The 115th Millrose Games recently announced their Women’s 3000-meter field, setting up an enticing duel between two world finalists: Alicia Monson and Konstanze Klosterhalfen.
The two have raced each other four times over 3000m, each beating the other twice. Monson most recently beat Klosterhalfen twice at a Diamond League meeting in August.
Monson set the Millrose Games 3000m record last year with a blazing 8:31, but Klosterhalfen ran a personal best of 8:20 at the Prefontaine Classic in 2019.
No athletes in the field other than Monson and Klosterhalfen have cracked 8:40 in the 3000m, and the duo has raced a combined 9 times over the distance this year alone. Expect some finely-tuned strategy from both runners.
But don’t count out N.C. State’s Katelyn Tuohy, who is no stranger to the professional stage — the two-time NCAA champion finished 13th in the USATF 5000m race in July. Tuohy is technically still a collegian but just signed a NIL deal with Adidas, allowing her to profit off of her name, image and likeness.
Tuohy and Monson are both hot off of high-profile cross country wins, with Tuhoy taking the NCAA XC title and Monson winning the inaugural professional “Cross Champs” in Austin last month. The wins come as fans around the U.S. call for more cross country racing opportunities for pro athletes.
The rest of the field includes Ethiopian 5000m champion Fantaye Belaynah (Adidas) and former NCAA champions Elly Henes (Adidas), Courtney Wayment and Whittni Orton Morgan. Wayment (On Running) and Morgan (Adidas) are former BYU teammates and now run for the Taylor Made Elite racing group.
Klosterhalfen, Monson and company will toe the line on Feb 11 for the historic Millrose Games at The Armory indoor track in New York City.
