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Outstanding fields highlight inaugural Home Depot Invitational
INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field's 2003 Outdoor Golden Spike
Tour rolls on this Sunday, June 1, with many of the world's top athletes
competing at the inaugural Home Depot Invitational. The meet will be the
first event ever to be held at the new, $150 million Home Depot Center
in Carson, California, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The Home Depot Invitational, which will be televised live on
ESPN2 from 3:30-5 p.m. Eastern Time, is the third event on USATF's
Golden Spike Tour. Now in its fifth year, the Golden Spike Tour provides
America's best athletes the opportunity to compete in the United States
and earn substantial prize money in front of a nationally televised
audience. For more information on the Golden Spike Tour, visit the USATF
Web site, www.usatf.org.
Headliners scheduled to compete Sunday include Maurice
Greene, Stacy Dragila, David Krummenacker, Regina Jacobs, Suzy Favor
Hamilton, Kevin Toth, Allen Johnson, Suzy Powell and Tyree Washington.
The world's newest prep sensation, Allyson Felix, is a local favorite
from Los Angeles Baptist High School who will compete as well. Felix
earlier this month set the junior women's 200m world record of 22.11
seconds in Mexico City. Felix's time was faster than every winning time
at the Olympic Games through 1976, and it bests the 1996 gold
medal-winning time of France's Marie Jose Perec by .01 seconds.
Felix will compete in the 100 meters against Kelli White,
who owns the world's fastest time in 2003 of 10.96 seconds; and Olympic
4x100m relay gold medalists Chryste Gaines and Inger Miller, who won the
silver medal in the 100 meters at the 1999 World Outdoor Championships.
Others in the deep and talented field include four-time NCAA 100m
champion from the University of Southern California and two-time World
Indoor Championships 60m silver medalist Angela Williams, and 2000
Olympian Torri Edwards, who ended the 2002 season ranked #9 in the world
(#3 U.S.).
In other women's events, longtime U.S. middle distance
rivals Regina Jacobs and Suzy Favor Hamilton will meet again in the
women's 1,500 meters and Mexico's Ana Guevara, who ended last season
undefeated and ranked #1 in the world, will take on America's Monique
Hennagan and Demetria Washington among others, in the women's 400
meters.
On the men's side, 1996 Olympic gold medalist and three-time
world outdoor 110m hurdles champion Allen Johnson will do battle with
two-time Olympic medalist Mark Crear, among a strong field.
Also look for a very competitive men's 400 meters as Tyree
Washington, who ran the world's leading time this season of 44.70
seconds in winning last weekend at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, does
battle with 2000 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalists and identical twins
Alvin and Calvin Harrison. Two-time U.S. outdoor champion Jerome Young,
who won at the adidas Oregon Track Classic May 17 in Portland in 45.23,
also will be a factor.
Tickets are still available at all Ticketmaster outlets, at
www.ticketmaster.com and www.homedepotinvitational.com. Group discounts
are available by calling toll-free (866) LA-GROUP (866-524-7687) or on
the Home Depot Invitational Web site. General admission tickets are
available for $23 or $17 dollars. USATF members receive a $4 discount
per ticket. For group sales of 10 or more receiving a $4 discount, call
(866) 524-7687.
2003 Home Depot Track & Field Invitational at a Glance
(fields subject to change; athletes USA unless otherwise denoted)
Visa Women's Pole Vault - 12:15 p.m.
THE FIELD: Stacy Dragila, Mel Mueller, Mary Sauer, Tracy
O'Hara, Jillian Schwartz, Kira Costa.
THE SCOOP: World outdoor record holder, Olympic gold
medalist and two-time reigning world outdoor champion Stacy Dragila is
the heavy favorite in this event. The greatest athlete ever to compete
in the women's pole vault, Dragila won the Nike Prefontaine Classic May
24 with a clearance of 4.62m/15 feet, 1.75 inches, which equaled her own
best performance in the world this outdoor season from the Drake Relays.
Challenging Dragila will be 2000 Olympian Mel Mueller and 2002 U.S.
indoor champion Mary Sauer, both of whom have cleared 15 feet. 2002 NCAA
outdoor champion and indoor runner-up Tracy O'Hara also is in the field,
along with 2002 U.S. indoor runner-up Jillian Schwartz.
