Games at the Armory will be an outstanding meet that will attract the world's great track & field athletes," Flynn said. "The first-ever New York Road Runners Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women will help to achieve that. Putting the Armory and the Millrose Games' name, history and overall excitement with the New York Road Runners sponsorship will be a great combination."

"We are pleased to be partnering with the Armory in helping bring the best in our sport to New York City by taking an active role in assembling the fields for the Wanamaker Mile fields," said Mary Wittenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of New York Road Runners. "It is high time that there was a women's Wanamaker mile and we are especially excited about making that happen."

The Executive Director of the Armory Foundation and President of the Millrose Games, Dr. Norbert Sander said, "The 105th Millrose Games will be even more of an exciting event, thanks to the New York Road Runners and their generous support in helping to make the first-ever Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women a reality. We are proud to work with the New York Road Runners team on this significant event."

World Champion and 2008 USA Olympian Jennifer Simpson has announced her participation in the event and will compete alongside other top-ranked women's runners.

"I am really looking forward to coming to New York for the first ever Women's Wanamaker Metric Mile in February," Simpson said. "It will be the highlight of my indoor season and at one of my favorite running venues. It's great that the New York Road Runners has gotten behind this meet."

Simpson is familiar with winning in New York City. Last month she captured the Fifth Avenue Mile and earlier this year won the mile event at the New Balance Games at the Armory.

The men's one-mile race started in 1908 and in 1926 was named after the head of the Wanamaker's Department Store in New York City, Rodman Wanamaker. Traditionally it's been the most-anticipated event of the Millrose Games, positioned as the night's closing race. In 2010, USA Olympian Bernard Lagat won an unprecedented eighth Wanamaker Mile surpassing Eamonn Coghlan whose seven titles earned him the nickname "Chairman of the Boards."

The Millrose Games will be the highlight of the season at the Armory, which hosts more than 100 meets and 125,000 athletes annually. Traditionally held on Friday night, the meet will move to Saturday in 2012 to allow for a day session with high school, collegiate and masters events. The evening session will feature elite world class athletes and Olympic hopefuls from around the world and will include the legendary Wanamaker Mile, as well as the first-ever NYRR Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women.

For more information on the Millrose Games or the New York Road Runners Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women, please contact Richard Finn, Director of Media, New York Road Runners, at 212-423-2229 or Nick Nicholas, Director of Sports Development, Nicholas & Lence Communications at 212-938-0833

About the Armory Foundation:
A non-profit organization based in New York City, the Armory hosts the 105th Millrose Games and more than 100 indoor track & field meets yearly with over 125,000 individual athletes. Besides its many youth sports and educational programs, the Armory directs the Hispanic Games, the New Balance Games, and the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory, the largest indoor college meet nationally. The Armory is additionally the owner of the Millrose Games and home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

About New York Road Runners:
Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners is dedicated to advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and meeting our community's needs. Our goal is to use the expertise acquired in our 53-year history to empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives through participation in our races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other events draw more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York City Marathon, NYRR's premier event, is the largest and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting the world's top professional runners every year and raising $30.8 million for charity in 2010. NYRR's running-based youth programs, which currently serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and community centers, promote children's health and fitness, character development, and personal achievement in underserved communities. For more information, visit www.nyrr.org.