The Ponce Grand Prix de Atletismo is a track and field competition held yearly in Ponce, Puerto Rico at the Francisco Montaner Stadium. The event started in 2007, after the successful hosting of the 2006 Ibero-American Championships.Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2012-05-13). Culson runs world lead and Wilson surprises Robles and Richardson in Ponce – IAAF World Challenge. IAAF. Retrieved on 13 May 2012. It was considered among the most important athletic events in the Caribbean based on the competitive and organizational quality of the event. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2012. Starting with the 2012 season, the Ponce Grand Prix joined the IAAF World Challenge competitions until 2015 and represented the only other city in the Americas, outside Kingston, Jamaica, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the circuit. The event was relaunched in 2022 named Puerto Rico International Athletics Classic as part of the silver level scheduled World Athletics Continental Tour.Regresa 'la crema' mundial del atletismo al Paquito Montaner: Ya está confirmado el Puerto Rico International Athletics Classic, antes conocido como el Ponce Grand Prix. Yamaira Muñiz Pérez. El Vocero. (San Juan, Puerto Rico). 3 January 2022. Accessed 26 February 2022. Archived.“The Cream” of World International Athletics Returns to Puerto Rico. Julio Pabón 10 January 2022. Accessed 26 February 2022. Archived.Jasmine Camacho-Quinn: el “lujo” de verla correr en la isla en mayo: La medallista de oro en los Juegos de Tokio será la figura principal del evento “Puerto Rico International Athletic Classic” el 12 de mayo en el Estadio Paquito Montaner de Ponce. Sara Del Valle Hernández. El Nuevo Dia. 4 January 2022. Accessed 26 February 2022. Archived.
History
In early seasons the event was one of three competitions in the IAAF-NACAC circuit beside the Adidas Track Classic in Carson, California, and the Jamaica Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica, where competitors accumulated points in the IAAF rankings system.Athletes Face Off in Porta Caribe at the 2008 Ponce Grand Prix. Let’sGoToPonce. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
The 2009 Ponce Grand Prix was witnessed live by some 9,000 fans at the Francisco Montaner Stadium, plus hundreds of thousands more throughout the Americas via satellite television. Javier Culson: Más que preparado para el Grand Prix. Carlos Uriarte González. La Perla del Sur. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2013. This edition was considered to have initiated “the greatest feat in Puerto Rican sports history”, as new records were established, and a local hero surfaced, Javier Culson, competing in the 400 metres hurdles. Javier Culson: Más que preparado para el Grand Prix. By Carlos Uriarte González. Periodico La Perla del Sur. 23 April 2010. He was later crowned Athlete of the Year in Puerto Rico.
The relaunched 2022 edition saw eleven meet records fall with eight of them were Puerto Rican all-comers' records.
Meet records
Men
+Men's meeting records of the Ponce Grand Prix de Atletismo Event Record Athlete Nationality Date 100 m9.92 Trayvon Bromell12 May 2022200 m20.21 Brendan Christian17 May 2008300 m31.52Steven Gardiner12 May 2022400 m44.14Lashawn Merritt17 May 2014800 m1:44.79Duane Solomon17 May 20141500 m3:36.64Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono19 May 20073000 m8:02.71Andrew Poore18 May 2013110 m hurdles13.12 David Oliver8 May 2010400 m hurdles47.72Javier Culson8 May 2010Pole vault5.60 mLázaro Borges12 May 2012Long jump8.27 m Brian Johnson17 May 2008Triple jump16.88 m Donald Scott12 May 2022Shot put22.75 mRyan Crouser12 May 2022Hammer throw79.31 mKrisztián Pars17 May 2014Javelin throw75.32 mCurtis Moss12 May 20124 × 100 m relay38.83Brian MarianoGeronimo GoeloePrince KwidamaChurandy Martina17 May 20084 × 400 m relay3:04.93Yoel TapiaArismendy PegueroPedro MejíaFélix Sánchez19 May 2007
Women
+Men's meeting records of the Ponce Grand Prix de Atletismo Event Record Athlete Nationality Date 100 m10.93 Elaine Thompson-Herah12 May 2022200 m22.37 Tianna Madison12 May 2012400 m50.42Athing Mu12 May 2022800 m1:59.35Rose Mary Almanza23 May 20151500 m4:05.96Adelle Tracey12 May 20223000 m8:53.38Gabe Grunewall17 May 2014100 m hurdles12.50 Alaysha Johnson12 May 2022400 m hurdles54.09Janieve Russell12 May 20223000 m steeplechase9:37.62Genevieve Lacaze18 May 2013Pole vault4.72 mSandi Morris12 May 2022Long jump6.78 m Ese Brume12 May 2022Triple jump13.66 m Luvia Saldivar18 May 2013Hammer throw72.16 mAmanda Bingson17 May 2014Javelin throw59.47 mYainelis Ribeaux12 May 20124 × 100 m relay43.58USA Team AKellie WellsMoushami RobinsonTianna MadisonGloria Asumnu8 May 2010
References
External links