USATF release June 17
Future stars
to compete at junior championships
by Jill Geer, Director of Communications, USA Track & Field
STANFORD, Calif. – Nearly 700 young athletes vying to win
a spot on Team USA will compete at the 2003 USA Junior Outdoor Track
& Field Championships, part of the Verizon Youth Series, June
19-22 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
The USA Junior Championships are being held in conjunction with
the 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by
Verizon at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field. As a part
of the Verizon Youth Series, this meet will serve as the Team USA
selection competition for the 2003 Pan Am Junior Championships,
July 18-20 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The top two finishers in each
event at the Junior Championships will be eligible for the selection
pool for the Pan Am Junior Championships in Barbados. The selection
of teams will be at the discretion of USATF and its committees.
In order to qualify to compete at the Junior Championships, an
athlete must meet certain performance standards and be between the
ages of 14-19 in the calendar year of 2003. The top eight athletes
in each event at the meet will be named Verizon All-Americans.
The men’s and women’s pole vault competitions will
feature two recent record-breakers. Defending U.S. champion Tommy
Skipper (Sandy, Ore.), broke the national high school record in
the pole vault Sunday, June 15, at the Golden West Invitational,
jumping 18 feet, 3 inches, beating the previous record of 18-2.25
by Eric Eshbach of Orangefield, Texas, in 1999. Skipper won last
year’s U.S. junior pole vault crown at Stanford with a clearance
of 5.35m/17-06.50.
Kira Costa, who just graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High in
Fresno, Calif., set a women's record of 13 feet, 8.5 inches at Golden
West on Sunday afternoon. A future freshman at the University of
California, Costa broke the U.S. high school mark of 13-8 set two
years ago at the California state meet in Sacramento by Shayla Ballentine
of Morro Bay (Calif.).
Leading the field of competitors is the 2002 World Junior Championships
silver medalist in the 400m hurdles (49.38, breaking the national
high school record) Kenneth Ferguson. The 2002 USA Junior National
championships 400m hurdles runner-up ran a school and personal record
of 48.79 in the 400m hurdles to earn his first SEC title this year
for the University of South Carolina. Ferguson holds the Michigan
high school state record in the indoor 60m hurdles (7.75), 110m
hurdles (13.61), 300m hurdles (35.90) and 4x400m relay (3:13.70).
2002 Junior Championships 1,500m runner-up Adam Perkins also will
be back this year. The University of Arkansas-bound Perkins ran
3:49.09 at the 2002 Junior Championships.
Stanford-bound Ari Lambie (Harvard, Mass.) on June 7 became the
third-fastest female high school miler in history when she ran 4:37.23
at the Massachusetts state meet. Lambie finished in a meet-record
time of 4:39.05 in the women’s mile June 14 at the adidas
Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Raleigh, N.C. to further
solidify her status as the favorite this weekend in the 1,500 meters.
Top prep thrower Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas) will join 2002
and 2001 Junior Outdoor Championships hammer throw runner-up, Kristen
Michalski (Syracuse University) who had a toss of 56.25m/184-6 last
year. Carter set a new high school girls’ shot put mark with
a toss of 16.73 meters/54 feet, 10.75 inches in May at the Texas
State high school championships.
Returning to this year’s championships will be high school
prep star Shalonda Solomon (Inglewood, Calif.), who has a personal
best of (11.35) in the 100m and (23.47) in the 200m. Solomon was
third at the 2002 USA Junior Championships in the 100m (11.54) and
4th in the 200m (23.69). Her 51.4 anchor lap in the sprint medley
in April helped Long Beach Poly High School to a time of 1:38.73,
taking more than three seconds off the national high school record
(1:42.08 Berkeley, Calif., 2000 and 1:42.0 Hawthorne, Calif., 1987).
She is scheduled to compete in the 100 and 200 meters in Stanford.
The U.S. Junior program has contributed greatly in the development
of many of America’s finest track and field athletes. Past
junior champions include all-time greats Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee,
Marion Jones, Lynn Jennings, Mike Conley and Renaldo Nehemiah, among
many others.
For more information on the 2003 USA Junior Championships and the
Verizon Youth Series, including meet schedule and a complete list
of the athletes entered in the event, visit the USATF web site at
www.usatf.org.
The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by Verizon
will be broadcast live from 4-6 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, June
21, on NBC, and live from 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2. Check your
local listings.
USATF release June 16
Event by Event
previews
Based on 2003 performances as of June 9, 2003; Fields subject to
change
At the 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented
by Verizon, June 19-22, Team USA will be selected for the 2003 World
Outdoor Championships in Paris. The top three finishers in each
final who have achieved the IAAF’s “A” standard
will compete in Paris in August. Competition at the USA Outdoor
Championships begins Thursday, June 19 at Cobb Track and Angell
Field at Stanford. The meet will be broadcast live from 4-6 p.m.
Eastern Time on Saturday, June 21, on NBC, and live from 4-5:30
p.m. Sunday on ESPN2.
Below are event-by-event previews for the USA Outdoor Track &
Field Championships, presented by Verizon. For the most up-to-date
list of entries, qualifiers and declarations, visit the Outdoor
Championships page of the USATF Web site, www.usatf.org, and click
on the Outdoor “Status of Entries” link (http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/entry/status.shtml)
Nike Women’s 100 meters FINAL: 7:40PM, FRIDAY
World record: 10.49, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), 1988
American record: 10.49, Florence Griffith-Joyner, 1988
Meet record: 10.72, Marion Jones, 1998
THE SCOOP: Kelli White has the fastest times in the world this
year, including a wind-aided 10.79 at the Home Depot Invitational
June 1 and a wind-legal 10.96 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic May
24. The 2001 World Championships 200m bronze medalist won’t
have a cakewalk, however. Chryste Gaines is the 2001 U.S. champion
in this event and is Gaines’ training partner. Inger Miller,
the 1999 World Outdoor silver medalist at 100 meters, posted a win
at Stanford on June 7 at the Oracle U.S. Open and is always a threat,
as are her H.S.I. training partners, four-time NCAA champion Angela
Williams and Torri Edwards, who won May 17 at the adidas Oregon
Track Classic.
Verizon Men’s 100 meters FINAL: 7:30PM, FRIDAY
World record: 9.78, Tim Montgomery (USA), 2002
American record: 9.78, Tim Montgomery, 2002
Meet record: 9.90, Maurice Greene, 2001, 1997; Leroy Burrell, 1991
THE SCOOP: The Verizon men’s 100 meters promises to be one
of the most fascinating events of the Championships. The man who
took Maurice Greene’s World record, Tim Montgomery, is the
man to beat and is in search of his second U.S. crown. The 2001
U.S. champion ran 9.78 seconds last September and has his eye on
improving on his silver medal from 2001 World Outdoors, where Greene
took the gold. Because he gets an automatic berth into the World
Championships in the 100 as the reigning world champ, Olympic gold
medalist Greene is expected to concentrate on the 200 meters this
weekend, but don’t be surprised if he runs a round of the
100 to, in his words, “put on a good show for the fans.”
2003 World Indoor champion Justin Gatlin, at age 21, is the “X-factor.”
He has been nursing a hamstring injury since shortly after USA vs.
The World at the Penn Relays on April 24, when he displayed sprint
speed that would make him a favorite at this meet. Also look for
Coby Miller and John Capel, 2000 Olympians at 200 meters, and J.J.
Johnson to contend.
Women’s 100m hurdles FINAL: 1:44PM, SUNDAY
World record: 12.21, Yordanka Donkova (BUL), 1988
American record: 12.33, Gail Devers, 2000
Meet record: 12.33, Gail Devers, 2000
THE SCOOP: Three-time world outdoor champion Gail Devers is virtually
unbeatable when she’s healthy. Hamstring problems have plagued
the two-time Olympic 100-meter sprint gold medalist this outdoor
season, but Devers is known for her ability to come back from injury
and pick up where she left off without missing a beat. Miesha McKelvy
has been the dominant U.S. hurdler outdoors, winning three Outdoor
Golden Spike Tour meets (adidas Oregon Track Classic, Home Depot
Invitational, Oracle U.S. Open) and placing second at the Nike Prefontaine
Classic, where she ran a personal best of 12.51 seconds. 2000 Olympic
bronze medalist Melissa Morrison and 2001 World Outdoor Championships
finalist Jenny Adams, who finished second to McKelvy at the Oracle
U.S. Open, will vie for the title as well.
Men’s 110m hurdles FINAL: 2:50PM FRIDAY
World record: 12.91, Colin Jackson (GBR), 1993
American record: 12.92, Allen Johnson, 1996; Roger Kingdom, 1989
Meet record: 12.92, Allen Johnson, 1996
THE SCOOP: The United States has the best men’s hurdlers
in the world, and they will take the track at Stanford. In his only
domestic appearance in 2003, Allen Johnson won the Home Depot Invitational
in a wind-aided 13.20 seconds, proving he is recovered from a pesky
calf injury. The three-time world champion is the heavy favorite,
but as usual he will face stiff competition. Larry Wade, the world’s
#3-ranked hurdler in the world last year, hasn’t let a broken
arm suffered in April keep him out of competition. He won the Nike
Prefontaine Classic and had an outstanding indoor season, where
he won the Verizon Millrose Games. Two-time Olympic medalist Mark
Crear is a veteran who could sneak in for a place on the World Championships
team, as could young hurdlers like Ron Bramlett, a two-time NCAA
champion. If he has healed the hamstring injury he suffered at the
2003 World Indoor Championships, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Terrence
Trammell will be a contender as well.
Women’s 200 meters FINAL: 2:00PM, SUNDAY
World record: 21.34, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), 1988
American record: 21.34, Florence Griffith-Joyner, 1988
Meet record: 21.88, Evelyn Ashford, 1983
THE SCOOP: Handicappers would have their hands full with the women’s
200 at the 2003 USA Outdoor Championships. High school phenomenon
Allyson Felix ran the fastest time in the world this year with her
22.11 last month in Mexico City. But winning a U.S. title against
America’s top veteran will pose a daunting challenge for the
Los Angeles Baptist senior. Kelli White is the 2001 World Outdoor
bronze medalist but has admitted her 200-meter form needs fine-tuning
this season. LaTasha Jenkins is the 2001 World Indoor bronze medalist,
while Michelle Collins is the 2003 World Indoor champion. The American
record holder indoors, Collins is questionable as a starter due
to the hamstring injury she aggravated at World Indoors. The one
certainty is that a new U.S. champion will be crowned, with five-time
defending champion Marion Jones sitting out this season as she prepares
to have her first child.
Verizon Men’s 200 meters FINAL: 1:56PM, SUNDAY World record:
19.32, Michael Johnson (USA), 1996
American record: 19.32, Michael Johnson, 1996
Meet record: 19.66, Michael Johnson, 1996
THE SCOOP: A roll of the dice could determine the top three finishers
in this event, where any one of several Americans could win the
world title. J.J. Johnson is fresh off a victory at the Oracle U.S.
Open over 1999 world champion Maurice Greene and 2001 U.S. champion
Shawn Crawford, the 2001 World Indoor gold medalist and World Outdoor
bronze medalist. Johnson also owns the fastest time in the world
in 2003 (20.05). Darvis Patton, a man who was runner-up in this
race last year, could win after being ranked #1 in the 200 among
Americans outdoors in 2002. Ramon Clay is the defending U.S. champion
and is a dangerous runner, as is 2000 Olympic Trials champion John
Capel, who has returned to track and field after a stint as an NFL
receiver. If Justin Gatlin runs the 200, he will also be a favorite
as a two-time NCAA champion.
Women’s 400 meters FINAL: 1:32PM, SATURDAY
World record: 47.60, Marita Koch (GDR), 1985
American record: 48.83, Valerie Brisco-Hooks, 1984
Meet record: 49.40, Jearl Miles-Clark, 1997
THE SCOOP: Jearl Miles-Clark has won this event four times and
is the 1993 world champion. At age 36, she is still a favorite,
though she won’t decide whether she will run the 400 or 800
until just before the Championships begin. Now a freshman at the
University of Texas, Sanya Richards won the USA junior title last
year in an American junior record time of 50.69 that would have
beat Miles-Clark for the open title, and Richards has the fastest
time by an American this year with her new AJR of 50.63. Monique
Hennagan, who with Miles-Clark ran on the gold medal-winning 4x400m
relay at the 2000 Olympic Games, is a likely contender, as are South
Carolina alumnae Demetria Washington and Lisa Barber. Washington
is the 2001 World University Games champion, while Barber was NCAA
runner-up in this event last year.
Verizon Men’s 400 meters FINAL: 1:20PM, SATURDAY
World record: 43.18, Michael Johnson (USA), 1999
American record: 43.18, Michael Johnson, 1999
Meet record: 43.44, Michael Johnson, 1996
THE SCOOP: Americans are regaining strength in the men’s
400, led by 2003 World Indoor and U.S. Indoor champion Tyree Washington.
The 1997 World Outdoor bronze medalist is back in track and field
after a year of injury and personal difficulties, and he is now
the man to beat. His time of 44.70 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic
was a world-leading mark for this year. Two-time U.S. champion Jerome
Young (‘98, ‘99) also is returning to form. Former NCAA
runner-up Derrick Brew has run 44.83, second this year only to Washington
worldwide, and looked very strong outdoors, while former professional
football wide receiver Corey Nelson is a new threat. Alvin Harrison
is the returning champion, but the Olympic silver medalist has been
erratic this year as his twin, Calvin, has shown better form, including
a win at the Home Depot Invitational.
Womens’ 400-meter hurdles FINAL: 1:54PM, SATURDAY
World record: 52.61, Kim Batten (USA), 1995
American record: 52.61, Kim Batten, 1995
Meet record: 52.97, Kim Batten, 1997
THE SCOOP: Sandra Glover is undefeated at the last four USA Outdoor
Championships, but she will face stiff competition from the University
of Texas’ Raasin McIntosh, who is the fastest American in
2003 at 54.60. 2001 NCAA champion Brenda Taylor also is likely to
be in the hunt for her first U.S. championship.
Men’s 400-meter hurdles FINAL: 1:08PM, SUNDAY
World record: 46.78, Kevin Young (USA), 1992
American record: 46.78, Kevin Young, 1992
Meet record: 47.03, Bryan Bronson, 1998
THE SCOOP: Reigning Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor has returned
to form after an off year in 2002. After winning the U.S. titles
from 1999 to 2001, Taylor relinquished his streak last year to James
Carter, who went on to win the 2002 World Cup title. Carter was
fourth at the Olympic Games and should provide a considerable challenge
to Taylor, as will Joey Woody and Eric Thomas. Woody was second
at USA Outdoors in 2002 and has the third-fastest time in the world
in 2003 (48.52), while Thomas, third at this meet last year, isn’t
far behind at 48.61. Bershawn Jackson is the potential spoiler,
owning the fastest time in the world this year (48.51). Jackson
won the 400mH bronze medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships.
Women’s 800 meters FINAL: 1:32PM, SUNDAY
World record: 1:53.28, Jarmila Kratochvilova (TCH), 1983 5.82
American record: 1:56.40, Jearl Miles-Clark, 1999
Meet record: 1:57.04, Meredith Rainey, 1996
THE SCOOP: A battle of half-mile heavyweights, plus new talent,
could make for a fascinating final. Jearl Miles-Clark won this event
in 1998 and ‘99, is the American record holder, and her time
of 1:58.61 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic is the fastest by an
American this year and #2 on the world list. She will be the favorite
if she opts for the 800 over the 400. Regina Jacobs’ title
in this event at the 2001 U.S. Championships is one of 24 national
crowns that she owns. She will double in the 800 and 1,500 here
at Stanford, and she’s looking for a time of 1:57. Nicole
Teter, who trains at Stanford with the Nike Farm Team, was the dominant
800 runner in the U.S. in 2002, winning the indoor and outdoor titles
and breaking the American record indoors. She has fought a hip injury
this year and the outdoor championships will be her first outdoor
race of the season. With a personal best of 1:57.97, she will mix
it up. The newest threat is 2002 runner-up Jen Toomey, who broke
2:00 for the first time in her career at the 2003 Nike Prefontaine
Classic (1:59.75).
Men’s 800 meters FINAL: 1:20PM, SUNDAY
World record: 1:41.11, Wilson Kipketer (DEN), 1997
American record: 1:42.60, Johnny Gray, 1985
Meet record: 1:43.9, Rick Wohlhuter, 1974
THE SCOOP: David Krummenacker is the heavy favorite, having won
the 2003 World Indoor Championships over World record holder Wilson
Kipketer. Krummenacker suffered defeats on the last two Golden Spike
Tour stops at distances of 1,500 and 1,000 meters, but he will return
to his 800m specialty here. 2002 U.S. Indoor champion Derrick Peterson,
2002 indoor runner-up Michael Stember and 2000 Olympian Bryan Woodward
of the Nike Farm Team and 1999 U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson will
challenge Krummenacker, who is likely to look for victory with a
strong kick.
Nike Women’s 1,500 meters FINAL: 2:38PM, SATURDAY
World record: 3:50.46, Qu Yunxia (CHN), 1993
American record: 3:57.12, Mary Slaney, 1993
Meet record: 4:01.01, Regina Jacobs, 2000
THE SCOOP: The script has played out many times: all-time greats
Regina Jacobs and Suzy Favor Hamilton duking it out on the final
lap. Although Favor Hamilton has been ranked #1 in the U.S. the
last three years, the Stanford-educated Jacobs has recently had
the edge in head-to-head races where it comes down to the two of
them, outsprinting Favor Hamilton at the 2000 Olympic Trials, 2001
and 2002 U.S. Outdoor Championships. The two most recently raced
at the 2003 Home Depot Invitational, where Jacobs, the 1995 and
2003 World Indoor gold medalist and indoor World record holder at
3:59.98, again won on the strength of her kick. Favor Hamilton’s
competitiveness and pure speed – only Mary Slaney has run
faster than Favor Hamilton’s 3:57.40 – will put her
in the hunt for her fourth U.S. title. Collette Liss is the 2001
U.S. indoor champion in the mile and should make a strong showing.
Other contenders include Mary Jayne Harrelson and Sarah Schwald.
Men’s 1,500 meters FINAL: 2:20PM, SUNDAY
World record: 3:26.00, Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 1999
American record: 3:29.77, Sydney Maree, 1985
Meet record: 3:34.92, Steve Scott, 1982
THE SCOOP: Two-time U.S. indoor champion Jason Lunn of Stanford
University and the Nike Farm Team looks for his first U.S. outdoor
crown. He has been the top American so far in 2003, winning the
Home Depot Invitational over David Krummenacker and posting a mile
personal best of 3:54.43 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic. Seneca
Lassiter won the U.S. titles in 1998 and 2002 and will again contend,
as will Lunn’s training partner, Michael Stember, a 2000 Olympian
at this distance. Alan Webb returns to the USA Outdoor Championships
for the first time since 2001, the year he broke Jim Ryun’s
high school record in the mile (3:53.43) and placed fifth at the
USA Outdoor Championships.
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase FINAL: 1:00PM, SATURDAY
World record: 9:16.51, Alesya Turova (BLR), 2002
American record: 9:41.94, Elizabeth Jackson, 2002
Meet record: 9:47.35, Elizabeth Jackson, 2002
THE SCOOP: American record holder Elizabeth Jackson, a recent Brigham
Young grad, assumes the role of the favorite and is a three-time
U.S. champion, winning in 1999, 2000 and 2002. Former Oregon All-American
Lisa Nye was the 2001 champion and is the veteran of the field at
age 34. Collegians typically fare well in this event, as they have
the most opportunities to compete throughout the season. Lisa Aguilera
(Arizona State, 9:46.30), Kassi Anderson (BYU, 9:48.57) lead the
current U.S. list.
Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase FINAL: 2:04PM, SATURDAY
World record: 7:53.17, Brahim Boulami (MAR), 2002
American record: 8:09.17, Henry Marsh, 1985
Meet record: 8:15.77, Pascal Dobert, 2000
THE SCOOP: A corps of young steeplechasers will vie for the U.S.
title. Meet record holder Pascal Dobert owned the title from 1998-2000,
with Tom Chorny and Anthony Famiglietti, the 2001 World University
Games champion, winning the last two years and ushering a new era
of an up-for-grabs title in the steeple. Famiglietti has the fastest
qualifying time, but NCAA champ Daniel Lincoln of Arkansas is a
dangerous runner and can be expected to be among the top finishers.
Robert Gary’s winning time of 8:27.77 at the Oracle U.S. Open
is fastest among Americans this year.
Women’s 5,000 meters FINAL: 8:40AM, FRIDAY
World record: 14:28.09, Jiang Bo (CHN), 1993
American record: 14:45.35, Regina Jacobs, 2000
Meet record: 14:45.35, Regina Jacobs, 2000
THE SCOOP: Elva Dryer and Shayne Culpepper, two 2000 Olympians,
are veterans leading the U.S. lists in 2003. If two-time defending
champion and indoor American record holder Marla Runyan (15:05.38)
chooses the 5,000 meters at Stanford, she will be the heavy favorite.
Runyan ran the New York City Marathon last fall and the Boston Marathon
in April, but the 1,500m finalist in Sydney will return to the track
this weekend.
Men’s 5,000 meters FINAL: 9:00PM, FRIDAY
World record: 12:39.36, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), 1998
American record: 12:58.21, Bob Kennedy, 1998
Meet record: 13:16.42, Doug Padilla, 1985
THE SCOOP: Alan Culpepper is the returning champion, and he will
take on returning runner-up Meb Keflezighi, as well as a field that
includes American record holder Bob Kennedy and 2000 Olympic Trials
champion Adam Goucher, both of whom are returning to competition
after injury. Culpepper is the man to beat, but this could get interesting.
Women’s 10,000 meters FINAL: 9:25PM, THURSDAY
World record: 29:31.78, Wang Junxia (CHN), 1993
American record: 30:52.32, Deena Drossin, 2002
Meet record: 31:43.33, Libbie Hickman, 1999
THE SCOOP: Deena Drossin has been the dominant distance runner
in the U.S., with recent American records in the 10,000 meters (30:52.32
in 2002 at Stanford) and the marathon (2:21:16 in 2003 in London).
Drossin won the U.S. 10 km track titles in 2000 and 2001, while
Jen Rhines took the title last year when Drossin dropped down to
the 5,000 meters. Look for Drossin and Rhines again this year. Marla
Runyan, who defeated Drossin in the 5 km in 2002, will be a threat
to win if she chooses to run this race.
Men’s 10,000 meters FINAL: 8:50PM, THURSDAY
World record: 26:22.75, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), 1998
American record: 27:13.98, Meb Keflezighi, 2001
Meet record: 27:39.4, Craig Virgin, 1979
THE SCOOP: The last several years, the men’s 10,000 meter
championship races have come down to a three-way battle between
Alan Culpepper (1999 champion), Abdi Abdirahman (2001 champ) and
Meb Keflezighi (2000, 2002). Look for the same race to develop in
2003. Keflezighi has been in the shorter races on the roads, winning
the 2003 U.S. 8 km championship, but Culpepper has shown tremendous
strength, running 2:09:41 in his first marathon at New York City
last fall. Stanford was the site of Keflezighi’s 2001 American
record run, so look for a fast race.
Women’s 20 km race walk FINAL: 8:00AM, SATURDAY World record:
1:26:52, Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS), 2001
American record: 1:33:17, Michelle Rohl, 1999
Meet record: 1:32:39 (road), Michelle Rohl, 2000; 1:34:56.52 (track),
Joanne Dow, 2002
THE SCOOP: Joanne Dow set an American record for 20 km on the track
in winning the 2002 title. The 1998 10 km champion enters as the
favorite. Three-time U.S. champ and American record holder Michelle
Rohl is back from maternity and is expected to provide the biggest
challenge. Susan Armenta has the fastest qualifying time at 1:43;20,
and two-time 10 km champion Teresa Vaill is the veteran of the field,
in her 20th year as an elite athlete. Amber Antonia, third in this
event last year, could mix it up as well.
Men’s 20 km race walk FINAL: 8:00AM, FRIDAY
World record: 1:17:25.6, Bernardo Seguro (MEX), 1994
American record: 1:23:40, Tim Seaman, 2000
Meet record: 1:23:34, Curt Clausen, 1999
THE SCOOP: Tim Seaman and Curt Clausen have traded off as U.S.
champion in this event since 1996. Clausen is the ‘96, ‘97,
‘99 and ‘01 champion, while Seaman won in ‘98,
2000 and ‘02. As the American record holder and top American
qualifier, Seaman will again be the favorite. Ben Shorey, the 2001
Verizon Men’s Outstanding Athlete at the 2002 USA Junior Championships,
where he broke Seaman’s U.S. junior record for the 10 km walk
(42:50:20) will go for his first U.S. title. Also look out for Philip
Dunn, Al Heppner, Sean Albert and John Nunn, among others.
Women’s high jump FINAL: 12:10PM, SUNDAY
World record: 2.09m/6-10.25, Stefka Kostadinova (BUL), 1987
American record: 2.03m/6-8; Louise Ritter, 1988
Meet record: 1.99m/6-6.25, Tisha Waller, 1999
THE SCOOP: An exciting competition looks to be in store as any
one of four women could win. Four-time U.S. champion Tisha Waller,
three-time champ Amy Acuff, 2002 runner-up Gwen Wentland and 2000
Olympic Trials champion Karol Rovelto staged an outstanding battle
at the Oracle U.S. Open, with Acuff coming out on top and all four
clearing 1.95/6-4.75. Despite placing fourth at Oracle, Waller is
the favorite and has the best jump this year with her winning height
of 1.98m/6-6 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.
Men’s high jump FINAL: 5:25PM, FRIDAY
World record: 2.45m/8-0.5, Javier Sotomayor (CUB), 1993
American record: 2.40m/7-10.5, Charles Austin, 1991
Meet record: 2.36/7-8.75, Hollis Conway and Doug Nordquist, 1990
THE SCOOP: Like the women’s high jump, the men’s section
will be hotly contested. Nathan Leeper is the two-time defending
champion, but 6-time U.S. outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold
medalist Charles Austin added an indoor title to his resume last
March. The 2001 NCAA outdoor champion, 2000 U.S. Indoor champion,
Charles Clinger stands 6 feet, 9 inches tall and has a goal of being
the first American to clear 8 feet. Matt Hemingway has the best
mark by an American this year at 2.34m/7-8.
Visa women’s pole vault FINAL: NOON, FRIDAY
World record: 4.81m/15-9.25, Stacy Dragila (USA), 2001
American record: 4.81m/15-9.25, Stacy Dragila, 2001
Meet record: 4.65m/15-3, Stacy Dragila, 2002
THE SCOOP: World record holder, Olympic gold medalist and world
champion Dragila has dominated this event in the U.S., winning five
of the six U.S. titles ever contested. She is coming off a strong
indoor season, where she won her seventh U.S. indoor crown, setting
a then world indoor record (4.78m/15-8.25). She out-dueled her Russian
nemesis, Svetlana Feofanova, to score a victory at the 2003 Nike
Prefontaine Classic outdoors as well. Kellie Suttle in 1998 was
the only woman to break Dragila’s U.S. win streak, and Suttle
has been consistent in 2003, with a win at the Oracle U.S. Open.
Mel Mueller and 2002 U.S. indoor champion Mary Sauer, like Dragila
and Suttle, both have cleared 15 feet.
Men’s pole vault FINAL: 11:00AM, SUNDAY
World record: 6.14m/20-1.75, Sergey Bubka (UKR), 1994
American record: 6.03/19-9.25, Jeff Hartwig, 2000
Meet record: 6.02m/19-9, Jeff Hartwig, 1999
THE SCOOP: The United States typically places two athletes in the
top three on the world and Olympic stages, so you’ll be watching
the world’s best in this event. Jeff Hartwig was the world’s
#1 ranked vaulter last year and broke the American indoor record
three times in 2002. Derek Miles is his training partner and has
been vaulting well in 2003, with a victory over Hartwig indoors
at the Verizon Millrose Games and USA Indoor Championships. Miles
has the best mark by an American this year with 5.81/19-0.75. Tim
Mack is the 2002 U.S. indoor and 2001 Goodwill Games gold medalist,
and Tye Harvey owns the 2001 World Indoor silver medal. Harvey,
Hartwig and Miles all train in Jonesboro, Arkansas, so they have
a friendly rivalry. Be on the lookout for 2000 Olympic gold medalist
Nick Hysong, who could pop off a big vault.
Women’s long jump FINAL: 11:50AM, SATURDAY
World record: 7.52, Galina Chistyakova (URS), 1988
American record: 7.49/24-7, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1994
Meet record: 7.12/23-4.5, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1987
THE SCOOP: Brianna Glenn is the U.S. outdoor champion, while 2001
U.S. champ Jenny Adams has returned to the jump after a year off.
2002 U.S. indoor champion Grace Upshaw has the best American jump
this year at 6.61m/21-8.25, with Adrien Sawyer at #2 with 6.60/21-8.
This could be anyone’s game.
Men’s long jump FINAL: 5:50PM, FRIDAY
World record: 8.95m/29-4.5, Mike Powell (USA), 1991
American record: 8.95m/29-4.5, Mike Powell (USA), 1991
Meet record: 8.79/28-10.25, Carl Lewis, 1983
THE SCOOP: For the first time since the heyday of Carl Lewis, the
United States now rules the long jumping world. Savante Stringfellow,
Miguel Pate and Dwight Phillips finished 2002 ranked 1-2-3 in the
world. Stringfellow is the two-time defending U.S. outdoor champion
(8.52m/27-11.5 - best jump in the world outdoors) and the World
Cup gold medalist, achieving the #1 world ranking. Phillips was
somewhat of a darkhorse, but he entered the limelight when he won
the 2003 World Indoor Championship (8.29m/27-7.25). He is a threat
to win any competition he enters. With Pate out with a knee injury,
this should be a two-man tussle between Stringfellow and Phillips.
1999 U.S. champion Kevin Dilworth will lead the pack to round out
the U.S. team for Paris.
Women’s triple jump FINAL: NOON, SUNDAY
World record: 15.50m/50-10.25, Inessa Kravets (UKR), 1995
American record: 14.41m/47-3.5, Sheila Hudson, 1996
Meet record:14.23m/46-8.25, Sheila Hudson, 1994
THE SCOOP: Yuliana Perez has been the top U.S. jumper outdoors,
winning the 2002 U.S. title with a jump of 46-7.25. Vanitta Kinard
is the two-time U.S. indoor champion and was runner-up to Perez
last year. Tiombe Hurd is the 2001 World Indoor bronze medalist
and the 2001 U.S. outdoor champion.
Men’s triple jump FINAL: 11:35PM SUNDAY
World record: 18.29m/60-0.25, Jonathan Edwards (GBR), 1995
American record: 18.09m/59-4.5, Kenny Harrison, 1996
Meet record: 17.97m/58-11.5, Willie Banks, 1985
THE SCOOP: Several young jumpers are lining up to carry on the
strong Team USA tradition in this event. Best among them are Walter
Davis and Kenta Bell. Davis won the 2001 and 2002 NCAA indoor and
outdoor titles and graduated from LSU in 2002. He then won the 2002
U.S. outdoor title as well, with a personal-best jump 17.59/57-8.5.
Davis kept his streak going by winning a silver medal at the 2003
World Indoor Championships (17.35m/56-11.25). Bell is the 2001 World
University Games gold medalist, and the 25-year-old had the best
jump by an American outdoors last year (17.63m/57-10.25). He leads
the U.S. list so far in 2003 as well (17.33/56-10.25), but it will
be a horserace in Stanford for the U.S. title. Either man is a medal
threat at World Outdoors, as is two-time defending U.S. indoor champion
Tim Rusan, the runner-up outdoors last year.
Women’s shot put FINAL: 6:30PM, FRIDAY
World record: 22.63m/74-3, Natalya Lisovskaya (URS), 1987
American record: 20.18m/66-2.5, Ramona Pagel, 1987
Meet record: 20.23m/66-4.5, Ilona Breisenick (GDR), 1987
THE SCOOP: With the retirement of Connie Price-Smith, Terri Steer
has stepped in to move up as the top American women’s shot
putter. Steer won the U.S. indoor and outdoor titles in 2002, as
well as the World Indoor bronze medal in 1999, and enters as the
favorite. A group of throwers all are within one foot of one another
on the current U.S. list, and all could emerge as U.S. champion.
Among them are UCLA graduate and 2001 U.S. outdoor champion Seilala
Sua; New Hampshire native, 2001 U.S. junior champion and North Carolina
sophomore Laura Gerraughty; and Ashland’s Adrienne Blewitt.
Men’s shot put FINAL: 12:50PM, SATURDAY
World record: 23.12m/75-10.75, Randy Barnes (USA), 1990
American record: 23.12m/75-10.75, Randy Barnes, 1990
Meet record: 22.22m/72-11, Adam Nelson, 2002
THE SCOOP: The big men put on a big show for track fans as the
world’s top three throwers - Adam Nelson, John Godina and
Kevin Toth - lead the competition for spots on the U.S. team for
World Outdoors. Godina is the three-time defending world champion,
and Olympic silver medalist Nelson was #1 world ranked last year,
winning the U.S. indoor and outdoor titles. Yet the favorite to
win is Kevin Toth, who at age 35 became the #2-ranked thrower last
year, thanks in part to his win the at the Nike Prefontaine Classic,
over Nelson and Godina. Toth unleashed an astounding throw of 22.67m/74-4.5
April 19 at the Kansas Relays, and he is now the world’s dominant
thrower. Christian Cantwell and Reese Hoffa have looked good outdoors
and could capitalize if any of the Big Three falter. All three have
had injuries this year, with Godina having a hyperextended finger,
Nelson battling back spasms, and Toth slightly injuring a finger
as well.
Women’s discus FINAL: 3:10PM, THURSDAY
World record: 76.80m/252-0, Gabriele Reinsch (GDR), 1988
American record: 69.44m/227-10 (pending), Suzy Powell, 2002
Meet record: 67.58m/221-9, Ria Stalman, 1984
THE SCOOP: Kris Kuehl (#7), Suzy Powell (#9) and Aretha Hill (#10)
all were ranked in the top 10 in the world in 2002. Kuehl is the
defending U.S. champion (64.44m/211-5), while Seilala Sua won the
previous four crowns and will vie for another World Championships
berth. Powell is coming off a win at the Oracle U.S. Open, while
Hill won at the Home Depot Invitational and has been the most consistent
American thrower this year. With favorable winds, the Meet record
could fall.
