New York, NY – The Adidas Grandprix (AGP) was held on Saturday, June 11, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City.  One of the nation’s premier outdoor track and field invitational meets, it is the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League circuit.  The Adidas Grand Prix is one of 14 Diamond League track meets around the world, one of only two held in the United States.

UDC Head Track Coach, Alton McKenzie, was among the elite volunteers working at the event.  Global Athletics & Marketing Inc. is the meet owner and promoter, while Mark Wetmore served as the meet director.  The Samsung Diamond League is comprised of 14 of the top invitational track and field meets in the world, spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.

Participants of note in this year’s Grandprix included: Tyson Gay, Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Blanka Vlasic, Bershawn Jackson, Kenia Sinclair, Steve Mullings, Nickel Ashmeade, and 100m Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The Grandprix also holds the distinction of being the event at which Usain Bolt broke his 1st World Record in 2008, although it was then known as the Reebok Grandprix.

Rich Kenah, the Marketing Director for Global Athletics & Marketing, commented on McKenzie’s involvement with the Grandprix, saying, “Alton McKenzie was recruited by the organizers of one of the country’s largest and highest profile track and field meets to help manage in-stadium operations.  The Adidas Grand Prix, on Randall’s Island in New York City, is broadcast domestically on NBC and around the world as part of the Samsung Diamond League Series.  Alton managed in-stadium sponsor branding for the event’s major sponsors including Adidas, Visa and Western Union.  He also acted as the event’s primary liaison with Omega, the event’s timing partner, and the event’s in-stadium production team.”

Coach McKenzie felt gratified to be invited to work at such a prestigious track and field event, saying, “The experience gained being involved in such a prestigious meet as the Adidas Grandprix is immeasurable.  Being a part of what takes place behind the scenes is one thing, but seeing how the best of the best in track and field prepare themselves to compete is an experience that is priceless for me as a coach.  It gives me something to take back to my athletes at UDC to ensure they understand how much effort it takes to be the best you can be.”