Posted: May 25, 2006

Athletics: Spearmon v. Bolt matchup added to Reebok Grand Prix

NEW YORK CITY (May 25) – Wallace Spearmon and Usain Bolt will face each other at 200 meters in the Reebok Grand Prix on June 3, organizers announced today, in a matchup featuring the two fastest men in the world so far this year and two of the most dynamic young sprinters in the sport.

Bolt, just 19 years old and the World Junior Record-holder from Jamaica, had the fastest time in the world (20.08) for 2006 until Spearmon, the 21-year-old 2005 World Championship silver medalist and American indoor record-holder, bettered it in winning the adidas Track Classic last Sunday in 20.06.

Also added to the Reebok Grand Prix lineup are Benjamin Limo of Kenya, the 2005 World Champion at 5000 meters, who will face Ethiopian distance stars Gebre Gebremariam and Abebe Dinkessa; and hot American shot putters Adam Nelson and Reese Hoffa. Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, won a long-sought World Championship gold medal last summer, while Hoffa had the three longest indoor throws in the world this year on the way to becoming the 2006 World Indoor Champion.

The Reebok Grand Prix, the only outdoor East Coast meet that offers head-to-head competition among world-class athletes, will showcase more than two dozen Olympic and World Championship medalists, including eight World Champions. The event, which was the first international competition held in the new Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island when it debuted last year, begins at 5:30 p.m. on June 3.

Tickets, at $30 and $20, are on sale at ReebokGrandPrix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC. Group discounts are available. Managed by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the Reebok Grand Prix will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. ET. It is the fourth stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series.

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