by Larry Eder
Tirunesh Dibaba, 2009 Rbk Boston, photo by PhotoRun.net
Tirunesh Dibaba, aka the “Baby faced destroyer” has a kick so hot that her shoes should be melting onto the track. Her first gold medal, in a World Championship, was in St. Denis in 2003, and Dibaba just uncorked this vicious last 300 meters and the party, was well, over! Dibaba has won gold at 5,000 meters in the World Championships in 2003, 2005, 10,000 meters in 2005, 2007 and 2009, and in the Olympics, a bronze at the 5,000m in 2004, and golds in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in Beijing in 2008. Dibaba is fit again, and her light, floating stride is fascinating to watch on the Reggie Lewis Center track, where she breaks the field, and then unleashes a kick from hell, decimating her competition. Tirunesh will be running two miles on Saturday, February 4.
Meseret Defar, 2011 AREVA Paris DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
Defar will run the 3,000 meters at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. She will face Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury over the three kilometer distance at the Reggie Lewis Center on February 4, 2012.
Watch for Dibaba and Defar to entertain, as they are the Coe and Ovett of Women’s middle distance running, and they will give the sports fans at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix something to remember for many years to come!
updated January 27, 2012
Middle and Long Distance Match-Ups Galore At New Balance
Six World and Olympic Medalists Added to “Super” Fields
BOSTON (Jan 26) – Reigning double Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba
headlines a group of seven Olympic and World Championship medalists in
the middle and long distance events who have confirmed their
participation in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, organizers announced
today. Other medalists announced today include Olympic and World
Champion Meseret Defar and World Championship medalists Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, Silas Kiplagat, and Shannon Rowbury. Tickets for the 17th annual Olympic-style event are on sale now at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.
Dibaba, from Ethiopia, is no stranger to the Reggie Lewis Center
oval and is one of the most decorated female athletes in the history of
the sport. In addition to two Olympic gold medals, Dibaba has a total
of eight senior IAAF World Championship titles on the track and in cross
country. Having won her first title at the age of 17 with what seems,
at times, to be unmatched closing speed, Dibaba earned the nickname of
“Baby Faced Destroyer.” Dibaba set the World Indoor 5000m Record in
Boston in 2005 and again in 2007. She will run the 2 mile in Boston.
Meseret Defar has set nine world records indoors, outdoors and on
the roads. She won Olympic Gold in 2004 and brought home a bronze
medal from Korea when she finished 3rd in the 5000m at the 2011 World
Championships. “Boston, I am coming,” said Defar. “This is the one
event in the world where I know that all fans want to see good distance
action every year.” Defar will race in the 3000m against American Shannon Rowbury, the 2009 IAAF World Championship bronze medalist at 1500m, and the previously announced Jenny Simpson – the reigning IAAF World Champion at 1500m.
Silas Kiplagat, from Kenya, was the 2011 IAAF World Championship
Silver Medalist at 1500m and the fastest man in the world in this event
in 2010. Kiplagat will be contesting the 3000m against the previously
announced Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia and Matthew Centrowitz of the USA, both of whom won bronze medals at last year’s IAAF World Championships at 5000m and 1500m, respectively.
In the Men’s Mile, Kenya’s Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, a two-time World Indoor Championship medalist will race
the against the previously announced IAAF World Champion Mo Farah from
Great Britain and American Galen Rupp.
Other previously announced athletes include Christian Cantwell, Matthew Centrowitz, Bershawn Jackson, Kirani James, David Oliver and Jenn Suhr.
The 17th-annual meet, the second stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa
Championship Series, begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 4 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 1-877-849-8722.
About New Balance
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brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create
and communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4000
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