by Larry EderA fantastic sprint field for the men in the 60 meters at the New Balance Indoor GP. And that is just the beginning of the great fields!
Asafa Powell, photo by PhotoRun.net
Asafa Powell against top US sprinters at NB Indoor GP! from EME News
BOSTON (USA): The 20th New Balance Indoor Games will take place at the Reggie Lewis Centre on February 7. There is a mouth-watering line-up in the men’s 60m, with this seasons breakout stars Akeem Haynes and Joe Morris, going up against more established names like Mike Rodgers and Ryan Bailey, while Jamaica’s Asafa Powell will make his highly anticipated 2015 debut. There will be another great clash in the men’s 1000m, with new US indoor 600m record holder Cas Loxsom facing off against World medallist Matthew Centrowitz and on form miler Pat Casey. 18 year old Mary Cain will defend her title in the women’s 1000m, a race she won last year in a world junior record. Up against her will be Morgan Uceny and Trenier Moser. Olympic pole vault champion Jenn Suhr will look to record her 5th consecutive victory at the meet (and 8th overall), her chief rival will be Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi. In the 3000m, Dejen Gebremeskel, the runner-up last year, will look to retain the title he won in 2011. Bernard Lagat will start what could be a masters record setting blitz, the mark to beat this time is 8:01.44, well within his reach. Expect Will Leer and Lawi Lalang to also make their presence known. Natasha Hastings won the 400m here last year, this time she races over 300m where she will face Jessica Beard. Chaunte Lowe is the star of the high jump, while the Cantwell-Whiting indoor rivalry will continue in the men’s shot. New Zealand’s Nick Willis will defend his mile title with opposition coming from Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider. World Junior 1500m champ Dawit Seyaum is the favourite for the 2000m, where she will take on steeplechaser Emma Coburn and Olympic medallist Sally Kipyego. Meseret Defar is no longer in the line-up. Tianna Bartoletta, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Flings Owuwu-Agyapong and Muna Lee will battle in the women’s 60m. The meet’s finale will be the women’s 2 mile featuring New Balance star Jenny Simpson, the runner-up last year. Tough competition will come from Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba and Sentayehu Ejigu.
(Editor’s note: Asafa Powell has run sub ten seconds for the 100 meters more than any other sprinter on the planet. How will his long frame do in the indoor environs? Powell versus MIke Rodgers, versus Ryan Bailey, versus Marvis Bracy, plus Akeem Haynes and Joe Morris! This could be the best field assembled for the 60 meters in a decade in Boston! Our observers note that Marvin Bracey is very fit!)
