PONCE, Puerto Rico – Despite the drop in rating from IAAF World Challenge to Area Permit, the Ponce Grand Prix will have several big names in action on Saturday, May 23.
The men’s 400m features American world champion LaShawn Merritt. Representing the new breed is world junior champion Machel Cedenio of Trinidad & Tobago with multiple global medallist Jeremy Wariner (USA) on the other side of the spectrum.
Triple jump star and World champion Caterine Ibarguen of Colombian will test herself in the long jump against American Janay Deloach and Brazilian Olympic winner Maurren Maggi, who is in her final season.
In the 400mH, Javier Culson will hope for his second home win in a row. His competition includes American Jeshua Anderson and Omar Cisneros of Cuba.
In the women’s 800m, Cuban talent Sahily Diago will face her compatriot Rose Almanza as well as American World Indoor champion Chanelle Price.
Cuban World junior and youth champion Lázaro Martínez heads the triple jump field, along with Haitian Samyr Laine.
In the men’s 100m, Keston Bledman of Trinidad & Tobago, Antoine Adams of St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaican Kemarley Brown, Americans Harry Adams and Adam Harris will feature in a multinational battle.
Former Americans world champion Jason Richardson is a possible starter in the 110mH for which compatriot Omo Osaghae, Yordan O’Farrill of Cuba and Jeff Porter, also of USA, have been confirmed.
Another possible starter in Ponce is American World medallist Nick Symmonds in the men’s 800m.
In the wome’s 100m, American Shalonda Solomon will take on Jamaican Carrie Russell and the on form Brazilian Ana Claudia Lemos. Lemos and Solomon are both down for the 200m, where LaShauntea Moore of the US is also entered.
In the 100mH, Americans Kristi Castlin and Yvette Lewis are the big names.
