photo: Errol Anderson/The Sporting Image

Young stars to be showcased at AT&T USA Indoor Champs

Many of today's brightest young track and field stars will try to win the first national titles of their careers in the men's 60m hurdles and pole vault at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Championships, February 24-25 at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston.

The final event of USA Track & Field's 2007 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Indoor Championships will be televised on Sunday, February 25, from 4-6 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN 2.

Youth will definitely be served in the men's 60m hurdles as a talented group of up and coming stars vie for the national indoor title. Former University of Cincinnati standout David Payne started the youth movement in this year's Visa Championship Series events when the 24-year-old won the Reebok Boston Indoor Games in 7.58 seconds.

One week later at the 100th Millrose Games in New York City, former University of Tennessee star and reigning NCAA Outdoor high hurdles champion Aries Merritt was victorious in 7.61 seconds. The 21-year-old Merritt, considered by many to be Team USA's international hurdle star of the future, finished the 2006 season ranked #6 in the world in the 110m hurdles by Track & Field News. Coincidentally, Merritt and Payne share a July 24 birthday although Payne is the elder by 3 years.

Also in the field is former Howard University star David Oliver, another 24-year-old who won the 60m hurdles at the Tyson Invitational on February 9 in Fayetteville, Ark., in 7.60 seconds. Oliver also is considered a future star, and he enters the 2007 campaign ranked #7 in the world by T&FN in the high hurdles.

Another contender to keep an eye on is 2004 Ohio State University grad Joel Brown, who should have a say in this competition. He'll be looking to shed his bridesmaid veil after finishing as the runner-up in the three previous Visa Championship Series meets this season.

Veteran versus youth in men's pole vault

U.S. indoor and outdoor record holder Jeff Hartwig will take on many of America's finest young stars on the rise (pun intended) in the men's pole vault competition.

At the veteran age of 39, Hartwig continues to be among America's best pole vaulters. On January 19, for the fifth time in his career, he won the USA Track & Field National Pole Vault Summit. His clearance of 5.70 meters/18-8.25 was good enough to defeat reigning USA Indoor and World Indoor champion Brad Walker, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson. Hartwig will be looking to win his second USA Indoor title following his initial win in 1999.

Another one of Hartwig's victims at Reno was 2006 USA Outdoor champion Russ Buller, who will be looking for his first U.S. Indoor title in Boston. Buller, who finished fifth at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Championships, enters this season ranked #5 in the U.S. by T&FN.

Another strong contender in this event is the University of Oregon's Tommy Skipper, who enters the Championships in his final year as a collegiate competitor as the defending NCAA Indoor and Outdoor men's pole vault champion. Considered a can't miss prospect, Skipper finished tied for third (with Hartwig & Walker) at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, and ended the season ranked #5 in the U.S. by T&FN.

Two-time Pan Am Games gold medalist Pat Manson, who has been world-ranked in the top ten by T&FN on five occasions, is also in the mix.

Shot putters take center stage at AT&T USA Indoor Champs

In what could be the most closely contested event of the meet, the top three shot putters of 2007 - Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa and Dan Taylor - will battle it out at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston.

Not only will this talented triumvirate, who own 13 of the 14 best throws in the world this year, compete for this year's national indoor title, but the Visa Championships Series also is on the line with its winner-take-all bonus of $25,000 for the top male performance of the Series. With his stunning effort February 2 at the 100th Millrose Games in New York, when he posted the farthest throw in the world this season of 21.88 meters/71 feet 9.50 inches, Cantwell leads the men's Visa Championship Series standings with 1,233 points.

Taylor currently sits in third place with 1,215 points after surprising Cantwell and reigning World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa with his impressive win January 27 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with his heave of 21.57m/70-9.25. A recent Ohio State University grad, Taylor enters this season ranked #8 in the world, and his winning effort in Boston is the third best throw in the world this year.

The #1 ranked shot putter in the world last season, Hoffa enters the AT&T USA Indoor Championships as the reigning champion. The 2006 Visa champion, Hoffa earned the #1 global ranking last year from Track & Field News by winning the World Indoor title and by having a winning 7-6 head-to-head record over world #2 Cantwell. Hoffa, who has a habit of shining when it matters most, posted the #2 throw in the world this year of 21.75 meters/71 feet 4.25 inches with his runner-up effort at the Millrose Games.

Flying under the radar prior to this competition is two-time Olympic medalist, three-time World Outdoor champion and 2001 World Indoor champion John Godina, who is coming off a shoulder surgery that cost him most of the 2006 season. One of the most remarkably consistent performers in track and field history, Godina, who captured the inaugural indoor Visa Championship Series in 2005, was ranked top ten in the world every season since 1994 until last year.