Visa Men's Shot Put - 12:22 p.m.
THE FIELD: Kevin Toth, John Godina, John Davis, Tonyo
Sylvester, Jamie Beyer, "The Unknown Shot Putter."
THE SCOOP: This should come down to a battle between old
rivals Kevin Toth and John Godina. After ending the 2002 season ranked
#2 in the world and the U.S., Toth has been the dominant force thus far
on the 2003 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour with wins at the adidas Oregon
Track Classic (21.21 meters/69 feet, 7 inches), and the Nike Prefontaine
Classic (21.76m/71-4.75). A three-time world outdoor champion and
two-time Olympic medalist, Godina is looking to bounce back strong this
week after missing the Nike Prefontaine Classic with a hyperextended
finger. 2001 U.S. World Outdoor Championships team member John Davis
also is in the field, along with up-and-comer Jamie Beyer, who placed
fourth at last year's USA Outdoor Championships. As an added attraction,
a masked competitor known as "The Unknown Shot Putter" also
will compete
on Sunday.
The Home Depot Women's 1500 Meters - 12:35 p.m.
THE FIELD: Regina Jacobs, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Jenna
Timinsky, Sarah Schwald, Jenelle Deatherage, Sally Hauser, Mari
Chandler, Mary Jayne Harrelson, Jen Toomey, Shayne Culpepper.
THE SCOOP: For more than a decade, Regina Jacobs and Suzy
Favor Hamilton have battled for U.S. women's middle-distance supremacy,
and their rivalry will continue on Sunday. The owner of 24 U.S. titles
in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country in her career, Jacobs
enjoyed an amazing 2003 indoor season, where she set the world 1,500m
record of 3:59.98 at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, and later won the
USA indoor 1,500m title (4:15.81) and the gold medal at the World Indoor
Championships in the meet record time of 4:01.67. A three-time Olympian,
the #1-ranked U.S. 1,500m runner in 2002, a nine-time NCAA champion and
three-time USA indoor and outdoor champion, Favor Hamilton comes into
this weekend's competition after an impressive effort in her first race
since last September last week at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, where
she was the runner-up in 4:03.47. 2002 U.S. outdoor third place finisher
Sarah Schwald could be a factor in this race, along with 2002 U.S.
outdoor 800m runner-up Jen Toomey and Jennelle Deatherage, who placed
fourth in the 1500 meters at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships.
Women's 100-Meter Hurdles - 12:45 p.m.
THE FIELD: Miesha McKelvy, Melissa Morrison, Joanna Hayes,
Natasha Neal, Michelle Perry, Yvonne Kanazawa (Japan), Felicia Stone,
Natasha Danvers (Great Britain), Bisa Grant.
THE SCOOP: Miesha McKelvy is the favorite here after ending
the 2002 season ranked #5 in the world (#3 U.S.). McKelvy has had a
successful run on this year's Outdoor Golden Spike Tour with a win in
the cold and rainy conditions at the adidas Oregon Track Classic on May
17 in 12.93 seconds, and she finished second at the Nike Prefontaine
Classic last weekend in 12.51. 2000 Olympic Games bronze medalist
Melissa Morrison, who finished the 2002 season ranked #10 in the world
(#6 U.S.), will give McKelvy a battle, as will Joanna Hayes, who placed
fifth in the 100m hurdles and fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 2000
U.S. Olympic Trials.
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - 12:52 p.m.
THE FIELD: Allen Johnson, Mark Crear, Ron Bramlett,
Dominique Arnold, Duane Ross, Micah Harris, Dominique Degrammot, Chris
Stokes, William Erese.
THE SCOOP: Always one of America's strongest events, many of
the nation's best hurdlers will be on hand for what should be a close
race. 1996 Olympic gold medalist and three-time world outdoor champion
Allen Johnson is battling a calf injury, but if he is healthy he will
headline a strong cast that includes two-time Olympic medalist Mark
Crear and 1996 NCAA outdoor champion Dominique Arnold. Other contenders
include Duane Ross, who ended the 2002 season ranked #8 in the world (#4
U.S.) and 2002 NCAA Outdoor champion Ron Bramlett. Two-time Pac-10
Conference runner-up Micah Harris also is in the field, along with 2002
IC4A champion Chris Stokes.
