Jamaican athlete to defend championship

Jamaican athlete to defend championship
Ross Dettman

Next month, Jamaican-American athlete Aisha Praught-Leer will return to the 112th NYRR Millrose Games in Manhattan, to defend her 2018 championship of the Women’s 3,000-meter race.

The games will take place at The Armory indoor race track in Washington Heights on Feb. 9, where she will compete again with training partner and second place winner, Emma Coburn.

Last year, Praught-Leer finished first in the very close and highly competitive race.

Along with Coburn, the 29-year-old athlete will be fighting to defend her title against runners, Dominique Scott, Weini Kelati, Elinor Purrier, Stephanie Garcia, and Lauren Paquette.

The Illinois-born athlete has represented Jamaica in track and field since discovering her heritage and reuniting with her biological father, who is a Jamaican musician based in Europe. She is the only Caribbean runner slated to compete in the game.

“2019 NYRR Millrose Games” at The Armory [216 Fort Washington Ave. between W. 168th and W. 169th streets in Washington Heights, (212) 923-1803, www.armorytrack.com]. Feb. 9, 11:30 am–6 pm. $20-700.

Reach reporter Alexandra Simon at (718) 260–8310 or e-mail her at asimon@cnglocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @AS1mon.