The 2025 Millrose Games in New York served up one of the most exciting nights in recent track and field memory.
American distance runners Grant Fisher and Yared Nuguse made history, each setting new world indoor records in the men’s 3000m and mile, respectively.
In front of a packed crowd at the Armory, both men delivered performances that not only smashed previous records but also showed just how strong the U.S. is becoming in middle and long-distance track events.
Grant Fisher Shatters 3000m Indoor World Record
The Millrose 3000m was hyped up as the race of the night, and boy, did it live up to the billing.
With two of the best U.S. distance runners—Grant Fisher, a two-time Olympic medalist, and Cole Hocker, the current Olympic 1500m champ—going head-to-head, it was always going to be an exciting affair.
But what we got wasn’t just exciting—it was downright historic.
From the get-go, Fisher and Hocker were locked in an epic battle.
The pacing was fast, but Fisher and Hocker were more than ready to hang with it. By the time the race hit the final 800 meters, Hocker made his move, taking the lead and leaving Fisher with one thing on his mind: You’re not getting away that easily.
With three laps to go, Hocker had the advantage, but Fisher was right on his tail, waiting for that moment to strike.
At the bell lap, Fisher, known for his cool head in pressure situations, turned on his infamous kick. He surged ahead, flying down the final stretch, and powered past Hocker, crossing the line in 7:22.91.
That’s a new world indoor record, my friends—and a nice $25,000 bonus for his efforts.
Hocker didn’t fade into obscurity, though; his time of 7:23.14 also surpassed the old record, marking just the second time in history that the world record was set in a race between two Americans. Talk about a showstopper.
Fisher was in disbelief after the race. He’d gone in thinking he might be able to challenge the American record—but a world record? That was beyond his wildest expectations.
“I’m kind of in shock,” Fisher admitted. “I didn’t think we’d go that fast. I thought we might be able to challenge the American record, and clearly Cole thought he was in pretty good shape too. I was happy he took the lead that far out. I tried to go past him on the back stretch of the last lap and he held me off, so I just gave it everything with 50 metres to go.”
“A lot of people would say he has the best kick in the world, so to beat him like that, I’m really happy with it,” added Fisher. “That really couldn’t have turned out any better.”
And let’s talk about the rest of the field. While we were all watching Fisher and Hocker duke it out, the rest of the pack was quietly racking up personal bests and national records. Jimmy Gressier of France ran a French national record of 7:30.18 in third, and Australia’s Ky Robinson set a national record of 7:30.38. It was one of the fastest 3000m fields ever, but in the end, it was Fisher’s night.
Yared Nuguse Breaks the Indoor Mile World Record
As if the men’s 3000m wasn’t enough, the night delivered another jaw-dropping moment when Yared Nuguse took on the Wanamaker Mile and broke the world indoor mile record.
With a loaded field that included Hobbs Kessler and a handful of international athletes, Nuguse was primed for a race that would change everything.
The pace was hot from the start, with pacemaker Abe Alvarado setting the field off at a blistering pace.
By the time they passed the 1,000m mark in 2:20.49, Nuguse had already broken his own North American indoor record.
But that wasn’t enough. With 1500m in the books at 3:31.75, Nuguse dug deep and set his sights on the world record. He wasn’t going to let it slip away this time.
With a little over 200 meters to go, Nuguse dropped the hammer, pulling away from the field and crossing the line in 3:46.63.
The world indoor mile record of 3:47.01, held by Yomif Kejelcha, was toast.
Not only did Nuguse grab the world record, but his training partner Hobbs Kessler wasn’t far behind, finishing second in 3:46.90, which also shattered the previous world record. That’s right: an American 1-2 finish, both breaking the world record.
“I was going to go to the front and grind no matter what anyone else did,” said Nuguse. “I have more confidence from the Olympics, more confidence in my training. I’m not afraid of the front any more. I knew that if I let up anywhere, they were going to pass me, so I was like ‘don’t let up, not even for a second’, and just hoped that I had more than they did at the end.”
So, what does all this mean? The U.S. men’s distance running scene is on fire right now. Fisher’s 3000m world record and Nuguse’s mile world record mark the beginning of what could be a golden era for American track and field.
