Benchmark victories for Nelson and Lagat at 101st Millrose Games 02. February 08

New York City, USA – Adam Nelson set a Madison Square Garden record in the Shot Put and Bernard Lagat moved closer to another one with a win in the Wanamaker Mile to highlight the 101st Millrose Games on Friday night (1 Feb).

Nelson won the Shot Put with a world-leading toss of 22.07m to eclipse the Madison Square Garden record of 21.88m set by Christian Cantwell in 2007. The effort also moved Nelson into third on the all-time U.S. indoor list on the third stop of the five-event USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series.

Cantwell finished second at 21.33m and reigning World championReese Hoffa was third at 21.13 in a competition in the center of the track amid blaring rock music.

In the Wanamaker Mile in the meet’s finale, Lagat out dueled Australia’s Craig Mottram to win 3:57.51 to 3:57.90 for his sixth Wanamaker title to move closer to Irishman’s Eammon Coghlan’s all-time record of seven.

Nelson sets Madison Square Garden record

In the Shot Put, Nelson became the third different winner on the USA Track & Field Visa Championship Indoor Series.

Nelson did in dominating fashion. Borrowing an implement from training partner Hoffa, Nelson took the lead in the third round after Cantwell, winner of the Reebok Boston Indoor Games a week earlier opened at 21.33m.

Nelson moved into the lead with a 21.49m in the third round and then followed it with his 22.07m throw in the four-throw competition drawing.

Nelson said that Cantwell’s big opener and the crowd of 12,467 helped spur him to the MSG record. Nelson drew the loudest applause each time he stepped into the ring after his customary routine of shouting and throwing his warm-up shirt to the ground.

“Christian had opened with a big throw and I had to respond to that,” Nelson said. “We have proved time and time again that when we have the crowd behind us that we can put on a real good show.”

Hoffa, who won in the season-opening Run for the Dream in Fresno on 21 Jan, secured third with a 21.13m in the fourth round after trailing fourth-place Dan Taylor (20.38m) through two rounds.

Read more Benchmark victories for Nelson and Lagat at 101st Millrose Games from iaaf.org

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