Gebremeskel, Levins, Heath join loaded 3K field

Press Release

BOSTON, Mass. (Jan. 30, 2014)—An Olympic silver medalist, the new 5000-meter Canadian indoor record-holder, and a break-out American star are among the athletes just added to the deep and intriguing 3000-meter field for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, organizers announced today.

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, an Olympic-style all-star event, will take place on Feb. 8 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. Tickets are on sale at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.

Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist and 2011 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist at 5000 meters, is well-known in the Reggie: he will be racing here for the fifth-consecutive year, a string that includes his famous victory over Mo Farah at 3000m in 2011 in which he raced almost the entire way in just one shoe.

In addition to the previously announced Hagos Gebrhiwet, who set a World Junior Record in winning here last year, Gebremeskel will face:

Cam Levins, a 2012 Olympian, two-time NCAA Champion, and the Canadian indoor national record-holder at both 2 Miles and 5000 meters, the latter mark set at Boston University on Jan. 16;

Garrett Heath, the 28-year-old American who upset both Kenenisa Bekele and Asbel Kiprop to win the BUPA Great Edinburgh Cross Country 4K earlier this month;

Donn Cabral, a 2012 Olympic finalist and two-time NCAA Champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase;

Sam Chelanga of Kenya, the four-time NCAA Champion and NCAA Record-holder at 10,000 meters who ran a personal best 13:04.35 for 5000 meters at Boston University on Jan. 16;

Andrew Bumbalough, the reigning U.S. 5K Champion on the roads; and

Ryan Hill, a 2013 World Championships finalist for the U.S. at 5000 meters at just the age of 23.

Making their New Balance Indoor Grand Prix debuts will be the “First Couple” of multi-events, Ashton Eaton and Brianne Thiesen Eaton. Eaton, who will run the 60-meter dash, is the Olympic Champion and World Record-holder in the decathlon; his wife, who will compete in the long jump and pace the 1000 meters, is the reigning World Championships silver medalist in the heptathlon.

In the 2-Mile, Sally Kipyego, the nine-time NCAA Champion who won a silver medal at both the 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships at 10,000 meters, will face Jordan Hasay, runner-up at last year’s US Championships at 10,000 meters.

In addition, two-time U.S. Olympian Lopez Lomong will compete in the mile; Ajee’ Wilson, the 2012 World Junior Champion and 2013 World Championships finalist at 800 meters, will run the 1000 meters; and Kim Conley will contest the 2000 meters. Conley, a 5000-meter Olympian in 2012, ran a scorching 4:24.54 mile last weekend at the New Balance Games, the second-fastest time in the world since 2010.

Now in its 19th year, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has played host to six World Records and 10 American Records. The first stop in the 2014 Indoor USATF Championship Series, the meet on Saturday, Feb. 8, will begin at 3 p.m.

About New Balance: 

New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host.  New Balance is currently the only major shoe company that manufactures athletic footwear in the U.S. with 25% of our sales in the U.S. produced at five New England facilities. The company also operates a manufacturing facility in Flimby, U.K.  New Balance employs more than 4,000 associates around the globe, and in 2012 reported worldwide sales of $2.39 billion. To learn more about how New Balance Makes Excellent Happen, please visit http://www.newbalance.com. 

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Related News (IAAF.org)

Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel, the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s 5000m silver medallist, has been added to the outstanding men’s 3000m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on 8 February, organisers for the IAAF Indoor Permit Meeting announced on Thursday (30). Read more