News - 17.05.2010

Eight Athletes Added to Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile

NEW YORK (May 17, 2010) — Eight high school national or state champions were added to the field for the inaugural Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile for boys and girls at the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 12, organizers announced Monday. The all-star list of the country’s top prep distance stars now includes a total of 18 national or state champions in either track or cross country. The races are named in honor of Ryun, the first high school runner to ever break four minutes in the mile.
 
The adidas Grand Prix, held at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will be the fifth stop on the inaugural 14-meet, international Diamond League circuit. World-class international fields with 19 global champions and six Diamond League ambassadors have been announced for the event. High school all-stars will share the experience of competing on the same stage as such athletes as sprinters Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix, American distance stars Bernard Lagat and Anna Pierce, and pole vaulter Steve Hooker, among many others.
 
The four additional boys confirmed for the event include:
-- Colby Alexander, a senior from Strongsville, Ohio, was the 2010 Ohio State Indoor champion at 1600 meters in addition to finishing third in the mile at the 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals.
-- Francis Hernandez, a senior from Nashua, N.H., owns two New Hampshire Class L State titles, winning the 800m in 2009 and the 3000m indoors in 2010.
-- Ammar Moussa, a junior from Arcadia, Calif., took second in the 2010 Reebok Boston Indoor Games Junior Mile with a time of four minutes, 14.13 seconds. He was also the 2009 California State D1 Cross Country champion (14:59).
-- Cole Watson, a senior from Rogue River, Ore., was the 2009 Oregon 3A State champion at 800m and a third-place finisher in the 2010 Arcadia Invitational 800m (1:52.71).

The four additional girls confirmed for the event include:
-- Marielle Hall, a senior from Haddonfield, N.J., won two titles at the 2010 National Scholastic Indoor Championships in the mile and at 5000m. She was also a third-place finisher in the 2010 New Jersey High School Cross Country Meet of Champions.
-- Shelby Hayes, a senior from Winter Park, Fla., dominated the Florida High School 4A Championships in 2010, winning at 1600m (4:58.12) and 3200m (10:54.67). She also captured the 2009 Florida High School 4A Cross Country title.
-- Joanna Stevens, a senior from Blacksburg, Va., was the 2009 Virginia State champion at 1600m and 3200m. Along with her twin sister Kathleen, she competed in the 2010 Reebok Boston Indoor Games Junior Mile, finishing second in 4:50.02.
-- Kathleen Stevens, a senior from Blacksburg, Va., was the 2009 Virginia State Indoor champion at 1000m and the 2009 Virginia State AA Cross Country champion, and finished second to twin sister, Joanna, in the 1600m at the 2009 Virginia State Outdoor Championships. She took fourth in the 2010 Reebok Boston Indoor Games Junior Mile (4:51.03).
 
More athletes will be added to the field prior to the event. Much more information on the race and the athletes confirmed for the event will be available on the event Web site at www.adidasgrandprix.com, and on the fan pages on Facebook and Twitter.
 
The adidas Grand Prix, in its sixth year, is the nation’s premier outdoor track & field invitational meet. It features Olympic stars, the Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile for top high school athletes and the Mayor’s Cup Fastest Kid competition for youth in the tristate area. Increased and upgraded backstretch seating at track level is being added to accommodate the growing demand and interest from fans in the New York area. Tickets and transportation information is available now at www.adidasgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.
 
About RISF
Icahn Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility on Randall’s Island featuring a 400-meter Mondo track and covered seating for spectators, is the premier outdoor track-and-field venue in New York City. It was built by the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation (RISF) in partnership with New York City Department of Parks. The facility is programmed, operated and maintained by RISF.
 
About adidas
adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world.  Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.