Aries Merritt & Jenny Simpson Lead List of Stars at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Olympic & World Champions to compete on February 2nd

BOSTON (Nov 15) – 2012 Olympic Hurdles Champion Aries Merritt and 2011 World 1500m Champion Jenny Simpson will return to Boston for the 2013 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on February 2nd, organizers announced today. Tickets for the 18th annual Olympic-style event are on sale now at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.

Aries Merritt, who had one of the best hurdle campaigns in history this year when he won the IAAF World Indoor Championships, the US Olympic Trials and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, ended his historic season by shattering the existing 110m hurdle World Record in Brussels on September 9th. His time of 12.80 seconds shaved a mind-bending .07 off of the old world record held by the 2008 Olympic Champion, Dayron Robles of Cuba. “2012 was a dream season but I am as motivated as ever and already looking forward to the 2013 season,” said Merritt. “This race in Boston will be my first major competition in the USA since the Games and I want a win and a fast time.” Merritt had a total of eight sub 13-second wins, surpassing the previous best of seven in a season by Dayron Robles. Merritt showed glimpses of his outdoor brilliance last winter when he unexpectedly, but convincingly, won the IAAF World Indoor Championship over China's 2004 Olympic Champion, Liu Xiang.

American Jenny Simpson delivered one of the best performances ever for a US distance runner when, at the 2011 IAAF World Championships, she kicked past the entire field to become her country's first female World Champion at 1500m since Mary Slaney won the inaugural IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, more than 28 years ago. Simpson, a savvy racer, qualified for her second Olympic team in 2012, where she advanced to the semi-finals before being eliminated. She set six NCAA records during her collegiate career at the University of Colorado and is the American Record-Holder in the 3000m steeplechase. 

More than 100 Olympic and World Championship medalists have come to Boston to compete in the event, which has also played host to 6 World Records, 10 American Records and 19 other national records.

The 18th-annual meet begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. Tickets and meet information can be found on-line at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722. Special early-bird discounts expire on January 1st.

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