World record worth $25,000 at adidas Boston Indoor Games

$10,000 for US mark; men's 1500m field in the chase

BOSTON - (Jan. 21) - In its seven-year history, $140,000 in bonuses for World and American Records have been awarded to athletes at the adidas Boston Indoor Games. That total could go up this year, as Global Athletics and Marketing, Inc., today announced bonuses of $10,000 for any American record and $25,000 for any World Record set at the Feb. 1 competition.

"We've had 8 World or American records set at this meet," said Mark Wetmore, meet director and co-founder of GA&M. "They've cost us a lot of money, but they're worth every cent in the excitement they've brought the fans."

Putting GA&M's checkbook in jeopardy is the men's 1500 meters. Bernard Lagat of Kenya, the Olympic bronze medalist, will be challenged by countryman Laban Rotich, the third-fastest man ever at the distance indoors (behind only Hicham el Guerrouj and Haile Gebrselassie); Kevin Sullivan of Canada, fifth in Sydney; Jason Lunn, the 2002 US indoor champion; and David Krummenacker, who last season became the fifth-fastest American all-time at 1500 meters, surpassing the great Jim Ryun. Krummenacker, who last year broke the American 1000-meter record here, will be aiming at Steve Scott's US record of 3:36.0.

The adidas Boston Indoor Games, which begins at 5 p.m. Feb. 1 as the first stop on USA Track & Field's 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, will kick off a big season at the Reggie Lewis Center, whose fast track will also be the site of the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 1-2.

To see the rest of the men's 1500m field, or for tickets and more information on the Feb. 1 meet, visit a didas Games 2003 or call 617-536-7030.
Media Contact:
Barbara Huebner, Media Coordinator
(617) 536-7030
Barbara Huebner
Global Athletics