by Larry Eder
The 2023 USATF NYC Grand Prix will be held on June 24, 2023, at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island.
Randalls Island has been the site of many of the finest meets held on the Eastern coast of the U.S., Hosting the 1991 U.S. Champs, the Reebok Grand Prix, the adidas Grand Prix and the USATF NYC Grand Prix.
Last year’s NYC Grand Prix, promoted sparingly, had an SRO crowd and some quite entertaining performances.
Highlights included the big win by Devon Allen over Grant Holloway in the 110m hurdles, where Allen took control in the second half of the race, and ran 12.84, the number 3 time all-time.
The swift double by Sha’Carrie Richardson in the 100m and 200m, and Aleia Hobbs same double, had fans wondering what would happen later that summer.
The crowd at Icahn Stadium is always boisterous, with fans from all over the Five Boroughs.
Last year, I went through the stands and asked fans what they wanted to see in the future and how could they see a bigger crowd in NYC? The fans spoke and asked for Jamaican stars and the support of youngsters on the track.
Gold Label track & field meet, photo by Kevin Morris
May 26, 2023, Los Angeles, USA
Some of my greatest memories over the years?
In 2008, Usain Bolt broke the world record for the 100 meters after a thunderstorm delay, surprising Tyson Gay, the double winner from 2007 Osaka.
In 2014, one of the finest high jump duels anywhere in the world, as Bhodhan Bondarenko and Mutaz Essa Barshim both cleared 2.42m for the high jump, a height which had not been achieved by two high jumpers prior nor since!
The stadium is set in track and field crazy New York Metro, the world’s media capital. For years, running brands like Reebok, adidas, ASICS, and Nike have tried to bring the big-time track to the NY area with different levels of success.
The challenges of holding a track meet in New York are many.
First is the expenses. Have you ever considered just the logistics of flying Americans in from around the country for the meet, housing, and feeding them? Then, to be a Continental Tour meeting, the meet management has to bring in world-ranked athletes to provide a minimum level of competition in the events.
The Men’s 800 meters this year is one of the toughest fields, with Bryce Hoppel, World Indoor bronze medalist, new sensation Will Sumner, NCAA Champion, and Hobbs Kessler, who just ran a tough 1,500m PB at the LA Grand Prix.
One of the truly hot athletes in early 2023 is Noah Lyles, who ran a brilliant 100 meters in the Paris Diamond League on July 9, 2023.
In the Men’s 100 meters in Paris, Lyles was on fire from the start, which he executed to perfection. Each and every step of the 100 meters was purposeful, as Lyles ran down the fastest man of the year, Ferdinand Omanyala, to take a gutty win in Paris. Noah Lyles will be dueling with Mike Norman and his brother, Josephus Lyles, in the Big Apple.
On Friday night, Noah Lyles told the assembled media that his 200 meters in New York will be making a statement about his improvements in 2023.
On the women’s side, Aleia Hobbs, US champion at 60m and AR at 60m will take on Melissa Jefferson, 2022 US champion at the 100 meters. Who will prevail? That is a great question! In speaking with Aleia Hobbs on Friday night, Aleia showed the media the scar on her wrist from the surgery required to fix her wrist post-60-meter AR.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris
Sydney McLaughlin will be racing in only her second 400-meter flat of the 2023 season and after her 49.73 PB in Paris, one shutter to think how Sydney will approach this race. One also wonders if Sydney will race the flat or defend her numerous titles over the 400m hurdles in Budapest? Sydney was wonderfully gracious the night before her second 400 meters, talking to this writer about the 400 meters. I then met her husband, Andre, a minister, and enjoyed their interplay; they were just a wonderful couple. I hope you enjoy the 3 questions with Sydney:
Athing Mu will be debuting in 2023. The Olympic and World Champion at 800 meters, Athing, will be racing Ajee Wilson, among others in a tough field as she begins her run to defend her WC title in Budapest.
The field events in NYC will also have some remarkable fields in the javelin, shot put, discus, hammer, high jump, and women’s triple. Curiously, one of the most popular events in track & field does not have either a women’s pole vault or a men’s pole vault.
A fascinating women’s shot put, with Maggie Ewan and Chase Ealey, should be an early crowd-pleaser.
The Men’s 100m, with Christian Coleman, Zarnel Hughes, and Terrance Laird. This men’s 100 meters will be difficult.
The Men’s 110m hurdles, with Devon Allen and a recovering Trey Cunningham. Trey tore his hamstring and is back racing, hoping all is ready to go!
New York should have many surprises and many exciting battles in the NYC Grand Prix as our top athletes build to the US Champs, July 6-9 and the World Champs, August 19-27.
See you there!
For the results, go here: https://results.usatf.org/NYCGrandPrix23/
For event-by-event, USATF Preview: https://www.usatf.org/news/2023/usatf-nyc-grand-prix-event-by-event-preview
NYGP.globalathletics.com for tickets!
