Carmen Douma-Hussar (CAN) wins the MIle in the 2005 Millrose Games (© Getty Images)
Canada’s Carmen DoumaHussar returns to the Armory in Washington Heights, one of the fastest indoor tracks in the world, to contest the Mile at the New Balance Games in New York City on Saturday (19 January), and will face an international field of truly world class.
Villanova graduate Douma-Hussar, the 2005 New Balance Games champion in an indoor PB of 4:28.43, returns to contest the event at which she finished third last year in a close finish with Ireland’s Mary Cullen and USA’s Sara Hall.
Douma-Hussar, the 2004 World Indoor championships 1500m silver medallist, has been hot in the Big Apple this past few months having won the 5th Avenue Mile last September and winning the NYRR Midnight Run in Central Park at the stroke of the New Year on 1 January 2008.
While last year’s victor Cullen does not return to defend her Mile title, the runner-up Sara Hall, 30, who has an indoor PB of 4:32.24 makes her seasonal indoor debut on Saturday.
Two-time US Olympian Jen Rhines is also heading to New York looking for speed after her tremendous seventh place in the World Championships 5000m final last summer, while Jo Mersh (formerly Fenn) is another interesting competitor having finally recovered from leg surgery. The 2004 Great Britain Olympian has 1:59 800m speed which will ensure her rivals set a fast pace.
Canada’s Megan Metcalf, third at the Mile in the 2006 edition of the New Balance Games could well have a strong say in the proceedings, as could compatriot Hilary Stellingwerff of Canada who is now living in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Amy Mortimer who was runner-up behind Douma-Hussar in the 5th Avenue Mile last September (4:23.6)
However, Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, the former World Indoor record holder for 3000m thanks to her 8:27 run in 2006, while having no indoor Mile form guide has an outdoor personal best of 4:22.14 (2004) for the Mile.The Russian, 30, is the 2006 World Indoor 3000m silver medallist, and with the runner’s-up spot also to her credit over 5000m at the 2006 European outdoor championships, she is very much the class act of the field.
In the men's Mile, Eliud Njubi of Kenya last year gave USA’s Alan Webb a stiff challenge until the last 100m eventually finishing second in 3:58.64 and the former TCU graduate will be seeking the top spot this time in Webb’s absence.
Andy Baddeley of Great Britain, who was second in 2006 with 3:58.23, and Josh McAdams of the USA, who nearly broke the sub 4 barrier last year in this event with 4:00.59 should also be hard to beat down the finishing stretch.
Add to the mix Rob Myers and Neville Miller of the USA, and Canada’s Ryan McKenzie, and you have all the ingredients for another sub four mile.
To date 36 sub 4's have been recorded at the Armory with 17 at the New Balance Games.
With two such high class fields The “Armory” and race director and livewire announcer Ian Brooks will be rocking for sure on Saturday.
Victah Sailer for the IAAF
