Yohan Blake leads off 2012 adidas Grand Prix lineup

NEW YORK (Feb. 29, 2012) – World Champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica, ranked No. 1 in the world at 100 meters, kicks off a scintillating lineup of superstars expected at the 2012 adidas Grand Prix in a preview of the action later this summer in London.

Homestretch tickets for the event, set for June 9, are now on sale at 877-849-8722.

Just 22, Blake joins a long list of sprint champions who have thrilled fans at the adidas Grand Prix in the past, including Maurice Greene, Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Allyson Felix and, of course, Usain Bolt, who in 2008 set his first 100-meter World Record here to kick off his history-making Olympic campaign.

“The Gibson Relays last weekend were a great start for my 2012 season,” said Blake, of the event at National Stadium in Kingston on Feb. 25 in which he came from behind to anchor his 4×400-meter and 4×100-meter teams to victory.

“I am already looking forward to that fast track in New York City on June 9th.”

More athlete announcements for the 2012 event are expected soon.

Last summer in Daegu, South Korea, Blake became the youngest 100-meter gold medalist at the World Championships since it began in 1983. “I would like to be a legend,” he said before capping off his historic week by running the third leg and handing off to his training partner, Bolt, on the 4×100-meter relay team that broke its own World Record.

This is not the first time Blake has competed at the adidas Grand Prix. The youngster made his debut here way back in 2007 when he anchored his St. Jago team to victory in the boys’ 4×400-meter high school relay, and competed over 100 meters in 2009 and 2010.

The eighth-annual adidas Grand Prix, one of the premier track-and-field events in the world, is the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League circuit, and the third stop on the Visa Championship Series. It will begin at 1 p.m. on June 9 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. For more information, visit the event website at www.adidasgrandprix.com and follow the adidas Grand Prix on Facebook and Twitter. When tweeting, use #agpny.