Coe, who held the record from 1979 to 1997, won silver in the 800m at the 1984 Los Angeles Games before successfully defending his Olympic 1500m title.

"We are ecstatic to have an athlete with the star power of David Rudisha coming to New York," said meeting director Mark Wetmore.

"Since we began in 2005 we've had almost all of the world's best athletes here, and now our fans will get yet another chance of a lifetime."

The 23-year-old Rudisha (pictured top), also the reigning world champion, has been almost unbeatable the last three years, with his only loss since 2009 coming late last season in Milan.


In 2010, the Kenyan broke Wilson Kipketer's 13-year-old world record when he ran 1min 41.09sec in Berlin. Just a week later he lowered that mark to 1:41.01.

In 2011, he recorded the three fastest times for the year, including a world-leading 1:41.33, and owns four of the six fastest times in history.

"I've run in many great cities and countries, and to finally come to New York is exciting for me," said Rudisha.

"I've been sponsored by adidas all my career and am very happy to run at the adidas meet in New York."

In its eighth year the adidas Grand Prix, at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island, will feature dozens of Olympic medallists and world champions – including the two reigning world champions at 100m, Jamaica's Yohan Blake and American Carmelita Jeter (pictured above), 2008 Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and three-times Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner.

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