The LA Grand Prix, organized by legendary coach Bobby Kersee and sponsored by Internet Brands/WebMD’s Impact Fund, is set to take place on May 27th and aims to bring top athletes in track and field to Southern California, where the sport once flourished, in order to spark renewed interest in the region.
The event will be staged at UCLA and will feature a variety of events and fields, which will be announced in the coming months, according to Track and Field News.
The meet, dubbed as “a no-holds-barred, maximum-energy celebration of the sport,” will start with the USATF Distance Classic on Friday night and continue the next day with the Grand Prix meet and accompanying music, food, and fan festival.
The weekend is typically occupied by the Prefontaine Classic, which will be held in September this year and host the Diamond League Final.
However, LA will be competing against the Rabat Diamond League meet, which is scheduled for the day after. The organizers hope to attract athletes and fans, despite the competition.
“There was an eye toward this being a good window,” says Internet Brands CEO Bob Brisco for Track and Field News. “We’re competing with a DL event, but I think we’ll compete well on that day.
Kersee is the coach of two of the world’s best talents. Late last year, Athing Mu, the Olympic 800m champion, relocated from Texas to Los Angeles to join Bobby Kersee, who currently coaches Olympic track gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. He also coached Allyson Felix.
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