Track and Field Season Begins with the 2025 Millrose Games and a Major Absence in the 60m Event
The highly anticipated track and field season has officially begun, bringing both emerging athletes striving to make their mark and seasoned competitors looking to reaffirm their dominance. The 2025 Millrose Games, set to take place on Saturday, February 8, at The Armory in New York City, promised a thrilling lineup of events. However, all eyes were primarily focused on one particular showdown: the men’s 60m race. The event was expected to feature a highly anticipated clash between Marcell Jacobs, the 2021 Olympic 100m champion, and Trayvon Bromell, the 2016 world indoor champion. Adding to the excitement was Pjai Austin, who recently outperformed both Jacobs and Bromell at the New Balance Grand Prix. At that event, Austin secured third place in the 60m final, clocking in at 6.60 seconds.
Unexpected Turn of Events – Jacobs Withdraws
Just as anticipation for the race reached its peak, the excitement was dampened by unexpected news—Marcell Jacobs withdrew from the event due to illness. The announcement, coming just hours before the race, left fans disappointed and raised questions about Jacobs’ current form.
UPDATE: Marcell Jacobs, the Tokyo Olympic champion in the 100m, has also scratched from today’s Millrose Games 60m dash due to illness.
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) February 8, 2025
Jacobs’ recent performance had already sparked concerns among track and field experts. A day prior, during an episode of the Ready Set Go podcast on YouTube, former sprint stars Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green analyzed Jacobs’ showing at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on February 2. In that race, Jacobs struggled, finishing fourth in a five-man 60m final with a time of 6.63 seconds. Meanwhile, Noah Lyles secured victory with a time of 6.52 seconds, claiming his fourth consecutive New Balance Grand Prix title.
During the discussion, Rodney Green expressed concerns about Jacobs’ form, stating, “I know who didn’t look like themselves, and it was the former Olympic champion Jacobs. I’m very concerned with how he ran his race—no disrespect to him—but I was very concerned.” Green pointed out that Jacobs only qualified for the final because another competitor had withdrawn due to injury. Otherwise, he would not have advanced based on time alone.
Jacobs Acknowledges the Setback
Following his subpar performance in Boston, Jacobs himself admitted that he expected a better outcome. Despite training under a new coach, Rana Reider, at the Tumbleweed Track Club, he has yet to replicate the dominance he displayed during his historic Olympic run in Tokyo. In a post on his social media, Jacobs reflected on his performance, writing, “Starting over means getting back in the game, testing sensations, and understanding what to work on. Today, I expected something different, but every season has its own path—sometimes you start uphill, other times downhill.”
He also emphasized that his training had indicated faster times than what he delivered in competition. “The time I ran doesn’t reflect the times I was hitting in training, where I expected to be around 6.50. There are some details to fine-tune, but the path is set. 💪🏽 📌 Next stop: New York. Time to run for the times I know I’m capable of,” Jacobs stated optimistically before his scheduled appearance at the Millrose Games.
A Legacy to Defend
Marcell Jacobs made history as the first Italian sprinter to reach an Olympic 100m final, and he did not just compete—he won it all. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he set a national record of 9.94 seconds in the heats, followed by a European record of 9.84 in the semifinals. Then, in the final, he shocked the world with a blazing 9.80-second finish, securing gold ahead of Fred Kerley and Andre De Grasse.
Jacobs’ Olympic triumph was monumental, marking the first European victory in the 100m since Linford Christie’s win in 1992. However, his post-Olympic career has been filled with ups and downs. Shortly after his Tokyo success, Jacobs withdrew from scheduled Diamond League races, citing fatigue. This pattern of inconsistency has led to growing speculation about whether he can reclaim his place among the world’s top sprinters.
Heading into the Millrose Games, the stage was set for Jacobs to reassert his dominance and prove that his Olympic victory was not a one-time achievement. The highly anticipated matchup against Trayvon Bromell and other top competitors was meant to serve as a statement race. However, with his sudden withdrawal due to illness, the questions surrounding his form and competitiveness remain unanswered.
What’s Next for Jacobs?
Despite his recent struggles, Jacobs remains a formidable athlete with the potential to bounce back. His past achievements demonstrate that he has the capability to compete at the highest level, but his current inconsistency raises doubts about whether he can replicate his Olympic success. With the 2025 season just beginning, Jacobs still has time to refine his form and make adjustments before the major championships later in the year.
As fans and analysts debate whether Jacobs’ withdrawal was a strategic decision or a genuine health concern, one thing is certain—the track and field world will be watching closely to see if the Olympic champion can silence his critics and reclaim his status as one of the sport’s elite sprinters.