The biggest names in the world of track and field will compete in a variety of meets at the Armory and Madison Square Garden throughout January, February and March.
The grand daddy of indoor track, the Millrose Games, will get the gun for the 105th running of the world-famous meet on Feb. 11 at the Armory, while the newest kid coming to the Garden will host a pair of meets on Jan. 28. First up will be the Colgate Women’s Games, the nation’s largest indoor track and field meet with over 11,000 competitors from elementary school to the 30s-plus. They will crown their champions throughout the morning until 2 p.m.
The Colgate Women’s Games was founded by Fred Thompson, who also founded the Brooklyn-based Atoms Track Club, which was, once upon a time, one of the most dominant clubs in world, with a bevy of women who checked in at the Olympic Games over the years. Thompson was the 1988 USA Olympic Track coach.
The U.S. Open Track and Field Meet hits the boards a few hours later on Saturday, Jan. 28 as Bernard Lagat chases his ninth Wanamaker Mile victory.
It should be pointed out that the Armory will host 105 events this season. The New Balance Collegiate Invitational will run on Feb. 3 and 4 at the Armory. It’s the largest indoor meet in the world. Also, on Feb. 17, the Metro Atlantic Conference will hold their championships at the Armory, as will the Big East Conference on Feb. 18 and 19.
City-wise, all five boroughs of the Public School Athletic League will hold their indoor championships at the Armory, with Staten Island first up on Feb. 12, followed by Manhattan on Feb. 13 and Brooklyn on Feb. 19. The boroughs of the Bronx and Queens will crown their champions on Feb. 20.