The defending world indoor champion in the 60m hurdles and a two-time world indoor champion in the 60m sprint, Devers will compete in both events in Budapest. She is the favorite in the hurdles but will face a loaded field in the dash, including teammate Torri Edwards, Kim Gavaert of Belgium, Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus, Christine Arron of France, and Russian world-leader Yuliya Tabakova. The 2003 world indoor 60m bronze medalist, Edwards nearly nipped Devers at the finish line at the 2004 USA Indoor Championships in Boston and is rounding into form at the perfect time, having set two personal bests in Boston.

The world indoor hurdles champion in 1995 and 2003, Johnson also enters as the heavy favorite in the men’s hurdles. The four-time world outdoor champion easily won his fourth U.S. indoor title in Boston and will look to win his seventh overall world title. His world-leading time of 7.43 at the Verizon Millrose Games is well ahead of the world’s 2004 #2 time, 7.51, by Xiang Liu of China and Maurice Wignall of Jamaica.

Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila also will compete for Team USA in Budapest after winning her eighth U.S. indoor title Sunday in the Visa women’s pole vault. Dragila won the event with a first-attempt clearance at 4.70m/15-5.0.

Adding strength as leading medal favorites for Team USA are 2004 world leader Christian Cantwell and world #3 Reese Hoffa in the men’s shot put, 2001 World Indoor 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford in the men’s 60m dash, 2002 world #1 ranked and 2004 world leader Savante Stringfellow in the men’s long jump, 1,000m American record holder Jen Toomey in the women’s 800m, and current world list #1 and #3 Jeff Hartwig and Toby Stevenson in the men’s pole vault.

Head coach for the men’s team is former 400m world record holder and current South Alabama Head Coach Lee Evans. Texas Tech Associate Head Coach Diane Wholey leads the women’s staff. Head Managers are Peter Zinno (men) and Sandra Farmer-Patrick (women).

The full Team USA roster and staff is listed below.

TEAM USA ROSTER
2004 World Indoor Track & Field Championships As of March 1, 2004

Men

60m: Shawn Crawford, Mickey Grimes
200m: Jimmie Hackley, Coby Miller
400m: Milton Campbell, Joseph Mendel
800m: Michael Stember, Derrick Peterson
1,500m: Rob Myers, Charlie Gruber
3,000m: Jonathon Riley, Bolota Asmerom
60m hurdles: Allen Johnson, Duane Ross
High Jump: Jamie Nieto, Tora Harris
Shot Put: Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa
Long Jump: Savante Stringfellow, Brian Johnson
Triple Jump: Allen Simms, LaMark Carter
Pole Vault: Toby Stevenson, Jeff Hartwig
Heptathlon: Bryan Clay
4x400m relay pool: Milton Campbell, James Carter, Godfrey Herring, Joseph Mendell, Ken Garrett, Jabari Pride

Head Coach: Lee Evans (South Alabama)
Head Manager: Peter Zinno (St. John’s)
Assistant Coaches: Scott Hall (Wake Forest), Paul Souza (Wheaton), Andrew Allden (Coastal Carolina)

Women

60m: Gail Devers, Torri Edwards
200m: Crystal Cox, Rachelle Boone
400m: Julian Clay, GiGi Miller
800m: Jen Toomey, Mary Jayne Harrelson
1,500m: Jenelle Deatherage
3,000m: Shayne Culpepper, Carrie Tollefson
60m hurdles: Gail Devers, Joanna Hayes
Shot Put: Laura Gerraughty, Kristin Heaston
Long Jump: Grace Upshaw
Triple Jump: Yuliana Perez
Pole Vault: Stacy Dragila, Jillian Schwartz
Pentathlon: Kim Schiemenz
4x400m relay pool: Julian Clay, Natasha Hastings, Moushaumi Robinson, Demetria Washington, GiGi Miller, Ellannee Richardson

Head Coach: Diane Wholey (Texas Tech)
Head Manager: Sandra Farmer-Patrick (USATF Athletes Advisory)
Assistant Coaches: Connie Price-Smith (Southern Illinois), Rose Monday (Texas-San Antonio), Cedrick Walker (Flower City TC)