After placing in the 600m relay on Jan. 7 at the Armory Track & Field Center, Holy Trinity High School's Boys 4x800m and Girls 4x400m Relay Teams have qualified to compete in the 2004 Verizon Millrose Games, which will take place on Feb. 6 at Madison Square Garden.

Held annually since 1908, the Verizon Millrose Games are the nation's longest running invitational track meet, the garden's longest running sporting event and a highlight of USA Track & Field's annual "Golden Spike Tour."

"The Millrose Games is something we talk about all year long," said Holy Trinity Coach Jim Muller. "It's a great honor to participate in such a prestigious event."

The Verizon Millrose Games feature men's and women's sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, including the famed Wanamaker Mile, and the pole vault, high jump and men's shot put. The meet's most celebrated event, the Wanamaker Mile, is named for meet founder Rodman Wanamaker who gave the first trophy for the once popular 1.5-mile race in 1916. In 1926, the event became the Wanamaker Mile and the signature event of the Verizon Millrose Games.

This year's Verizon Millrose Games will feature several new events, including the first-ever "Fastest Kid in New York City" dashes for 8- and 9-year-olds; Public Schools Athletic League "Mayor's Cup" relays; special invitational college relays; and the return of the men's shot put event to the main arena for the first time since the 1980s. Other innovations include ramped-up in-arena music and entertainment. In addition, fans will be closer than ever to the stars as, for the first time, athletes will be taking their victory laps on the second and third floor concourses within the arena.

This year, Marion Jones and 23 other Olympians have signed up to compete. Recent game participants include 2000 Olympic gold medallists Maurice Green, Jon Drummond, Nick Hysong, Stacy Dragila and Chandra Sturrup. Other notable athletes who have participated include Jesse Owens, Mary Decker-Slaney, Renaldo Nehemiah, Carl Lewis and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., an owner/operator of live entertainment events with offices in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, CA, acquired ownership of the Verizon Millrose Games in September 2003. Verizon, a leader in telecommunication services around the world, has been the title sponsor of the event since 2001.

Holy Trinity is involved in the Verizon Millrose Games Ticket Fundraising Program which allows the school to sell tickets to the competition for just $10 each. In return, Holy Trinity keeps $5 from every ticket sold with all proceeds going straight to their Track & Field programs. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster for $15 each. For more information, visit www.verizonmillrosegames.com.