BOSTON (Jan. 21) – Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, who twice has broken the 5000-meter indoor World Record at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, will return this year to compete at 3000 meters, organizers announced today.
Still just 22 years old, Dibaba, a three-time World Cross Country Champion, has been one of the brightest track-and-field stars in the world for the past four years. In 2007, she defended her title as 10,000-meter World Champion with a dramatic come-from-behind victory while battling an injury. She is also the 2003 and 2005 World Champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist at 5000 meters.
Also added to the field are two athletes who will be competing before hometown crowds. Jennifer Toomey of Salem, Mass., is the 2004 double US Champion at 800 and 1500 meters indoors and the American Record-holder at 1000 meters, while Said Ahmed, a three-time SEC Champion while at the University of Arkansas, recorded some of the fastest 800-meter times in Massachusetts history while starring at Boston English High School.
Since the Reebok Boston Indoor Games began in 1996, more than 90 Olympic and World Championship medalists have competed in the event, which has also played host to five World Records and nine American Records. Sponsored by Reebok International Ltd., with its world headquarters in Canton, Mass., the event is owned and produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., an athlete-representation and events firm based in Boston.
The Reebok Boston Indoor Games, the second stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series, begins at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College, 1350 Tremont St. Information and tickets are available on-line at www.BostonIndoorGames.com or by phone at 1-877-TIX-TRAC.
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