9 more Olympic, World Champs join adidas Grand Prix


Richards-Ross headlines sensational W400m; Gebrhiwet to run M5000

Press Release
May 16, 2013

NEW YORK CITY—With nine days until the adidas Grand Prix takes over Icahn Stadium for a day already brimming with some of the top track-and-field talent in the world, nine Olympic gold medalists or World Champions have been added to the lineup.

Making her season debut will be Sanya Richards-Ross, who in 2012 capped the best season of her career with an Olympic gold medal at 400 meters, and then followed it up with her third Olympic gold in the 4×400-meter relay.

The American Record-holder at 400 meters, who in 2012 was ranked #1 in the world for the sixth time in her career, will face Amantle Montsho of Botswana and Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, giving the women’s 400-meter field not only the last two Olympic gold medalists—Ohuruogu won in 2008—but also the last three IAAF World Champions. Ohuruogu won the world title in 2007, Richards-Ross in 2009, and Montsho in 2011.

Sanya Richards Ross Olympic Champion Sanya Richards Ross Olympic Champion

Ohuruogu also won the silver medal in London, where Montsho finished fourth.

The adidas Grand Prix will kick off the summer on May 25 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Tickets for the event are on sale at www.adidasgrandprix.com or 1-877-849-8722.

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But the 400-meter women aren’t the only champions joining the roster. Also offering fans some of the best track-and-field action in the world will be:

Christian Taylor, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2011 World Champion, and Phillips Idowu of Great Britain, the 2009 World Champion, in the triple jump;

Reese Hoffa, the 2007 World Champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in the shot put, who will meet up with previously announced Ryan Whiting, who has the longest throw in the world this year;

Nancy Langat of Kenya, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, who will face 2013 world-leading Abeba Aregawi of Sweden at 1500 meters;

Tianna Madison Bartoletta, the 2005 World Champion in the long jump and 2012 Olympic gold medalist and World Record-holder in the 4×100-meter relay, who will compete here at 100 meters; and face, among others, 2011 World Championships bronze medalist Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad & Tobago.

Hagos Gebrhiwet, the 2013 World Junior Cross Country Champion and 5000-meter World Junior Record-holder who dominated a top field in winning at 3000 meters at the Diamond League season opener in Doha. The young Ethiopian sensation turned 19 on May 11.

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