Saturday’s New Balance Games is stacked

The road to Beijing and the 2008 Olympic Games begins at the New Balance Games in New York City on Saturday (January 19th) for many of the world's top milers at arguably the fastest indoor track in the world… the Armory in Washington Heights.

Yes indeed its early days in the quest for that Olympic medal but the athletes will emerge from their base mileage to find out just where they are in their preparation.

The Women's mile sees the return of many familiar faces with Villanova graduate Carmen Douma-Hussar (Canada) the 2005 New Balance Games champion returning to New York. Carmen has been hot in the Big Apple this past few months having won the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile last September and winning the NYRR Midnight Run in Central Park at the stroke of the New Year on January 1.

Sara Hall (USA) having placed 2nd last year would like to start her year with a confidence building race while Hilary Stellingwerff (Canada) now living in Lausanne, Switzerland will be looking to start her Olympic preparations with a win, and Amy Mortimer (USA) in the form of her life last fall could well upset everyone's applecart. Two time US Olympian Jen Rhines is also heading to the big apple looking for speed after her tremendous 7th place in the IAAF World outdoor championships last summer over 5000m and Megan Metcalf (Canada), third in 2006 could well have a strong say in the proceedings. Jo Mersh (formerly Fenn) is an 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 and from Russia, Lillya Shobukhova with her 8:27 indoor 3000m in 2006 on her resume could well beat them all. The “Armory” and race director and livewire announcer Ian Brooks will be rocking for sure.

In the men's mile, Eliud Njubi (Kenya) gave Alan Webb last year all he could handle till the last 100m finishing 2nd in 3:58.64 and the former TCU graduate will be seeking the top spot but then so will former Cambridge University graduate Andy Baddeley (Great Britain) who was 2nd in 2006 with 3:58.23. Josh McAdams (USA) who nearly broke the sub 4 barrier last year in this event with 4:00.59 could also be hard to beat down the finishing stretch. Add to the mix Rob Myers (USA), Ryan McKenzie (Canada), and Neville Miller (USA) 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.

The hs girls 500 meters could be the barnburner of the New Balance Games, pitting World Youth Gold Medalist at 400H, Dalilah Muhammad vs World Youth 800m Finalist, Chanelle Price. Price of Easton Area High School in Easton, PA, who won the 1,000 meters at the Bishop Loughlin Games in 2:47.85, the sixth best USA HS all-time and a Pennsylvania state record, declaring she is going for the national record (1:11.44, Devon Williams, Towson Catholic in Maryland, 2004). Muhammad of Benjamin Cardozo, NYC, the current US leader at 600m and 400 meters, and senior Charlene Lipsey of Hempstead, whose 2:12.40 in the 800 meters at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic is the U.S. leading time this year and who set a meet record in winning the 600 at the Archbishop Molloy Stanner Games Saturday (1:32.82). Price has the third fastest indoor 800 meters ever by a high school girl, 2:04.96, behind former US 1984 Olympians Kim Gallagher and Mary Decker._

All this and some 5000 high school athletes competing and you have everything a track and field fan could ask for… and more. The New Balance Games at the Armory in NYC beckons.