NEW YORK CITY -- The stars of the Eugene 08 Olympic Track and Field Trials lit up Madison Square Gardens last weekend at the 102nd Millrose Games in New York City, the kick off of the 2009 indoor track and field season.

Oregon resident Kara Goucher, third place winner in the 2008 New York City marathon and 5,000m champion and 10,000m runner up in the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, sported an Oregon Track Club singlet and secured an easy win in the NYRR women’s mile (4:33:19).

Early in the race she took the lead and never looked back.  In her second Millrose win she finished well ahead of Marina Muncan (4:37:77) and Mestawot Tadesse (4:38:30).

Bernard Lagat energized the fans that waited for the Wanamaker Mile with a seventh consecutive victory in a time of 3:58.44.

Lagat tied Eamonn Coghlan’s record of seven wins in the event at the Millrose Games. Lagat, who took the lead at the beginning, was passed by Nick Willis (New Zealand) with 1½ laps to go.  Although Lagat appeared to be momentarily stunned, he re-established his lead by passing Willis, the Olympic 1500 meter bronze medalist, in a strong final lap.

Three of the top shot putters in the world -- Adam Nelson (pictured below), Christian Cantwell and Reese Hoffa -- traded lead positions through four rounds of competition. 

At the end of the first round Christian Cantwell, Olympic silver medalist, was in the lead. Reese Hoffa, 2007 world champion, assumed the lead during round two. But it was Adam Nelson, two time Olympic silver medalist (’00, ’04) and third place finisher at the 2008 Olympic Trials, who took his second consecutive Millrose Games victory, with a throw of 20.79m in the final round.

Other elite performances at the 102nd Millrose Games included the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the men’s pole vault, Australia’s Steve Hooker (below), who thrilled the crowd with a Millrose and Australian record (5.81m). 

Amy Acuff delighted her fans with a fifth Millrose title in the high jump with a clearance of 1.92m. 

Jenn Stuczynski cleared 4.71m in the women’s pole vault, beating 37 year-old veteran Stacy Dragila, indoor record holder and 2000 Olympic gold medalist.  Monica Hargrove out-leaned Adiann Pompey of Guyana with a winning time of 1:19.50 in the women’s 600m. Terrence Trammell, two-time Olympic silver medalist, dominated the 60m hurdles with the fastest time in the world this year (7:45 seconds).

Bianca Knight took the women’s 60m dash (7:23) in her first Millrose title.  She defeated Muna Lee, Olympic Trials 100m champion, who placed second (7:28).

Dr. Bob Elliott is a freelance photojournalist with over 20 years of experience.  He blogged from Beijing, China, on the 2008 Summer Olympics. His major focus is on athletic competitions, particularly track and field.  When his schedule permits, he competes in road races.  Dr. Bob works as a neuropsychologist in Los Angeles and resides with his wife in Manhattan Beach, California.