Men's 1,500 Meters - 1:00 p.m.
THE FIELD: David Krummenacker, Jason Lunn, Jason Pyrah,
Michael Stember, Ibrahim Aden, Jess Strutzel, Dan Wilson, Rocky
Etheridge, Charlie Gruber.
THE SCOOP: David Krummenacker is now a world force in
middle-distance running after an amazing 2002 season where he ended the
campaign ranked #3 in the world at 800 meters, and became the first
American man to be ranked #1 in the U.S. in both the 800m and 1500
meters in the same year since National Track & Field Hall of Famer
Rick
Wohlhuter accomplished the feat in 1976. The 2003 World indoor 800m
champion (1:45.69), Krummenacker posted a win in that event at the
adidas Oregon Track Classic in 1:45.77. He'll face a very strong
American field, however. Stanford graduate Jason Lunn is the two-time
defending U.S. indoor champion, and he ran a personal-best time of
3:54.43 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in the mile. Also in the field
is 2000 Olympian and Stanford grad Michael Stember, Ibrahim Aden, who
placed third at last year's outdoor nationals and Jess Strutzel, who
finished fourth in the 800 meters at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships.
Women's 400 Meters - 1:20 p.m.
THE FIELD: Ana Guevara (Mexico), Monique Hennagan, Demetria
Washington, Lisa Barber, Brenda Taylor, Linetta Wilson, Gabriella Medina
(Mexico), Tonique Williams (Bahamas), Brigita Langerholc (Slovenia).
THE SCOOP: Simply put, Mexico's Ana Guevara is indisputably
the best women's 400-meter runner in the world. She entered the Nike
Prefontaine Classic ranked #1 in the world after ending the 2002 season
undefeated in 11 outings. The streak continued May 4 when she won in
Mexico City, and again last week in Eugene as she defeated a strong
field by more than a second in a world-leading time of 49.34 seconds.
Guevara, who won the 2002 IAAF Grand Prix Final and World Cup, will be
challenged by Monique Hennagan, who ended the 2002 season ranked #7 in
the world (#3 U.S.). Other American challengers include former NCAA
4x400m relay champion Demetria Washington, who won the 2001 World
University Games and placed fifth at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships,
and 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships runner-up Lisa Barber.
Men's 400 Meters - 1:30 p.m.
THE FIELD: Tyree Washington, Alvin Harrison, Calvin
Harrison, Jerome Young, Jerome Davis, Ja'Warren Hooker, Anthuan Maybank,
Mike Kenyon, Andre Ammons.
THE SCOOP: Following a year away from the sport, 1997 World
Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Tyree Washington has returned with
a vengeance this season. Washington began the year by winning the U.S.
indoor title in Boston (46.43) before capturing the gold medal at the
World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England, with a personal best
of 45.34. Washington will face 2000 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalists
Alvin and Calvin Harrison, with Alvin, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist,
supplying Washington the greater concern after ending the 2002 season
ranked #4 in the world (#1 U.S.). Two-time U.S. outdoor champion and
2000 Olympic relay gold medalist Jerome Young looked strong in winning
two weeks ago at Portland in 45.23 while running out of lane eight.
Jerome Davis also could be a factor after ending 2002 ranked #8
nationally, and keep an eye on Anthuan Maybank, who anchored the U.S.
to
a 4x400m relay gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where Alvin
Harrison ran the second leg.
Women's 100 Meters - 1:40 p.m.
THE FIELD: Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller, Kelli White,
Angela Williams, Natasha Neal, Torri Edwards, LaTasha Jenkins, Allyson
Felix, Angela Daigle.
