News18 Apr 2012


Rudisha to make U.S. debut in New York - Samsung Diamond League

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David Rudisha celebrates winning gold in the men's 800m (© Getty Images)

World 800m record holder David Rudisha, the World Athlete of the Year in 2010, will make history at the adidas Grand Prix on 9 June when he competes in the United States for the first time, organisers announced Wednesday.


No 800m World record holder has run in the U.S. since Sebastian Coe won two medals at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Coe held the record from 1979 to 1997.


“We are ecstatic to have an athlete with the star power of David Rudisha coming to New York,” said meet director Mark Wetmore. “Since we began in 2005 we’ve had almost all of the world’s best athletes here, and now our fans will get yet another chance of a lifetime.”


The adidas Grand Prix is the sixth stop of the 14-meeting 2012 Samsung Diamond League series, which gets underway on 11 May in Doha, Qatar.


The 23-year-old Rudisha, also the reigning World champion, has been almost unbeatable the last three years, with his only loss since 2009 coming late last season in Milan. In 2010, he broke Wilson Kipketer’s 13-year-old World record when he ran 1:41.09 on 22 August in Berlin. Just a week later, on 29 August, he lowered that mark to 1:41.01. In 2011, the young Kenyan recorded the three fastest times for the year, including a world-leading 1:41.33, and he owns four of the six fastest times in history.


“I’ve run in many great cities and countries, and to finally come to New York is exciting for me,” said Rudisha. “I’ve been sponsored by adidas all my career and am very happy to run at the adidas meet in New York.”


In its eighth year as one of the premier track and field events in the world, the meeting at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island will feature dozens of Olympic medallists and World champions, including the two reigning World champions at 100m, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and American Carmelita Jeter; 2008 Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; and three-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner.


Organisers for the IAAF


Samsung Diamond League - 2012 Calendar


Doha, QAT - 11 May

Shanghai, CHN - 19 May

Rome, ITA - 31 May

Eugene, USA - 2 June

Oslo, NOR - 7 June

New York, USA - 9 June

Paris, FRA - 6 July

London, GBR - 13 / 14 July

Monaco, MON - 20 July

Stockholm, SWE - 17 August

Lausanne, SUI - 23 August

Birmingham, GBR - 26 August

Zurich, SUI - 30 August

Brussels, BEL - 7 September


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