NEW YORK – The weather was hot but not as hot as the sizzling competition at last year’s Reebok Grand Prix, where a capacity crowd packed Icahn Stadium to witness an American Record, three All-Comer’s Records and one of the fastest 100-meter dashes in history. If you’re ready for more of the same this year, the fourth-annual Reebok Grand Prix is set for 5 p.m. on May 31.
In its first year as an IAAF Grand Prix event, the Reebok Grand Prix earned its new designation as one of the top two outdoor meets in the US with ease, showcasing its international flavor in the stands and on the track with outstanding – even historic – performances by Jamaican sprint queen Veronica Campbell and the hottest sprinter on the planet, Tyson Gay; American pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, Chinese hurdling sensation Liu Xiang and Ethiopian distance star Tariku Bekele.
In the women’s 100m, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic Jamaican fans, waving flags and clapping “thunder sticks” for their national heroine. The 2004 Olympic triple medalist gave them what they came for, turning in a meet record 10.93 victory over a top 100-meter field. Her victory foretold great things: Campbell is now the 100-meter World Champion, thanks to a photo-finish victory in Osaka. Although she clocked a lackluster 22.93 seconds for second place behind American Bianca Knight’s 22.62 in the 200 meters at the Jamaica Invitation recently, she quickly rebounded at the Central Florida Twilight meet in Orlando with impressive victories in 100 and 200 meters. Her highly anticipated rematch with Lauryn Williams at 100 meters at the Reebok Games 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 in Manhattan a few weeks ago.
“The Jamaican support in New York is always impressive so I always feel at home” she said.
Gay’s jaw-dropping victory in 9.76 seconds, achieved in a puff of tailwind (2.2) only slightly over the allowable 2.0, was at the second-fastest performance in history under any conditions, and was one-hundredth of a second faster than the World Record at the time, held by Asafa Powell of Jamaica.
“I could feel (the wind) picking up when I was in the blocks, and I thought, calm down, calm down. It did, but not enough,” he said afterward.
The crowd gasped first at the time on the scoreboard, and then at the wind reading. It was the second-consecutive meet in which Gay had a historic mark blown away by the wind. Afterward, Gay said he was optimistic about the remainder of his season; as it turned out, fans at Icahn Stadium got a sneak preview of things to come. At the World Championships last August, Gay won World Championship gold medals at 100 meters, 200 meters and in the 4×100-meter relay.
The big showdown between Gay and Usain “Lighting” Bolt in the 100 meters dash could be the race of the year. An extremely confident Bolt, who stopped the clock at a lighting fast 9.76 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational, was quoted in the Telegraph as saying, “Definitely I always look forward to running against Tyson Gay because he is one of the better athletes…I am really looking forward to competing with him.”
Although nothing is guaranteed, both Gay and Bolt could challenge the world record if conditions are right on the big day.
Tying Allen Johnson for the fastest 110-meter hurdles ever run in the US was World Record-holder Liu Xiang of China, whose winning time of 12.92 seconds turned out to be the fastest in the world last year. Liu, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, was followed by two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, who notched a personal best 12.95 despite a cramping left adductor muscle that left him sitting on a bag of ice afterward.
“I did not expect to do so well,” said Liu, a rock-star celebrity in China as the Olympic Games in Beijing grow closer. “I just knew that I had to beat Trammell. I did not expect both of us to be under 13 seconds.”
Altogether, 10 elite meet records were set and another was tied. Entering the record books in addition to Stuczynski, Liu , Bekele, Webb and Campbell were Hazel Clark (800m, 1:59.07); Rachelle Smith (200m, 22.31); Wallace Spearmon (200m, 19.82); James Carter (400m hurdles, 48.37); Virginia Powell (100m hurdles, 12:45); Allyson Felix (400m, 50.53).
All in all, it was a night to remember in New York, an international celebration of excellence and excitement that had fans talking about next year, even as they filed out of the stadium to the beat of a live reggae concert. Next year is now THIS year, so get your tickets now for the best seats.
Sponsors for the Reebok Grand Prix include Western Union, Digicel and Irie Jam Media. Tickets are on sale now by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC or on-line at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com tix and at locations in the Bronx – Moodies Records, Barry’s Jerk Delight, Golden Krust on Gun Hill Rd; In Queens – VP Records, Genesis One Restaurant & Ja Flavors; In Brooklyn at VP Records and Super Power Records.
