New York’s Millrose Games are heading uptown next year and leading the way is famed Irish miler Ray Flynn, who will be running the campaign to reboot an event that has been a pot of gold for Irish middle distance runners down the years.
Millrose Games officials announced that Flynn, the holder of 89 sub-four minute miles, including the Irish mile record, will be director of what will the 105th Millrose Games.
Officials also announced that the date for the 2012 Millrose event will be Saturday, February 11 at The New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory in Upper Manhattan.
“The Armory Foundation is very pleased that Ray Flynn has joined the Millrose Games,” Armory executive director and Millrose president, Dr. Norb Sander, said.
“My goal is to excite the new generation of younger athletes and to continue the legacy of the Millrose Games, said Flynn. “We want to get the word out that the Millrose Games at the Armory will be a wonderful meet that will attract a number of the world’s great athletes.”
During his running career, the now 54-year-old Longford native teamed with fellow Irish runners Marcus O’Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan, and Frank O’Mara to establish the 4x1 mile relay world record (15.49.08) that stands to this day.
Flynn set the Irish mile record when he recorded a 3:49.77 in 1982 in Oslo in the Bislett Games Dream Mile. He ran for Ireland in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.
Flynn heads Flynn Sports Management in Tennessee. He was an All-American in both track and field and cross country at East Tennessee State, and is a member of the school’s hall of fame.
