U.S. athletes prepare for international fields at Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND -- American athletes face impressive international fields at the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix, set for Saturday, Feb. 21 in Birmingham at the National Indoor Arena. The Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix is the fifth and final IAAF Indoor Permit meeting of the season.

Many elite athletes who are also on the entry list for the 2015 USATF Indoor Championships will be competing in Birmingham, including Tianna Bartoletta, Trell Kimmons, Manteo Mitchell, Treniere Moser, Erik Sowinski and more.

For full start lists, please visit British Athletics’ website.

Start Lists for Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix - American athletes

Men’s 60m

Harry Adams

Trell Kimmons

Sean McLean

Michael Rodgers

Men’s 400m

Bershawn Jackson

Manteo Mitchell

Calvin Smith

Men’s 800m

Erik Sowinski

Men’s 1500m

Ben Blankenship

Matthew Centrowitz

Men’s 2-mile

Bernard Lagat

Men’s 60m Hurdles

Spencer Adams

Kevin Craddock

Jarret Eaton

Aries Merritt

Ray Stewart

Men’s High Jump

Nick Ross

Women’s 60m

Tianna Bartoletta

Carmelita Jeter

Muna Lee

Jessica Young

Women’s 400m

Francena McCorory

Women’s 800m

Megan Krumpoch

Charlene Lipsey

Lauren Wallace

Women’s 1 Mile

Treniere Moser

Aisha Praught

Shannon Rowbury

Rachel Schneider

Women’s 3000m

Liz Costello

Jordan Hasay

Women’s 60m Hurdles

Kristi Castlin

Sharika Nelvis

Women’s Pole Vault

Melissa Gergel

Katie Nageotte

Mary Saxer

Women’s Long Jump

Funmi Jimoh

Abbott World Marathon Majors unveils new race series at Tokyo Marathon

TOKYO -- The ninth running of the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 22, 2015, marks the official start of Abbott's title sponsorship of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) and a number of key changes to the iconic series. Announced today by the organizers of the six marathons in the global race series, the champions of the AWMM will now be determined through a new one-year cycle of Qualifying Races featuring unprecedented anti-doping protocols.

Now in its ninth year, the Abbott World Marathon Majors determines the world's best male and female marathoners, awarding a $1 million prize purse split evenly by the men's and women's champions. The new format features a rotating start and finish at each of the six annual series races. AWMM Series IX begins this weekend at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and ends upon completion of the February 2016 Tokyo Marathon. AWMM Series X begins at the April 2016 Boston Marathon and ends upon completion of the April 2017 Boston Marathon. Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next AWMM Series race on the calendar. The Olympic Marathon and IAAF World Championships Marathon will serve as Qualifying Races and will be included in the race schedule in the years they are held, but will not begin or end a Series.

For the full release, please visit WorldMarathonMajors.com.