The Reebok Boston Indoor Preview

Tirunesh Dibaba sits next to her World record figures in Boston last year

The Reebook Boston Indoor meet is the second meet on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championships Series and arguably one of the best indoor meets.

The Reebook Boston Indoor meet is legendary for stellar distance races, in part because of the array of talent the meet attracts, and also because of the 200 meter Mondo indoor track at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Bitter Ethopian rivals Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, two of the world’s best will take the track in Boston – unfortunately, not in the same race. Defar is slated to run the Two Mile, in which she is currently the world record holder. Dibaba, the 5,000 meter indoor record holder, is stepping down to run 3,000 meters.

Up and coming sprint star, Shalonda Solomon, the 2006 NCAA Champion at 200 meters is debuting her first professional indoor meet.

In the field events, Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson are competing in the men’s shot put. Jenn Stuczynski, the new pole vault queen, is competing in the Nutrilite Women’s Pole Vault.

The men’s 800 meters is certain to be a fireworks show. The U.S. national champion Khadevis Robinson and #2 nationally ranked 800 meter runner, Nick Symmonds, will go head to head on Saturday.

The men’s 3,000 meters looks to be hotter than fish grease. The line up includes defending champion Craig Mott of Australia, New Zealand’s Nick Willis, Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele and American phenom Galen Rupp, who has not run against these elite athletes. This race is certain to have implications for later in this Olympic year track season.

The Reebok Boston Indoor meet, the second stop on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series, can be seen Sunday on ESPN 2 at 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist

New Track & Field Commercials

Prerace Jitters is excited to bring you the latest -- a new television commercial featuring American pole vaulter, Jenn Stuczynski.

According to Prerace Jitters’ sources, The Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits & Vegetables ad will air on ESPN 2 during the coverage of the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.

The Reebok Boston Indoor meet airs Saturday, January 26th on ESPN 2 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings.

Click here to check it out!

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist

Meseret Defar to Compete at Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Meseret Defar (l) & Shalene Flanagan (r)

Red Sox fans are legendary for their fervor. What most people don’t know is that Boston track fans can be every bit as rabid about their passion, braving brutal weather to cheer on their favorite runners throughout two major, prestigious running events: the Boston Marathon and the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.

On January 26, the Reebok Boston Indoor Games will be a track meet to behold. Last year’s event produced a women’s world record in the 5k, Alan Webb’s fastest indoor mile race and a complete show by distance runner Craig Mottram.

Casual fans may not know that since the Reebok Boston Indoor Games began in 1996 the indoor track meet has attracted elite runners from around the globe to compete.

This year is no different, and a star-studded line up is set to compete. The Reebok Boston Indoor Games is the second stop on the Visa Championship Series, which is the indoor professional track circuit hosted by USA Track & Field.

Among the stars competing are Meseret Defar, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world champion at 5,000 meters, who was named World Athlete of the Year in the sport.

Defending champion Craig Mottram of Australia, New Zealand's Nick Willis, Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele and American phenom Galen Rupp lead a top international field for the men's 3,000-meter run at the 2008 Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 26, organizers announced Thursday.

Tickets for the 13th annual Reebok Boston Indoor Games are on sale now at the event website, www.BostonIndoorGames.com, or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.

Of course, USA Track & Field would love for you to pay with your Visa.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist