NEW YORK – A galaxy of Jamaican international track stars including world-champion sprinters Veronica Campbell-Brown, Usain Bolt, Omar Brown, Jozef Robertson, Maurice Wignall, Dorian Scott, Sheri-Ann Brooke, Danny McFarlane, Kerene Hinds, Michael Blackwood, Jermaine Gonzalez and Nadine Palmer will be among the headliners at the Reebok Grand Prix 08 at Icahn Stadium, NY, Rich Kenah, Director of Marketing of Global Athletics announced at a media reception at the Jamaica Consulate in Manhattan recently.
Campbell-Brown returns to New York as defending champion after defeating Torrie Edwards, Allyson Felix and Lauryn Williams last year with an impressive 10.93 sec. She ran four of the five fastest times in the world for 100 meters last year and has bragging rights as the current 100-meter World Champion after winning gold in Osaka last summer. Campbell-Briown’s rematch with Williams at 100 meters in New York will be closely watched as a preview of the Olympic final later this summer.
“I am looking forward to another good performance at the Reebok Grand Prix this year” Campbell-Brown told reporters by phone at the media reception.
“The Jamaican support in New York is always impressive so I always feel at home” she said.
Another race that will be closely watched will see Usain Bolt going head to head against Wallace Spearmon in the 100 meters dash. At last year’s Reebok Grand Prix, Spearmon out sprinted Bolt to win the 200 meters in 19.82 seconds. With more at stake this Olympics year, Bolt will be hoping to avenge his defeat with an impressive run in what could be his last major meet before the Olympics.
Kenah also announced that top high school teams from Jamaica along with eight New York area teams will compete this year in what could prove to be the clash of the meet as Calabar, St. Jago and Hubert Morrison compete for bragging rights. At the recently concluded Penn Relays, St. Jago, running without track phonon Yohan Blake, still copped the 4X400 meters relay, stopping the clock at 3 minutes 15.66 secs while Calabar walked away with the 4X100 boys (40.74 secs) after St. Jago failed to finish due to injury.
Consul General Geneive Brown Metzger (4th left), presented a bouquet of flowers to Claude Bryan (4th right), manager for spring queen Veronica Campbell-Brown who was unavoidably absent, is joined by; l-r; Louis Grant-Irie Jam Media; Anthony Turne-Images PR; Robert ‘Bobby’ Clarke-Irie Jam Media; Rich Kenah-Global Athlketics Marketing; Patrick Joyce-Reebok Sports and Dalton Evans-Coach at Pratt Institute, NY. Sharon Bennett photos
Louie Grant, VP of Irie Jam Media announced that for the first time at the meet, the post event reggae concert will be held inside the main stadium complex. This he said was a major achievement since it allows the Jamaican culture to be center stage for all to see. He indicated that his team is currently negotiating with top international reggae acts to anchor the performances.
Among the executive who attend the event were Hon. Geneive Brown-Metzger, Jamaica’s Consul General To New York; Patrick Joyce, Sports Marketing Manager of Reebok; Bobby Clarke, CEO, Irie Jam Media; Irwine G. Clare, CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle; Claude Bryan, manager for Veronica Campbell-Brown and Dalton Evans, coach of Pratt Institute, NY.
The Reebok Grand Prix will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Fifteen hundred new bleacher seats will be added along the backstretch with clear views of the finish line. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC and online at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com.