THE SCOOP: 2001 World Outdoor Championships 200m bronze
medalist Kelli White is the favorite following her victory last week at
the Nike Prefontaine Classic, where she posted the fastest 100m time in
the world this year of 10.96 seconds. She'll face a strong field
featuring veteran Chryste Gaines, the 2001 U.S. champion who ended the
2002 season ranked #4 in the world and #2 in the U.S. Also in the field
is Gaines' 1996 Olympic Games gold medal winning 4x100m relay teammate
and 1999 world outdoor 200m gold medalist, Inger Miller. Four-time NCAA
outdoor 100m champion Angela Williams is the field, along with 2003
world indoor 60m bronze medalist Torri Edwards, who enters this event
after her 11.23 seconds win two weeks ago in Portland. Both graduates
of
USC, Williams and Edwards now train together in the Los Angeles area
with the H.S.I. group. Also in the field is 1999 NCAA outdoor 200m
champion and 2001 World Indoor Championships 200m silver medalist
LaTasha Jenkins. The wild card in this event is prep sensation Allyson
Felix, who set the women's world junior 200m record of 22.11 seconds on
May 3 in Mexico City. A 17-year-old senior at Los Angeles Baptist High
School, Felix also this year tied the U.S. high school record in the 200
meters in the semifinals at the USA Indoor Championships in Boston, and
broke the record in the finals with her runner-up finish in 23.14.
Outdoors, her 22.51 clocking at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19 broke
Marion Jones' 1991 USA junior and high school record of 22.58.
Verizon Men's 100 Meters - 1:50 p.m.
THE FIELD: Maurice Greene, Gentry Bradley, Joshua "J.J."
Johnson, Jon Capel, Bernard Williams, Jon Drummond, Shawn Crawford,
Kaaron Conwright, Kareem Streete-Thompson.
THE SCOOP: 2000 Olympic gold medalist and three-time world
outdoor champion Maurice Greene is looking to re-establish his dominance
as the "world's fastest man" after losing his world record to
Tim
Montgomery in 2002. Greene is looking for an impressive performance
after a third-place finish (10.33) two weeks ago at Portland. Greene's
2000 Olympic gold medal winning 4x100m relay teammates Jon Drummond and
Bernard Williams are in the field, along with Joshua "J.J."
Johnson, who
placed fourth at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships and is recovering
from being rear-ended in a car accident last week. 2001 U.S. indoor 200m
champion Coby Miller, who ended 2002 ranked #7 globally, is also in the
field, along with 2001 world outdoor 200m bronze medalist Shawn
Crawford.
Men's Long Jump - 2:00 p.m.
THE FIELD: Bryan Clay, Walter Davis, Kevin Dilworth, Roland
McGhee, Kareem Streete-Thompson (Cayman Islands), Hussein Al-Sabee
(Saudi Arabia).
THE SCOOP: Kevin Dilworth is the favorite after ending the
2002 season ranked #7 in the world and #4 in the U.S. Dilworth will take
on Walter Davis, who enters Sunday's action ranked #5 in the U.S. after
winning the 2002 NCAA outdoor title and placing second at the 2002 NCAA
Indoor Championships. Also look for Roland McGhee to challenge for the
title after ending last season ranked #6 in the U.S. after placing
fourth at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships and third earlier that year
at the USA Indoor Championships. Bryan Clay will try his luck in the
long jump after placing second in the decathlon at the 2002 USA Outdoor
Championships. 2001 World Outdoor Championships fifth-place finisher
Kareem Streete-Thompson of the Cayman Islands also is in the field.
Women's Discus - 2:22 p.m.
THE FIELD: Suzy Powell, Seilala Sua, Kris Kuehl, Aretha
Hill, Summer Pierson.
THE SCOOP: Americans last year landed three throwers in the
world's top ten rankings for the first time ever, led by Kris Kuehl, who
was ranked #7 in the world and #1 in the U.S. after winning her first
national outdoor title with a throw of 64.44m/211-5. Suzy Powell ended
the 2002 campaign ranked #9 in the world (#2 U.S.) after setting the
pending American record of 69.44m/227-10 on April 27 of last year. 2002.
U.S. third-place finisher Aretha Hill should also contend after ending
the 2002 season ranked #10 in the world and winning two weeks ago at the
adidas Oregon Track Classic with a best effort of 63.44m/208-2.
Four-time U.S. and NCAA discus champion Seilala Sua also should provide
a strong challenge after placing fifth at Portland.
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