NEW YORK – Jamaican sprint stars Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kenyan distance specialist Micah Kogo, along with America’s pole vault standout Jenn Stuczynski and top sprinter Allyson Felix, will compete at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix, organizers announced today.
The Reebok Grand Prix is the fourth stop of USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series and will be held at 3:00pm on May 30, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.
Jamaica’s Powell, 26, held the 100 meter world record from June 2005 to May 2008 and has consistently broken the 10 second barrier in competition while running under 9.80 more times than all other sprinters combined. The two-time Olympian won a gold medal and broke the world record in the 4x100m Relay as the anchor of the Jamaican team in Beijing.
Powell’s teammate, Shelly-Ann Fraser became the first Jamaican woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter dash when she bested her fellow country women at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Fraser’s winning time of 10.78 seconds was a personal best and 0.20 seconds faster than her Jamaican teammates.
Less than one month ago, Kogo, 22, broke the world record for 10 kilometers on his way to winning the 21st Parelloop 10k in Brunssum, Holland. The Kenyan distance star won bronze in the 10,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics.
The 27-year old Stuczynski broke her own American indoor record in the pole vault when she successfully cleared 15 feet, 10 inches at the 2009 U.S. Indoor Nationals giving her a seventh U.S. title. The 2008 Olympic silver medalist has been the number one ranked American pole vaulter since 2006.
American sprinter Felix is the current and two-time world champion at 200 meters. The 23-year old ran her season’s best time in Beijing, earning her second silver medal in the event. She also took home her first Olympic gold this past summer as part of the 4x400m relay team.
