New York: The onset of Spring signifies many things, but in NYC it means the start of the athletic season and in particular the NY leg of the IAAF Diamond League - the adidas Grand Prix - which takes place on June 14, 2014 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.
adidas is responsible for this premier New York sporting event. Patrons who have attended Icahn Stadium in the past and witnessed the sport/entertainment combo are eagerly awaiting the 2014 presentation.
The press conference on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the World Resorts Casino in Queens, featured 100m World Champion Yohan “The Beast” Blake who chatted with press and track & field aficionados before being whisked off to the airport to travel to Manchester in the UK for his next track event. Yohan is one of four gold medalists slated to appear at the June event, along with Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who participated via skype.
Blake, the 2011 IAAF 100m and 4x100m relay champion and 2012 Olympic Silver medalist in the 100 and 200 meters, returns to competitive racing after sitting out the majority of 2013 due to injury. Fraser is favored to win her 100m race, but as every athlete will tell you, being injury free and at peak performance are key components to a successful campaign.
When asked about competition from her main rival, Nigeria’s Blessed Ogkabare who beat her in London in 2013, Fraser retorted that she prefers not to concentrate on any one challenger, focusing instead on her own performance and what she has to do to win.
In addition to those two Jamaican powerhouses, the meet takes on a high caliber international flavor with the addition of Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko the current high jump champion, Australia’s Sally Pearson, reigning 100m hurdles Olympic champion and Jenn Suhr the US pole vault champion.
A presentation made by Irie Jam co-founder Bobby Clarke unveiled plans for an event happening on Memorial Day, Monday May, 26 at Roy Wilkins Park – Oracabessa Festival, when the “Moving Forward” campaign will roll out its ‘discount saving card,’ designed to ensure the patronage and support of local businesses in local communities, still reeling from the economic downturn and concomitant job losses.
Two hand-made domino tables were generously offered as gate prizes and this writer was the happy recipient of one of them! Thank you and shout-out to Irwine Clare who made the birthday presentation! Dean was another happy winner.
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