by Larry Eder
BOSTON, Mass. (Jan. 29, 2015)–Ten more Olympic or World Championships medalists have been added to the top-notch lineup for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 7, organizers have announced, including Asafa Powell, the former World Record-holder at 100 meters.
Powell, who owns gold medals as part of the famed Jamaican 4×100-meter relay squads at the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 IAAF World Championships, held the 100-meter World Record of 9.77 and 9.74, respectively, between June 2005 and May 2008. He is also a two-time World Championships bronze medalist, in 2007 and 2009.
In the history of the event, which is celebrating its 20th running, almost 60 Olympic gold medalists have traveled from around the world to compete in Boston.
The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will kick off an indoor season in which Boston will be the epicenter of track and field in the United States, with the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College also set to host the USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships, from Feb. 27-March 1. Tickets for both events–including money-saving packages for the two meets–are now on sale atwww.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.
Joining Powell and a roster of stars that already includes Olympic Champion Jenn Suhr, two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, 18-year-old phenom Mary Cain, and 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson, ranked #1 in the world at 1500 meters, are:
Christian Cantwell (USA), a four-time IAAF World Champion and 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the shot put;
Ryan Whiting (USA), a two-time World Indoor Champion in the shot put;
Nick Willis (NZL), the 2008 Olympic silver medalist at 1500 meters;
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR), the 2012 World Indoor Champion at 1500 meters;
Chaunte Lowe (USA), the 2012 World Indoor Champion in the high jump;
Tianna Bartoletta (USA), a two-time World Champion in the long jump and 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100m relay;
Sally Kipyego (KEN), a 10,000-meter silver medalist at both the 2012 Olympics and the 2011 World Championships;
Ryan Bailey (USA), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 4×100-meter relay; and
Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH), the 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 5000 meters. Boston fans will remember Gebremeskel beating Mo Farah of Great Britain here in 2011 in just one shoe, after losing the other early in the race.
The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, which has played host to seven World Records and 11 American Records in its first 19 years, is the second stop in the 2015 Indoor USATF Championship Series. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.
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 is currently the only major shoe company that manufactures athletic footwear in the U.S.; in 2013, 1 out of every 4 pairs of shoes we sold in the U.S. was made or assembled here. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 4,000 associates around the globe, and in 2013 reported worldwide sales of $2.73 billion. To learn more about how New Balance Makes Excellent Happen, please visit www.newbalance.com.
