NEW YORK CITY, February 08 – A week after winning the 60 at the New Balance GP, Jacious Sears continued her rise toward the top of the sprint ranks with a dominant win at the 117th running of the Millrose Games.
Sears was never challenged while clocking 7.02 and moving into a tie for No. 8 on the U.S. all-time list. As she pulled away from the field, “I could tell it was going to be a good time,” the Tennessee alum said. Celera Barnes (7.15) and Aleia Hobbs (7.16) were well back in the battle for the runner-up spot.
Sears was already on the rise last spring after running a sensational 10.77 in the 100 in April. A season-ending hamstring injury at the SEC Champs dashed her Olympic hopes, but she’s now back in top form. “I just feel like that injury taught me so much,” said Sears, who continues to train with her college coach, Duane Ross. “I’m just so much more disciplined and just trusting in my coaches.”
Rhode Island prep Lisa Raye finished 8th in 7.21 a few hours after setting a HSR 7.13 in the girls’ race, taking down Shawnti Jackson’s 7.16 from ’23.
The Wanamaker Mile field had no interest in following the rabbit, which led to jostling in a crowded pack. “It was pretty messy,” said Great Britain’s Georgia Bell, bronze medalist in the Olympic 1500 last summer. “Pushing and shoving and finding positions, so I just tried to keep really cool.”
Heather MacLean seized the lead at 1500 (4:06.85). Bell was unable to pass the American on the final turn, but she switched gears again in the homestretch and finally passed MacLean 10m from the line for a 0.06 margin of victory in 4:23.35.
Bell, who had a breakthrough season in ’24, knows she can no longer surprise her rivals. “I loved racing last year, because I was such an underdog,” she said. “It’s the best place to be. You only get it once and then you come into races like this and the expectation is on you to win.”
Sadie Engelhardt finished 11th in 4:27.97, finally achieving her goal of breaking Mary Cain’s High School Record 4:28.25 (from the ’13 Millrose Games). She also broke her own week-old HSR in the 1500, coming through in 4:09.84. “This is a crazy environment, so I had a lot of fun,” said the California teen. “I don’t know if I would be able to do that on my own. It’s great to finally get it.”
The 3000 also featured a frenzied finish. Laurie Barton towed the field through 1000 in 2:51.50 before Aussie Jessica Hull took over at 1600 (4:34.38). Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama moved to the front at 2000 (5:43.37) and set the tempo for the next 4 laps.
On the penultimate backstretch, Josette Andrews made an audacious move into the lead, immediately gapping the field. But Whittni Morgan, a U.S. Olympian in the 5000 in Paris, broke away from the chase pack and passed Andrews with a little more than 100 to go. She cruised home in 8:28.03 — off a 28.9 last lap — jumping to No. 5 on the U.S. all-time indoor list (and No. 5 on the absolute list).
Morgan, the ’21 NCAA Cross Country champion for BYU, was coming off a PR in the 5000 at the previous week’s Terrier Classic. “I feel like the 3K is my sweet spot,” she said. “If there was an open 3K outdoors that’s what I would choose to do.”
Andrews was rewarded for her grit with a PR of her own, 8:29.77, good for No. 7 all-time among Americans indoors (and No. 10 absolute). Sarah Healy (8:30.79) set an Irish Record in 3rd.
Katie Moon won the pole vault at 15-9¾ (4.82). The 2-time Olympic medalist missed her first attempt of the day, at 14-9 (4.50), which she attributed to adrenaline. “There’s a lot going on,” she said of the infield intensity. “It’s a little bit more close quarters. But to be honest, I kinda like the chaos a little bit. You feel the energy.”
She adjusted immediately and went over 15-5 (4.70) on her first try to clinch the win. She made her next bar on initial attempt, then missed three jumps at a meet record 16-1¾ (4.92). Overall she said she is pleased with her early results in her first season training away from her coach, Brad Walker.
Moon, who took silver in Paris last year after gold in Tokyo in ’21, is still working with the Atlanta-based Walker, but she now lives in Oklahoma, where her husband is a collegiate rowing coach at Tulsa. “We have been long distance for our entire marriage — and most of our relationship —because rowing coach jobs aren’t everywhere,” said the two-time world champion. “And after this Olympic season I just said that I’m not going to sacrifice being away from my family anymore.”
Olympic 100H champion Masai Russell took the 60H in 7.76. Alexis Holmes and Shafiqua Maloney each won her event by nearly a second, Holmes taking the 400 in 51.21 and Maloney topping the 800 field in 1:59.07.
