Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar to run in Boston

Boston, USA (IAAF) – Reigning double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba headlines a group of six Olympic and World Championship medallists in the middle and long distance events who have confirmed their participation for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on 4 February 2012.

Other medallists announced today include Olympic and World champion Meseret Defar and World Championship medallists Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, Silas Kiplagat, Haron Keitany and Shannon Rowbury.

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 Miles 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 Daegu, 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 medallist at 1500m, and the previously announced Jenny Simpson, the reigning IAAF World champion at 1500m.