VIDEO: Inside the upcoming mile world record attempt

Yomif Kejelcha, the 21-year-old Ethiopian middle distance runner, is attempting the world record in the Wanamaker mile on Saturday, February 9 at the Millrose Games at the Armoury Track in New York City. 

https://twitter.com/OregonPJT/status/1091413124979126272

The Nike Oregon Project athlete announced on Friday that he believes he’s capable of a 3:48 mile, and that the field of men he’s racing against can help him get there. The record is currently 3:48.45 and held by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. Last year Edward Cheserek, who is also in Saturday’s field, ran the second fastest indoor mile mark in history, hitting 3:49.44 at the Valentine Invitational in Boston. 

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Clayton Murphy, who just set the world record for the 800m on an indoor flat track will also be running Saturday. Murphy, who also trains with the Nike Oregon Project, ran a 1:45.92 on Saturday at JDL Fast Track in North Carolina. American Ajee Wilson also set an indoor flat-track world record yesterday, running a 1:59.26 800m at the same meet. 

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RELATED: Sage Watson breaks Canadian record at Millrose Games

After a disappointing mile at the New Balance Grand Prix, Justyn Knight will be coming back to race the 3,000m in New York. The Reebok athlete told Runnerspace back in December, “Millrose is the one of the world’s greatest indoor meets. The atmosphere cannot be replicated, and I have never been to an indoor race like it. With competitive athletes and ecstatic fans in attendance, the environment will be suitable for a fast race.” He will be joined by Reebok teammate and 2018 NCAA 10,000m champion Ben Flanagan.

Canadians have a long history at the event. In 2013, Cam Levins set the 2-mile Canadian record at the meet and just last year, Sage Watson broke the Canadian 300m record there.