Whitman Miler to Run at MSG

Zach Cammer and track will be in the national spotlight this weekend.

Cammer, a junior runner, has been selected to compete in the high school mile at USA Track & Field’s U.S. Open at Madison Square Garden. The event begins at 7 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPN2 beginning Sunday at 7 p.m.

“They’ve asked some of the best milers in the Northeast to come race and Zach of one of the selections,” Whitman Coach Rob Conroy said. “We’re pretty proud of him.” 

The gifted runner reached the state meet as a sophomore in both cross country and indoor track. He helped Whitman boys cross country title in the fall.

Now he’s drawing attention on the track. Cammer owns the seventh-fastest time in the state so far this indoor season, second among Long Islanders, according to Dyestat.com. His 4-minute, 21.40-second mile is elite, but ranks far behind top New York runner Zavon Watkins (Liverpool), whose 4:14.52 is third in the nation. 

Cammer is one of 10 runners in the high school mile. Chaminade’s Thomas Awad (4:15.67) will also compete at the U.S. Open.

It’s a venue like no other. Cammer said he’s looking forward to stepping onto the historic track where so many Millrose Games had cemented a reputation for MSG as a runner’s mecca. 

“Just the experience of being on that track,” Cammer said, bubbling with excitement. “[Wednesday] night I watched a video of the 104th Millrose Games.” 

Millrose and its signature Wanamaker Mile moved from MSG after nearly a century to the Armory Track and Field Center this year. The newly-created Open fills the void for MSG track purists.

Cammer enjoys longer distances, especially the cross country pace. He was third in the Suffolk race. But the 1,600 meters is his focus this indoor season. 

It’s taken him to the national stage. He won’t run from the attention.