David Payne in the 2008 Olympic semi-finals. He went on to take the silver. (© Getty Images)
Six more reigning World or Olympic medallists have been added to the stellar field for the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on 21 February.
Among the additions to the line-up for the showcase meeting at the National Indoor Arena is David Payne, the current high hurdles world bronze medallist and silver medallist at last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
Payne will be joined in Birmingham by Kim Collins, the reigning World indoor 60m silver medallist, South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi who won silver at last year’s World Indoors over 800m, Bahamian Leevan Sands, who claimed Olympic Triple Jump bronze in Beijing, and his compatriot Donald Thomas, the World High Jump champion.
In the women’s field World 100m bronze medallist Carmelita Jeter will race over 60m.
The new names join others confirmed such as 2007 double World distance champion Bernard Lagat, Britain’s World and Olympic 400m winner Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo and the Heptathlon champion from Beijing Natalya Dobrynska of the Ukraine.
Meeting director Ian Stewart says the line-up already promises to make the Aviva Grand Prix the highlight of the indoor athletics season.
“To have so many medallists from the recent major championships signed up already is hugely exciting for the meeting," said Stewart. "It’s always a superb show, but I’ve got a feeling 2009 is going to be even better.”
Abigail Thomas for the IAAF
