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Casual observers of the track and field scene may be under the illusion that the world's best athletes will be taking the year off as the sport goes through a 'down' year with no outdoor world championships or Olympics to focus on.

A brief glance at the line up being assembled for the 103rd edition of the legendary Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City later this month suggests otherwise.

The Millrose Games, scene of so many classic indoor track and field performances in its storied history, kicks off the American indoor season on its tight 11-lap mile track with the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, on March 12-14 the target in the sights of so many of those competing in the Big Apple on Friday night, January 29.

The highlight of the meet is the men's Wanamaker Mile and the Garden will see Bernard Lagat attempt to make history as he bids for a record eighth title in the race.

America's former double world champion at 1500m and 5000m, Lagat will have to defeat the man who outsprinted him for silver at the 2009 IAAF World Championships 1500m.
 
The 2007 world champion finished third at the 2009 World Championship in Berlin behind Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia in a furious final sprint. On January 29, Lagat will have an opportunity to seek revenge against Mekonnen, as well as Millrose history.

Lagat won his seventh Wanamaker Mile title at last year's Millrose Games, which tied all-time Irish legend and "Chariman of the Boards" Eamonn Coghlan for the most wins ever in that prestigious event.

The women's 1,500m also will feature a strong field, headlined by USA Indoor champion and Olympian Anna Pierce (formerly Willard).

Pierce won last year at the London Grand Prix, finished second in Zurich and ended the season ranked #6 in the world and #3 in the U.S. for 1,500m by Track & Field News. She was a leader in a phenomenal year for American women's middle-distance runners. The former steeplechase American record holder dipped under 4:00 for 1,500m and 2:00 for 800m, posting a U.S.-leading 3:59.38 for the longer distance and the second-fastest time for the 800 (1:58.80). In 2008, Pierce was tenth at the Beijing Olympic Games in 9:25.63.
Challenging Pierce at Millrose will be Sally Kipyego of Kenya, who won nine individual NCAA (US Colelge) titles while at Texas Tech University, equaling the all-time record set by Suzy Favor Hamilton.

Two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Terrence Trammell, reigning world 110m hurdles champion Ryan Brathwaite, Jamaican record holder Dwight Thomas and 2004 World Indoor champion Perdita Felicien will headline a world-class gathering of hurdlers. 

Trammell returns to the Garden after nearly pulling off a unique double at last year's Millrose Games. Trammell dominated the men's  60m hurdles by crossing the finish line first in 7.45 seconds, which was the second-fastest time in the world that year, and just .02 off Allen Johnson's Millrose Games record.

Trammell, who won his third World Outdoor Championships 110m hurdles silver medal last year in Berlin, Germany, posted the fastest 60m hurdles time of 2009 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with his time of 7.37 seconds en route to winning his second Visa Championship Series title.

Also at last year's Millrose Games, after enduring three false starts, 2008 U.S. indoor champion Michael Rodgers enjoyed a memorable Millrose Games debut in denying Trammell a double victory by winning the Visa men's 60m in a personal-best time of 6.51, which was the third-fastest time in the world that season. Trammell finished as the runner-up in 6.54.

Trammell will face a stiff challenge from 2009 World Outdoor 110m hurdles champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados. Despite hitting the first hurdle in the World Champs final last year, Brathwaite kept it together and crossed the finish line first in 13.14 seconds, providing his nation with its first ever medal at a World Championships.  Trammell finished as the runner-up, a mere one-hundredth of a second behind the victor.
Brathwaite, who also won outdoors last year in Brussels, Lucerne, Zagreb and at the World Athletics Final, finished the season ranked #2 in the world by Track & Field News. Trammell won 110m races last year at the New York Grand Prix, at the adidas Track Classic and in Shanghai before ending the campaign ranked #3 globally and #1 in the U.S. by T&FN.
Not to be overlooked in the men's race is Jamaica's Dwight Thomas, who was a finalist at last year's World Outdoor Championships, won at Zurich and Rieti, and finished third at the World Athletics Final before being ranked #6 in the world at season's end by T&FN.

2004 World Indoor champion Perdita Felicien of Canada will headline the women's 60m hurdles following another successful season in 2009 where she was a finalist at the World Outdoor Championships, finished second at the London Grand Prix and placed fifth at the World Athletics Final. The 2007 World Outdoor Championships 100m hurdles silver medalist, Felicien ended the 2009 season ranked #6 in the world by T&FN.
Leading the American charge in the women's race will be two-time USA 100m hurdles champion Ginnie Powell, who finished second at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships, and placed sixth later that summer at the World Outdoor Championships. Powell ended the 2009 campaign ranked #9 in the world and #4 in the U.S. by T&FN.

For ticket information for the 103rd Millrose Games visit: http://ny.milesplit.us/articles/31594.