VCB, Asafa to highlight indoor meet in New York

NEW YORK:

Former world record holder and sprinting legend, Asafa Powell, will make his New York indoor track debut at the 2012 US Open Track and Field meet on January 28 at Madison Square Garden, USA Track and Field announced yesterday.

Returning to the site of her 2011 NYC indoor victory, World and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown will join her Jamaican countryman in the short sprints, while two of the most popular Garden high-school track events - the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) boys' 4x800m and girls' 4x400m relays - also will be contested.

"No US city is more international than New York," USATF Interim CEO Mike McNees said. "Having Veronica and Asafa at the Garden will help spotlight the international importance of the Olympic year, with the US Open as the first round of the 2012 USA-Jamaica rivalry."

The kick-off event of USATF's Visa Championship Series, the US Open will be the first track meet to be held in the newly renovated Garden, and will be the first major professional meet in the United States as the 2012 Olympic year gets under way.

As the man who has run more sub-10-second 100m dashes than anyone in history, Powell's appearance will mark his first NYC appearance since he ran at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium, and his first time competing indoors since 2004.

The 29-year-old Jamaican held the title of world's fastest human for three years, when he owned the 100m world record of 9.77 seconds from 2005, until Usain Bolt broke it in New York in 2008.

VCB returns

Among the most consistent and decorated short sprinters of her generation, Campbell-Brown's résumé is the stuff legends are made of; two-time defending Olympic 200m gold medallist, defending World Indoor 60m champion, 2011 World champion at 200m and 2007 World 100m champion.

At the Garden in 2011, 'VCB' easily won the 60m dash in the Visa women's 60 metres. Her additional international hardware includes a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and silver in the 2000 Olympic 4x100m. At the World Championships, she has won a total of seven silver medals, dating back to 2005.

Tickets, starting as low as $15, will go on sale to the general public today at 12 p.m. Tickets will be available at the MSG Box Office, Ticketmaster charge at 866-858-0008, all Ticketmaster outlets and THEGARDEN.com. Annual MSG Track & Field subscribers can contact 212-465-6073.