Lagat falls to Mekonnen in Wanamaker Mile at 104th Millrose Games

The story of the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden for the past several years has been Bernard Lagat’s dominance in the Wanamaker Mile, the historic annual event he had won six times in a row (2005-2010) and eight total, an all-time record. This past Friday night though, Lagat’s streak was snapped when he placed second behind 23-year old Deresse Mekonnen, the current world indoor champion. The rest of the Millrose Games competitions leading up to the Wanamaker Mile were the usual mix of track and field events, with a few twists to keep things interesting. It was, after all, the 104th one! Photos by Avi Gerver, ©Madison Square Garden, L.P.

Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia celebrates after defeating American Bernard Lagat and the rest of the field to win the Wanamaker Mile:

Reese Hoffa of the U.S. competes in the shot put:

American Curtis Beach clears 6′ 8.75″ in the high jump, tying Ashton Eaton for the best jump of the night:

Bronxville High School wins the girls’ 3200 meter relay:

The NYPD defeats the FDNY in a special 4×1 lap relay:

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica wins the women’s 60 meter dash:

Ashton Eaton of the U.S. (right), wins the men’s 60 meter hurdles. He also won the Millrose Multi Challenge, which combined the scores of several competing decathletes in the hurdles, shot put and high jump.

Fabiana Murer of Brazil, winner of the women’s pole vault:

UConn maintained a lead early in the men’s college 3200 meter relay, but lost to Virginia by only .11 of a second, a very close margin for a race of that distance (nearly 2 miles):

Runners on the St. John The Baptist High School team celebrate after winning the boys’ 3200 meter relay: