updated 4:52 p.m. ET June 10, 2005

NEW YORK - A revitalized track and field venue has a star-studded cast ready to unveil it on the world-class level Saturday in the Reebok Grand Prix.

Olympic champions Shawn Crawford, Maurice Greene, Stacy Dragila, Liu Xiang, Allen Johnson, Joanna Hayes and Meseret Defar headline the one-day event at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Also entered are Olympic silver medalist John Godina, eight-time world cross country championship medalist Werknesh Kidane and Olympic miler Alan Webb, the rising star of U.S. middle distance racing.

The best matchups could be in the sprints, with China’s Xiang, the gold medalist in Athens, facing American Johnson, the seven-time world champion and 1996 Olympic winner in the 110 hurdles. They were supposed to race last weekend at the Prefontaine Classic, but Johnson was disqualified for false starts and Xiang went on to win.

The men’s 100 features Greene, the 2000 gold medalist at the Sydney Games, and Crawford, who won the 200 in Athens. Greene, a three-time world champion with three of the four fastest times at 100 meters, has not excelled this season, but believes a breakout performance could be close. He even predicted a time of less than 10 seconds.

“This year doesn’t prove anything,” he said. “I feel I’m getting back to what I used to be doing, not what I’ve been doing. I’m more patient with my races.”

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, 2004 Olympic champion Hayes will be tested by two-time Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison-Howard and 2001 world champion Anjanette Kirkland.

Another woman who will get lots of attention is Dragila, the 34-year-old pole-vaulting dynamo who has missed most of the season with an Achilles’ tendon injury. If she hopes to make the U.S. team for this summer’s world championships, Dragila needs to get back in form quickly.

Webb, a premier miler and two-miler coming off a national record run in the two-mile at the Prefontaine meet, will go in the 1,000 against David Krummenacker, the only American to win the 800 at worlds.

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“In terms of training, it’s a good way to mix things up,” Webb said of switching distances. He believes his two-mile time of 8 minutes, 11.48 seconds last week shows he is peaking.

Godina, a four-time shot put world champion who owns two Olympic medals, goes against two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson. Godina is looking for a 74-foot throw.

“Hopefully this week,” he said. “I just need to be relaxed and be rested and do what I have been doing all year. I have hit 74 feet every year, just not in the actual meets. There’s no reason to think it won’t happen in a meet if I am relaxed.”

Any record performances would be an added boost for the new facility. For years, the stadium at Randall’s Island was a rundown place, hardly a venue to showcase some of the world’s best track talent.

That’s changed with the construction of the $42 million Icahn Stadium.

“We are very excited to be able to welcome the Reebok Grand Prix to Icahn Stadium, the only IAAF certified championship-quality track and field facility in North America,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “This state-of-the-art stadium offers world-class facilities to tomorrow’s rising stars and today’s champions.

“The Reebok Grand Prix will provide track & field fans with a great opportunity to watch some of the world’s top athletes compete at Icahn Stadium.”

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