Men’s discus FINAL: 6:40PM, THURSDAY World record: 74.08m/243-0,
Jurgen Schult (GDR), 1986
American record: 72.34m/237-4, Ben Plucknett, 1996
Meet record: 71.26m/233-9, John Powell, 1984
THE SCOOP: Adam Setliff and John Godina will butt heads for discus
supremacy once again. Godina won in 1997 and ‘98, but Setliff
has owned the event since 2000 and was fifth at both the 2001 World
Outdoors and 2000 Olympic Games. Doug Reynolds and Casey Malone
both have thrown over 211 feet in 2003 and could steal a win as
well.
Women’s hammer throw FINAL: 5:30PM, THURSDAY
World record: 76.07m/249-7, Michaela Melinte (ROM), 1999
American record: 72.01m/263-3, Anna Norgren-Mahon, 2002
Meet record: 72.01m/236-3, Anna Norgren Mahon, 2002
THE SCOOP: Dawn Ellerbe dominated this event from 1995 through
2001, winning six U.S. titles. In 2002, Anna Norgren Mahon, a school
teacher from Connecticut, emerged to dethrone Ellerbe. Norgren Mahon
also took Ellerbe’s American record, improving the old mark
on three occasions, and was ranked #6 in the world. Norgren Mahon
is the woman to beat, but Ellerbe is motivated, and she seeks to
regain her U.S. supremacy.
Men’s hammer throw FINAL: 5:35PM, FRIDAY
World record: 86.74m/284-7, Yuriy Syedikh (URS), 1986
American record: 82.52m/270-9, Lance Deal, 1996
Meet record: 82.50m/270-8, Lance Deal, 1994
THE SCOOP: The scramble to fill Lance Deal’s sizeable shoes
in this event has resulted in tremendous competition - the only
problem is that you never know when Deal will come out of retirement.
Kevin McMahon won this event in 1997 and 2001 and is the favorite
when he is healthy. But Deal came back in 2002 when McMahon struggled
with injury, and won his eighth U.S. title. John McEwen is a two-time
U.S. indoor weight throw champion, and he has the farthest throw
outdoors so far by an American in 2003 (74.73m/245-2). James Parker
also could place in the top 3.
Women’s javelin FINAL: 7:20PM, FRIDAY
World record: 71.54m/234-8, Osleidys Menendez (CUB), 2001
American record: 60.68m/199-1, Kim Kreiner, 2002
Meet record: 30.06m/197-0, Serene Ross, 2002
THE SCOOP: The 2001 U.S. champion, Kim Kreiner, traded the American
record with Serene Ross, the 2002 U.S. champ, last year. Kreiner
stood as the American record holder at season’s end, but Ross
got the top U.S. ranking. It should be an outstanding battle between
the two. Ross also won the 2002 NCAA championship for Purdue.
Men’s javelin FINAL: 12:15, SATURDAY
World record: 98.48m/323-1, Jan Zelezny (CZE), 1996
American record: 87.12m/285-10, Tom Pukstys, 1997
Meet record: 85.23m/279-7, Breaux Greer, 2001
THE SCOOP: Tom Pukstys and Breaux Greer have been the top U.S.
throwers of the last 10 years, and 2003 is shaping up no differently.
Greer has won the last three U.S. titles, and placed fourth at the
2001 World Outdoor Championships, but he is coming off shoulder
surgery last summer. He showed good form in winning the Oracle U.S.
Open, but Pukstys and Latrell Frederick have the top throws by Americans
this year.
Women’s heptathlon FINAL: THURSDAY and FRIDAY
World record: 7,291, Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA), 1988
American record: 7,291, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1988
Meet record: 6,979, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1987
THE SCOOP: It has been a two-woman show between DeDee Nathan and
Shelia Burrell since Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s retirement. Burrell
won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Outdoor Championships, and
is the 1999 and 2002 U.S. champion. Nathan won in 2000 and 2001.
The wild card is Arkansas graduate GiGi Miller, an outstanding triple
jumper who made the World team in the heptathlon in 2001 after placing
third at the USA championships.
Men’s decathlon FINAL: THURSDAY and FRIDAY
World record: 9,026, Roman Sebrle (CZE), 2001
American record: 8,891, Dan O’Brien, 1992
Meet record: 8,726, Dan O’Brien, 1996
THE SCOOP: The next great American decathlete has been crowned,
and he is Tom Pappas. Fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games and first
at 2002 USA Outdoors, Pappas won the 2003 World Indoor Championships
heptathlon, beating World record holder Roman Sebrle. Pappas placed
second to Sebrle at Gotzis this year with a personal-best score
of 8,585. Other young decathletes to watch for are 2002 U.S. runner-up
Bryan Clay, Stephen Harris (third among Americans so far this year)
and Stephen Moore, fifth last year.
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