You have to feel for The Millrose Games’ position on the calendar, because the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix set not only the world, but also the history books, on fire, and the pressure was on to keep the flame going. Things weren’t exactly working in its favour either, because the big names were dropping like flies in the days before this Sunday. Newly crowned world record holder Josh Hoey was the first to fall, with fellow Boston winners Elle St.Pierre and Cian McPhillips withdrawing soon after. Then, just the night before, came what could have been the final nail in the coffin: the absence of Grant Fisher.
Had we been asking for too much by expecting more world records and world-leading performances this weekend? Did our high hopes set the event up for failure? Last night, we got our answer: most certainly not. You see, when a field is already packed with talent, the absence of a few stand-outs can only mean one thing. We were in for a whole host of surprises (and very fast ones at that).
If you’ve been questioning whether there has ever been a smoother transition from collegiate to professional running than Roisin Willis’, this race might just have given you the answer. In only her first race since signing with New Balance, Roisin Willis wasted no time in winning, rather fittingly, at her sponsor’s namesake meet last weekend. Then, less than a week later, she went almost two seconds faster and set a new American record of 1:57.97.
The drop down to the 600m at Millrose didn’t put a stop to her winning ways either. Sticking comfortably behind the pace, Roisin Willis wasn’t phased by Juliette Whittaker edging out in front. That confidence showed over the last lap when she stretched away from the rest of the field to win in a new personal best of 1:24.87, which places her at 12th on the 600m short track all-time list.
RESULTS:
The sheer level of teenage dominance this 2026 indoor season is unmatched. Breakout stars have included 19 year old Cam Myers, 16 year old Sam Ruthe, and the man who brought us another world record: 17 year old Cooper Lutkenhaus. Cooper Lutkenhaus is no stranger to records though, because last year he set the world U18 record in the 800m outdoors, and then just a few weeks ago he broke his own 800m high school record. Therefore it was only right that this year in Millrose, he added another one.
He did have to fight for the win though, because Jenoah McKiver was leading the pack most of the way, and the effort on Cooper Lutkenhaus’ face was clear as he dug deep to overtake on the final stretch. Except that effort was deceiving, because he then went on to ease comfortably towards the finish line, giving the impression that perhaps he had even more to give. Which, given his record, is likely. The result was a new 600m U18 world record of 1:14.15, two seconds faster than the winning time last weekend in Boston.
RESULTS:
This race was one of those where you look back and think: in hindsight, we should have seen that coming. Except on the surface it didn’t look that way. We had the return of the 2024 champion and 2 mile world record holder Josh Kerr, ready to avenge himself after injury struck midway during the 1500m final at the world championships last year. Geordie Beamish, surprise world steeplechase champion- could he do the same again? And then lastly Cole Hocker, World 5000m Champion and Olympic 1500m champion.
What spun the race on its head was the withdrawal of Grant Fisher. Last week, we saw him go out so aggressively at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, and while that cost him the win, he did manage to go under the previous 2000m indoor world record. Who was going to bring that same aggression in the 2 mile if not him? The answer was no one: with a slower pace, the race played right into the hands of famously fast finisher Cole Hocker.
From the very first minute the race was slated to be a fight between Cole Hocker and Josh Kerr for the title, foreshadowing perfectly what was to come. But while he settled for second-in-line behind the pacemaker, the world record holder wasn’t going to let Cole Hocker take the win that easily. And neither was the rest of the field. With 5 laps to go the USA’s Graham Blanks burst straight out of the pack to take the lead, but the others were biting at his heels and sure enough with 2 laps to go, Josh Kerr ripped the reins right out of his hands.
And Hocker? At first, it seemed as if he’d faded slightly during the middle of the race, until Josh Kerr stormed to the front, and all of a sudden there he was, in prime striking position. And strike he did: if you’ve watched the Olympic 1500m final or the most recent world 5000m final you’ll know that if there’s one thing people remember about Cole Hocker, it’s that he can out-kick almost anyone. Right place, right time, every time.
RESULTS:
With the absence of last year’s winner Elle St.Pierre, a new Wanamaker mile champion was a given, it was just the who we were stuck on. As a result a lot of eyes were on Australia’s Jess Hull, 3 times global medallist. But also in the running was her teammate Linden Hall, pulling through last weekend for a shock second place. In the end, both were up there, just not on top.
The star of the show was Nikki Hiltz. Despite a few elbows and wide runs on the curve to get past a tightly packed field, with a minute to go they were perched comfortably on the shoulder of Jess Hull, who, perhaps in an attempt to improve on last week, chose not to lead and instead followed USA’s Sinclaire Johnson. The attack came early: with a lap and a half to go Nikki Hiltz was charging out in front, dragging Jess Hull with her away from the rest of the field.
The gap between them was achingly close, for Jess Hull in particular, whose own strength was waning as she tried to contend with Nikki Hiltz’s. By the end Nikki Hiltz had gained half a second on her and the rest is history. Quite literally, as Nikki Hiltz’s time placed them 3rd on the US all-time list indoors. Oh and did I mention? That was their season opener.
RESULTS:
Finally, the last, and maybe most anticipated, event of the night. Although we’d lost one world record holder in Josh Hoey, 2000m champion Hobbs Kessler was still standing strong in that line-up, alongside triple Wanamaker champion Yared Nuguse, looking to secure a historic fourth title. However, someone else who also had a very successful weekend in Boston was Australia’s Cam Myers, and he is yet another young distance runner showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Cam Myers knew what he was doing the whole time, and that was winning. He controlled the race to perfection, staying off the pace but still close enough to be in contention so that as soon as they reached two laps to go, he could surge straight to the front and not let go. Just like in the women’s mile, all it took was one kick in the latter stages of the race and there we had our winner, but the only difference in the men’s was neither Yared Nuguse nor Hobbs Kessler, had much fight left to give.
On Saturday we saw Sam Ruthe of New Zealand become the youngest person ever to run a 3:48 mile at 16, then last night Cam Myers became the youngest person to ever win the Wanamaker title at 19. A reason for Cam Myers to feel very good about himself and the rest of the field, maybe not so much.
RESULTS:
With that little piece of history came the end of the 2026 Millrose Games. Shock absences turned into surprising new, and often much younger, champions. The one thing we definitely weren’t lacking, was excitement.
Rosana is our social media manager intern, specialising in track and road racing. Having previously competed in the 200m and 400m, she keeps up her love for speed endurance with regular track sessions and interval runs. As well as running herself, Rosana is also an avid athletics fan, from volunteering at major track meets to officiating local competitions back in England.
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