Reid to Face Top Pros at New Balance Boston Indoor

Sheila Reid will get a chance to compete against her fellow-Canadian (and fellow Villanovan) Carmen Douma-Hussar, a former world indoor silver medallist at 1500 meters, in Boston on Friday night in the New Balance Boston Indoor Elite Mile. Also in the race will be reigning World Indoor champion Kalkidane Gezahegne of Ethiopia. While Reid does not threaten to win the race, the fast pace could pull her to challenge the Villanova school record of 4:28.31 set by Vicki Huber in February 1988. Reid currently has the second fastest mile time in the NCAA this indoor season and an indoor PR of 4:37.70. Here is the press release from the folks at New Balance:

U.S. No. 1s Confirmed For New Balance Boston Indoor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


US #1’s Confirmed for Boston

NCAA Cross Country Champions to Race at the Reggie

BOSTON (Jan. 31) – Bershawn “Batman” Jackson, world #1 at 400m hurdles in 2010, won’t have any hurdles to clear at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix but he will be flying around the oval at the Reggie Lewis Center again in 2011. Leo Manzano has also been added to the Men’s Mile field. Sheila Reid and Sam Chelanga, both 2010 NCAA Cross Country Champions, will race in the Women’s Mile and Men’s 3000m, respectively. Tickets for the 16th annual Olympic-styled event are on sale now at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.

Jackson, the 2005 World Champion and 2008 Olympic Medalist, dominated the 400m hurdles last year, winning nine of his twelve finals, earning victories at the US Outdoor Championships and six Samsung Diamond League meets. Jackson not only posted the fastest time in the world last year, 47.32, but also recorded five of the top ten times run last year, and ended the season as the undisputed number one intermediate hurdler in the world. He won the 400m at this event in 2010, and will compete in the 600m this year.

Manzano, a 3-time NCAA Champion at the University of Texas, finished 2010 as the fastest outdoor miler in the US with his mark of 3:50.64. He won his first USA Indoor Championship title in 2010 at 1500m and was ranked #1 in the US by Track & Field News for the year. Manzano will face previously announced Olympic Silver Medalist Nick Willis and high school phenom Lukas Verzbicas. Alan Webb has scratched from the field.

Reid, who led Villanova to an NCAA Championship team title in Terre Haute, IN last November with her individual first place finish, could scare Villanova’s school’s record in the mile, 4:28.31, held by Vicki Huber. She will face, among others, fellow Canadian and Villanova alum, Carmen Hussar and previously announced World Indoor Champion Kalkidan Gezahegne from Ethiopia. Three-time NCAA Champion Sam Chelanga will compete in the 3000m against previously announced double European Champion Mo Farah and Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel.

The 16th-annual meet, the second stop in USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series, begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 5 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-TIX-TRAC.