Six World and Olympic Medalists Added to “Super” Fields

BOSTON (Jan 26) – Reigning double Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba headlines a group of seven Olympic and World Championship medalists in the middle and long distance events who have confirmed their participation in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, organizers announced today.  Other medalists announced today include Olympic and World Champion Meseret Defar and World Championship medalists Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, Silas Kiplagat, Haron Keitany and Shannon Rowbury.  Tickets for the 17th annual Olympic-style event are on sale now at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.
 
Dibaba, from Ethiopia, is no stranger to the Reggie Lewis Center oval and is one of the most decorated female athletes in the history of the sport.  In addition to two Olympic gold medals, Dibaba has a total of eight senior IAAF World Championship titles on the track and in cross country.  Having won her first title at the age of 17 with what seems, at times, to be unmatched closing speed, Dibaba earned the nickname of “Baby Faced Destroyer.”  Dibaba set the World Indoor 5000m Record in Boston in 2005 and again in 2007. She will run the 2 mile in Boston.
 
Meseret Defar has set nine world records indoors, outdoors and on the roads.  She won Olympic Gold in 2004 and brought home a bronze medal from Korea when she finished 3rd in the 5000m at the 2011 World Championships.  “Boston, I am coming,” said Defar.  “This is the one event in the world where I know that all fans want to see good distance action every year.”  Defar will race in the 3000m against American Shannon Rowbury, the 2009 IAAF World Championship bronze medalist at 1500m, and the previously announced Jenny Simpson – the reigning IAAF World Champion at 1500m.  
 
Silas Kiplagat, from Kenya, was the 2011 IAAF World Championship Silver Medalist at 1500m and the fastest man in the world in this event in 2010. Kiplagat will be contesting the 3000m against the previously announcedDejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia and Matthew Centrowitz of the USA, both of whom won bronze medals at last year’s IAAF World Championships at 5000m and 1500m, respectively. 
 
In the Men’s Mile, Kenya’s Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, a two-time World Indoor Championship medalist, and his compatriot Haron Keitany, the 2010 IAAF World Championship bronze medalist at 1500m, will race the against the previously announced IAAF World Champion Mo Farah from Great Britain and American Galen Rupp.
 
Other previously announced athletes include Christian Cantwell, Matthew Centrowitz, Bershawn Jackson, Kirani James, David Oliver and Jenn Suhr.

The 17th-annual meet, the second stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series, begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College.  Tickets and meet Information can be found on-line at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722. 
 
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