News22 May 2008


More stars added to stellar New York cast - IAAF World Athletics Tour

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Jenn Stucyzynski rises to 4.90m American record in Carson (© Kirby Lee)

New York, USAFive of the top female athletes in the sport have been added to the field for the fourth annual Reebok Grand Prix – IAAF World Athletics Tour - on 31 May, organisers announced.

Sprinter Allyson Felix, a triple 2007 World champion; Sanya Richards, ranked #1 in the world at 400 metres by Track & Field News; Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain, the reigning 1500-metre World champion; Jenn Stuczynski, American Record-holder and #2 all-time in the Pole Vault; and Lisa Barber, 2006 World indoor champion at 60 metres, will all be in the lineup. They join the previously announced Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Lauryn Williams in what is shaping up to be an extraordinary night of sprint action.

Felix, the two-time World Champion ranked #1 in the world at 200 metres, will step down in distance here to face 100-meter World champions Campbell-Brown (2007) and Williams (2005). Barber, a native of Montclair, N.J., and two-time World Championships relay gold medallist, will also challenge. Richards, an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400-metre relay and three-time US champion, leads the 400-metre field, while Jamal, ranked #1 in the world and the reigning World champion, highlights the 1500 metres.

At the Reebok Grand Prix last year, Stuczynski became the first American woman to jump 16 feet, an American Record she broke last week at the adidas Track Classic when she thrilled the crowd with a vault of 16 feet, 0.75 inches (4.90m) for the win. The 2008 World Indoor Championships silver medallist also took three tries at the World Record last week.

The Reebok Grand Prix will begin at 5 p.m. on May 31, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. On the heels of a sell-out last year, 1500 bleacher seats have been added on the backstretch to accommodate the expected demand in this Olympic year.

Barbara Huebner for the IAAF

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