by Larry Eder
US #1’s Confirmed for Boston
NCAA Cross Country Champions to Race at the Reggie
BOSTON (Jan. 31) – Bershawn “Batman” Jackson, world #1 at 400m
hurdles in 2010, won’t have any hurdles to clear at the New Balance
Indoor Grand Prix but he will be flying around the oval at the Reggie
Lewis Center again in 2011. Leo Manzano has also been added to the Men’s Mile field. Sheila Reid and Sam Chelanga,
both 2010 NCAA Cross Country Champions, will race in the Women’s Mile
and Men’s 3000m, respectively. Tickets for the 16th annual
Olympic-styled event are on sale now at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.
Jackson, the 2005 World Champion and 2008 Olympic Medalist,
dominated the 400m hurdles last year, winning nine of his twelve finals,
earning victories at the US Outdoor Championships and six Samsung
Diamond League meets. Jackson not only posted the fastest time in the
world last year, 47.32, but also recorded five of the top ten times run
last year, and ended the season as the undisputed number one
intermediate hurdler in the world. He won the 400m at this event in
2010, and will compete in the 600m this year.
Manzano, a 3-time NCAA Champion at the University of Texas,
finished 2010 as the fastest outdoor miler in the US with his mark of
3:50.64. He won his first USA Indoor Championship title in 2010 at 1500m
and was ranked #1 in the US by Track & Field News for the
year. Manzano will face previously announced Olympic Silver Medalist
Nick Willis and high school phenom Lukas Verzbicas. Alan Webb has
scratched from the field.
Reid, who led Villanova to an NCAA Championship team title in
Terre Haute, IN last November with her individual first place finish,
could scare Villanova’s school’s record in the mile, 4:28.31, held by
Vicki Huber. She will face, among others, fellow Canadian and Villanova
alum, Carmen Hussar and previously announced World Indoor Champion
Kalkidan Gezahegne from Ethiopia. Three-time NCAA Champion Sam Chelanga will compete in the 3000m against previously announced double European Champion Mo Farah and Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel.
The 16th-annual meet, the second stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa
Championship Series, begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 5 at the Reggie Lewis
Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. Tickets and
meet Information can be found on-line at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following
mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands
that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and
communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4000
people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of $1.65
billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
