The organizers of this year's edition of the Grand Region de Guadeloupe International Meeting are excited to announce that they have confirmed no fewer than Eight World Championship medalists competing in this year's athletics event scheduled for May 2nd.
Guadeloupe, a beautiful and scenic island in the Caribbean has hosted an athletics meeting since 2004 attracting many Olympic and World Championship T&F medalists to the Stade de Baie Mahault. The athletes travel from as far as Europe, the United States, Canada, and neighboring caribbean islands such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
In 2015, this will be the 11th edition with the line-up of stars impressive in 8 different events for men and women that include: 100m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Long jump, 800m and 3000m Steeplechase.
The IAAF 2015 Outdoor World T&F Championships are scheduled for Aug 22-30th in Beijing China. Competing in Guadeloupe enables the athletes to help prepare themselves for those championships. Here is a list of athletes who have previously won World Championship medals and in many cases Olympic medals who will be competing in Guadeloupe on May 2nd:
Brittney Reese (USA) – World Champion gold medalist in 2013, 2011 & 2009 in women's long jump. 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Ranked #4 in the world in 2014.
Javier Culson (PUR) – World Championship silver medal in 2011 & 2009 in men's 400m hurdles. 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist. Ranked #1 in the world in 2014.
Ryan Wilson (USA) – World Championship silver medalist in 2013 in men's 110m hurdles. Ranked #9 in the world in 2014.
Will Claye (USA) – World Championship Bronze medalist in 2013 & 2011 in men's Triple and Long Jump events. Only man to win Olympic medals in 2 events in the same Games as Claye was the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the Triple Jump and Olympic Bronze medalist in the long jump.
Kim Collins (St Kitts) – 2003 World Champion gold medal in the men's 100m dash. Bronze medalist in 2011 World Championships. Currently undefeated in 8 indoor 60m race finals.
Jeremy Wariner (USA) – World Champion gold medal in 2007 and 2005 in men's 400m event. 2009 World Champion silver medalist in 400m. The 2004 Olympic Champion in 400m as well as the 2008 Olympic silver medalist at 400 meters.
Donald Thomas (BAH) – 2007 World Champion gold medal in the men's high jump.
Jilian Camarena-Williams (USA) 2011 World Champion Bronze medalin the women Shot put
Organizers are continuing to confirm other world class athletics stars and did not have to go far to fine local athlete Wilhem Belocian (FRA) eager to compete in front of his home crowd in Baie Mahault. In 2014, Belocian won a gold medal at the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships setting a World Junior Record in the 110m hurdles.
This year's men's 110m hurdle event will be one of the highlights of an expected fantastic night of athletics.