Meseret Defar Headlines a List of Champions Added to adidas Grand Prix
NEW YORK (June 8, 2010) — The preliminary start lists for the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 12, have been released on the event’s Web site at www.adidasgrandprix.com with a few notable additions and withdrawals.
Ethiopian distance great Meseret Defar will join a deep field in the women’s 1500-meter race that will also now include newly announced American Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan; World champion Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya in the men’s 3000m steeplechase; American World champion Kerron Clement in the men’s 400m hurdles; and World champion and Olympic silver medalist Phillips Idowu of Great Britain in the men’s triple jump.
These athletes join stellar world-class international fields that include more than 75 Olympians—33 of them Olympic or World champions—hailing from 42 countries. The event, held at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will be the fifth stop on the inaugural 14-meet, international IAAF Diamond League circuit and the first of two meetings in the United States. Five Diamond League ambassadors have been announced for the New York meeting, including American sprinter Allyson Felix, Australian pole vault king Steven Hooker, javelin rivals Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway and Tero Pitkämäki of Finland making their U.S. debuts and New Zealander shot putter Valerie Vili.
Athletes who were officially announced for the event but have withdrawn include: previously announced withdrawal Usain Bolt of Jamaica in the men’s 100m; Danny McFarlane of Jamaica in the men’s 400m hurdles; Walter Davis of the United States in the men’s triple jump; Carmelita Jeter and Marshevet Myers, both of the United States, in the women’s 200m; Lisa Dobriskey of Great Britain and Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain in the women’s 1500m; Dawn Harper of the United States in the women’s 100m hurdles; and Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus in the women’s shot put.
Defar, 26, is one of the most accomplished Ethiopian runners in history, having amassed five World titles and Olympic gold throughout her career. In March, she won her fourth-straight 3000m World Indoor title to become the first four-time winner in the event. Defar set her first world record at this meet in 2006, that over 5000m, and is the current world record holder at 2 Miles outdoors, as well as at 3000m, 2 Miles and 5000m indoors.
Flanagan, 28, of Pittsboro, N.C., was the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist over 10,000m in American-record time, making her only the second American woman ever to win an Olympic medal at 10,000m. She currently holds four American records: outdoors in the 5000m and 10,000m and indoors in the 3000m and 5000m.
Yego, 23, the 2009 World Championships silver medalist over 800m, will go head-to-head with reigning World champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi in what promises to be a tight race. Yego was the 2007 World champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist at this distance.
Clement, 24, of Gainesville, Fla., is the reigning World champion in the 400m hurdles, having won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2009. He earned Olympic silver at the 2008 Games.
Phillips, 31, has emerged as one of the top triple jumpers in the world as a two-time World champion and the 2008 Olympic silver medalist.
The adidas Grand Prix, in its sixth year, is the nation’s premier outdoor track & field invitational meet. It features Olympic stars, the Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile for top high school athletes and the NYC Mayor’s Cup Fastest Kids competition for youth in the tristate area. Increased and upgraded backstretch seating at track level was added to accommodate the growing demand and interest from fans in the New York area.
IAAF Diamond League - adidas Grand Prix
