Andy Baddeley at the 2008 New Balance Games in New York (© Victah Sailer)
Britain’s Andy Baddeley returns to the Armory in New York City to defend his title in the invitational Mile at the New Balance Games on 24 January.
Baddeley, an Olympic 1500m finalist last year in Beijing despite a nagging Achilles tendon injury, won the prestigious Dream Mile at the 2008 Bislett Games in Oslo. The Briton’s winning time of in 3:49.38 at the ÅF Golden League meet saw him join fellow countrymen Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, and Peter Elliott in sub 3:50 territory for the Mile... not bad company to keep!
In a strong international field Baddeley's chief competition is likely to come from New Zealander Adrian Blincoe. Newly married, Blincoe was second to Baddeley last year and has previously placed third and fourth in the mile at the New Balance Games.
The 2003 New Balance Games champion James Thie of Britain, and Ohio State graduate Rob Myers (USA) may well have a say in the proceedings and the dark horse could be the very promising 20-year-old from Canada, Kyle Boorsma.
Ian Brooks for the IAAF
The full field is...
1. Andy Baddeley Great Britain
2. Adrian Blincoe New Zealand
3. James Thie Great Britain
4. Rob Myers USA
5. Neil Speight Great Britain
6. John Richardson USA
7. Tim Bayley Great Britain
8. Moise Joseph Haiti
9. Kyle Boorsma Canada
10. Max Smith New Zealand
11. Abiyot Endale Ethiopia
12. Samuel Ng'etich Kenya