David Rudisha to make U.S. debut

David Rudisha to make U.S. debut

World record-holder David Rudisha, the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year in both 2010 and 2011, will make history at the Adidas Grand Prix on June 9 when he competes in the United States for the first time, organizers announced Wednesday.

No 800-meter world record-holder has run in this country 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.”

In its eighth year as one of the premier track-and-field events in the world, the Adidas Grand Prix, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will feature dozens of Olympic medalists and World Champions, including the two reigning World Champions at 100 meters, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and American Carmelita Jeter; 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; and three-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner. It will again be the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League circuit, and is part of the Visa Championship Series.

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 Aug. 22 in Berlin. Just a week later, on Aug. 29, 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.”

The adidas Grand Prix will begin at 1 p.m. at Icahn Stadium on June 9. All of the latest news, photos and additional information on the event can be found at adidasgrandprix.com, and on the event’s pages on Facebook at facebook.com/adidasGrandPrix and on Twitter at twitter.com/adidasGrandPrix. When tweeting, use #agpny.

Courtesy of Images Newsletter

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