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Hoffa Keeps Rolling at AT&T
USATF Indoor Championships!

BOSTON - Reese Hoffa continued his 2006 stranglehold on the men's shot put Saturday at the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center, turning back a strong field and retaining the Visa Championship Series lead.

The AT&T USA Indoor Championships is the final event of USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series and serves as the selection event for Team USA roster spots for the 2006 World Indoor Championships next month in Moscow, Russia, with the top two finishers in each event making the team. ESPN will televise the AT&T USA Indoor Championships on February 26 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The meet concludes Sunday.

Reese stays golden

Hoffa retained his gold bib as the men's leader of the Visa Championship Series and stayed undefeated in 2006, winning the Visa men's shot put Saturday afternoon with a throw of 21.61m/70-10.75, the second-best in the world this year. Hoffa unleashed the toss in the fifth round to take the lead over defending world champion Christian Cantwell, who placed second with 21.10m/69-2.75. Three-time World Outdoor champion John Godina (20.50m/67-3.25) and 2005 World Outdoor champ Adam Nelson (20.30m/66-7.25) were third and fourth, respectively.

Top-ranked Brad Walker prevailed in a star-studded men's pole vault. The 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist defended his USA indoor title with a clearance of 5.75m/18-10.25, with American record holder Jeff Hartwig second at 5.70m/18-8.25. Walker took three tries at 5.88m/19-4 in an attempt to take over the lead for the Visa Championship Series, but did not clear the height. Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson was third at 5.60m/18-4.5, and Olympic gold medalist Toby Stevenson was fourth at 5.50m/18-0.5.

Another World Outdoor silver medalist, Chaunte Howard, won her first career U.S. indoor title in the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.95m/6-4.75, tying the U.S.-leading mark she shares with Amy Acuff. A three-time Olympian, Acuff was second at 1.89m/6-2.25.

American record for Seaman

Tim Seaman broke a 19-year-old American record in the men's 5,000-meter race walk en route to winning his ninth national title in the event. Seaman's time of 19:15.88 surpassed the previous record of 19:18.40 held by Tim Lewis since 1987 and gave Seaman his 28th overall national crown. Kevin Eastler was second in 19:43.41.

Exciting distance races

Adam Goucher continued to show tremendous form in the men's 3,000 meters, running away from the field to win in 7:49.78. The two-time USA Outdoor 5,000m champion and 2005 USA 4 km cross country winner was followed across the line by three-time indoor 3 km champ Jonathon Riley of Brookline, Mass., in 7:51.88.

Chris Lukezic, the 2005 USA Outdoor runner up, earned his second trip to a world championship event - his first indoors - by winning the Nike men's 1,500m in 3:41.84. Two-time USA indoor champion Jason Lunn was second in 3:41.98.

2004 Olympic Trials 1,500m champion Carrie Tollefson won the women's 3,000 meters, sprinting to the win in 9:05.88, with Sara Hall second in 9:06.33, and Treniere Clement sprinted away from Tiffany McWilliams, who led the women's 1,500 meter for all but the last 150 meters. Clement crossed the line in 4:08.13, with McWilliams second in 4:09.17.

Field Events on Center Stage

World Outdoor champion Walter Davis punched his ticket to the World Indoors with a winning leap of 16.87m/55-4.25 in the men's triple jump. Aarik Wilson was second at 16.60m/54-5.5.

Jillian Camarena easily defended her title and made a bit of history in the women's shot put with her winning throw of 19.26m/63-2.25. The performance makes her the #3 American of all time, behind only American record holder Ramona Pagel (19.83m/65-0.75 in 1987) and Tressa Thompson (19.44m/63-9.5 in 1999). 2004 Olympian Kristin Heaston was second at 18.24m/59-10.25.

Adam Shunk won his first U.S. title in the men's high jump with a second-attempt clearance of 2.25m/7-4.5. Defending champion Tora Harris was second at the same height, clearing on his third attempt.

Akiba McKinney was an upset winner in the women's long jump, her best mark of 6.62m/21-8.75 surpassing that of 2005 World Outdoor Champion Tianna Madison, who was second at 6.59m/21-7.5.

Favorites advance in rounds

True to form, Visa Championship Series leader Lisa Barber (7.13) and World Outdoor 100m champion Lauryn Williams (7.19) were the fastest qualifiers in the AT&T women's 60m dash first round. 2003 World Outdoor 100m champion Torri Edwards was close behind at 7.21 seconds as all three women won their heats.

Terrence Trammell posted the fastest time in the first round of the men's 60m hurdles, running 7.60 seconds to advance to Sunday's semifinals. Other top qualifiers included Anwar Moore (7.61), Dominique Arnold (7.62), Ron Bramlett and Joel Brown (both at 7.64).

Sanya Richards was the top qualifier out of the women's 400m semifinals with 51.76, while Wallace Spearmon was the top man at 46.59 seconds. Leonard Scott ran a speedy 6.56 in the Hershey's men's 60m dash first round to lead qualifiers into Sunday's semifinals. Other top qualifiers into Sunday's final events were Frances Santin in the women's 800 meters (2:04.62) and Khadevis Robinson in the men's 800m (1:49.24).

In exhibition events, Connecticut won the girls' 4x400m high school relay (3:53.06) and Massachusetts won the boys' race (3:22.79); the Cambridge Jets won the girls' 4x200m youth relay (1:52.69), and the Providence Cobras won the boys' youth relay (1:54.15).

For more information on the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/

For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com

Sponsors of the AT&T USA Indoor Track & field Championships are AT&T, Nike, Visa, Hershey's, 24 Hour Fitness, Gleukos, Gill Athletics and Sport Court. Local sponsors include the Boston Herald Coca-cola, Keyspan, Hilton Family of Hotel, MBTA and Hot 97.7FM.