MILLROSE WOMEN’S RESULTS
60: 1. Jacious Sears (US) 7.02 PR (WL) (=8, x A) (6.53 PR—WL);
2. Celera Barnes (US) 7.15 (6.65); 3. Aleia Hobbs (US) 7.16 (6.66 PR); 4. Destiny Smith-Barnett (Lbr) 7.18 (6.67); 5. Jodean Williams (Jam) 7.19 PR; 6. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 7.20; 7. Audrey Leduc (Can) 7.20 PR; 8. Lisa Raye (Tri) 7.21 PR; 9. Mikiah Brisco (US) 7.24.
400: 1. Alexis Holmes (US) 51.21; 2. Leah Anderson (Jam) 52.12; 3. Helena Ponette (Bel) 52.16 PR; 4. Jan’Taijah Jones (US) 52.67; 5. Meghan Hunter (US) 53.01 PR.
800: 1. Shafiqua Maloney (StV) 1:59.07; 2. Olivia Baker (US) 2:00.02 PR; 3. Kaela Edwards (US) 2:00.14 PR; 4. Addy Wiley (US) 2:00.14 PR; 5. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 2:00.42 PR; 6. McKenna Keegan (US) 2:00.72 PR; 7. Nia Akins (US) 2:00.91; 8. Sammy Watson (US) 2:02.00; 9. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 2:02.53.
Mile: 1. Georgia Bell (GB) 4:23.35 PR (4:07.05); 2. Heather MacLean (US) 4:23.41 (4:06.85); 3. Nikki Hiltz (US) 4:23.50 PR (4:07.41); 4. Susan Ejore-Sanders (Ken) 4:23.64 (4:06.90); 5. Sinclaire Johnson (US) 4:23.93 (4:07.69); 6. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:24.58 PR (4:07.64); 7. Maia Ramsden (NZ) 4:25.46 (4:08.63); 8. Simone Plourde (Can) 4:25.71 (4:08.11);
9. Wilma Nielsen (Swe) 4:25.78 PR (3, 4 C) (4:08.25);
10. Sintayehu Vissa (Ita) 4:26.39 (4:09.10);
11. Sadie Engelhardt (US) 4:27.97 HSR (old HSR 4:28.13 Mary Cain [NYHS] ’13) (4, 5 AJ) (in/out: 2, 2 HS) (4:09.84);
12. Elise Cranny (US) 4:30.64 (4:11.57).
3000: 1. Whittni Morgan (US) 8:28.03 PR (5, 6 A) (in/out: 7, 9 A);
2. Josette Andrews (US) 8:29.77 PR (7, 8 A) (in/out: 10, x A);
3. Sarah Healy (Ire) 8:30.79 NR; 4. Jessica Hull (Aus) 8:30.91; 5. Tsige Gebreselama (Eth) 8:33.13 PR; 6. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 8:33.52 NR; 7. Olivia Markezich (US) 8:37.37 PR; 8. Ella Donaghu (US) 8:38.75 PR; 9. Gabrielle Jennings (US) 8:47.02 PR; 10. Katelyn Tuohy (US) 8:47.34; 11. Hilda Olemomoi (Ken) 8:51.05; 12. Courtney Wayment (US) 8:56.57; 13. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 9:01.64.
60H: 1. Masai Russell (US) 7.76 (WL) (7.22);
2. Grace Stark (US) 7.82 (7.28 PR); 3. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 7.83 (7.28 PR); 4. Denisha Cartwright (Bah) 7.84 (7.29 PR); 5. Taylor Cox (US) 8.21;… dq—Ackera Nugent (Jam).
MileW: 1. Lauren Harris (US) 6:46.37; 2. Angelina Colon (US) 7:10.86; 3. Alexa Governor (US) 7:15.06; 4. Ruby Ray (US) 7:28.02; 5. Katie Miale (US) 7:30.65; 6. Mila Priore (US) 8:40.45.
PV: 1. Katie Moon (US) 15-9¾ (4.82) (WL) (14-9 [2], 15-5, 15-9¾ [2], 16-1¾ [xxx]) (4.50 [2], 4.70, 4.82 [2], 4.92 [xxx]);
2. tie, Gabriela Leon (US) & Emily Grove (US) 15-1 (4.60); 4. Chloe Timberg (US) 14-9 (4.50); 5. Riley Felts (US) 14-5¼ (4.40); 6. Kaitlyn Dermen (US) 14-1¼ (4.30).
Wt: 1. Elisia Lancaster (US) 72-1 (21.97).