Crawford headlines men's 60 meters

The 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist, Shawn Crawford focused entirely on the 100 meters last year. He is the favorite in the 60 in Boston, although he'll face a strong challenge from up and comer Mark Jelks, who placed fifth in the 60 meters at the 2005 USA Indoor Championships and fifth in the 100 meters later that summer at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships. Also look for 2004 NCAA 60m champion DaBryan Blanton to challenge for top honors. Jamaicans Steve Mullings and Larone Clarke will add an international flavor to the event.

Krummenacker looks to win again in Boston

After winning the 1,000 meters in commanding fashion at last year's Reebok Boston Indoor Games, David Krummenacker looks to add another Reebok win to his resume in the men's 800 meters. He will face fellow American Jebreh Harris, who ended the 2006 season as the #3 ranked American by Track & Field News. Other Americans in the field include Sam Burley, who was fourth at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, and 2004 Olympian Derrick Peterson. The most intriguing entry is four-time NCAA Division III 800m champion Nick Symmonds, who was the surprise runner-up at last year's AT&T USA Outdoor Championships. Also look for Kenyan Justus Koech to challenge for top honors.

Loaded field in men's mile

National high school indoor mile record holder Alan Webb set a personal best indoor mile time of 3:56.70 earlier this year at the New Balance Indoor Games in New York, showing that he's fit and ready to do battle on Saturday. Other Americans in the field include reigning USA Indoor champion Chris Lukezic, Webb's training partner who placed seventh at last year's World Indoor Championships in Moscow. Also watch for 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings, who was a surprise runner-up to Bernard Lagat in the 1,500 meters at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships. International challengers include Canada's Olympic finalist Kevin Sullivan and Nate Brannen, Ireland's James Nolan and Kenyan Angwenyi Elkanah.

Anybody's race in men's 3,000m

Australia's Craig Mottram returns to the Reebok Boston Indoor Games following his impressive victory in the two-mile race here a year ago. Ireland's Allistair Cragg finished third in the two mile last year before placing fourth in the 3,000 meters at the 2007 World Indoors in Moscow. Multiple World Cross Country Championships medalist Gebre Gebremariam and World Indoor bronze medalist Marko Geneti lead a strong Ethiopian contingent, and the top American hope lies in Jorge Torres, who won the 2006 10,000m U.S. title and ended the season ranked #1 in that event in the U.S. by T&FN.

Aries hopes to Merritt a hurdles win

Youth will be served as young guns Aries Merritt, Joel Brown and Aubrey Herring, among others, line up for the men's 60m hurdles. Merritt won the 2006 NCAA 110m hurdles title and ended the campaign ranked #6 in the world, proving that his fortunes are on the rise. Brown was fourth at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoors and ended the season ranked #10 in the U.S. Herring finished seventh at last year's AT&T USA Outdoors, and ended the year ranked #9 in the U.S. Also keep an eye on veteran Dudley Dorival of Haiti, who made it to the semifinals of the 2006 World Indoor Championships.

Hartwig keeps clearing his competitors

At age 39, American record holder Jeff Hartwig continues to be among America's best pole vaulters. Last weekend, for the fifth time in his career, he was victorious at 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, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson and 2006 USA Outdoor champion Russ Buller. Walker and Buller will challenge Hartwig in Boston.

Hoffa looks to 'put' it to the competition

World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa will face stiff competition as he attempts to defend his Reebok Boston Indoor Games title. Although Hoffa finished the 2006 season ranked #1 in the world by T&FN and was undefeated indoors, Christian Cantwell (world ranked #2) won more events outdoors, Hoffa compiled a slight 7-6 edge over Cantwell in head-to-head competition. Two-time Olympic medalist John Godina makes his return to competition after missing most of last season due to shoulder surgery, and Dan Taylor (world ranked #8) will look to upset the trio of more accomplished veteran competitors.

Daigle-Bowen strives to continue winning ways indoors

The inaugural winner of the women's Visa Championship Series from her 60m victory at the 2005 USA Indoor Championships, Angela Daigle-Bowen returns to Boston after finishing third here last year. Daigle-Bowen will be challenged by Mikele Barber, who was fourth at last year's AT&T USA Indoor Championships and Brianna Glenn, who was eighth at that event. Also keep an eye on reigning U.S. 200m outdoor champion and World Outdoor silver medalist Rachelle Smith, who could surprise in this event. 2006 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Gabby Mayo will strive to make an even bigger name for her self against a talented elite field.

Trotter favored in two-lap race

Coming off a strong 2006 season where she ended the campaign ranked #6 in the world in the women's 400 meters, Dee Dee Trotter is looking for that momentum to continue this season. She'll be challenged by Mary Danner, who was the runner-up at last year's AT&T USA Indoor Championships.

Anybody's race in women's mile

World Indoor silver medalist Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada will look to defend her women's mile title after winning last year's race in 4:29.52. Her toughest competition could come from Australia's Sarah Jamieson, who ended the 2006 season ranked #5 in the world by T&FN. They'll be challenged by Lindsey Gallo, who was the runner-up in the 1,500 meters at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships and ended the season ranked #2 in the U.S. in the 1,500m/mile by T&FN. Other Americans to watch include Jenelle Deatherage, who was third at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Championships, Christin Wurth-Thomas, who placed seventh at this event last year and two-time Olympian Shayne Culpepper.

Defar ahead of the competition

Ethiopia's Meseret Defar came close to the women's 3,000-meter world record in winning this event last year in Boston, running 8:30.94 to post the sixth-fastest time in history. Defar's own 8:30.05, also run at this meet in 2005, currently sits fourth all-time. She ended the 2006 season ranked #1 in the world at 3,000 meters and #2 globally at 5,000m. The top American in the field is 2005 USA Outdoor 5,000m champion and 2004 Olympian Shalane Flanagan.

Dibaba says bye-bye!

The unquestioned favorite in the women's 5,000 meters is Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, who ended the season ranked #1 in the world at that distance by Track & Field News. In winning here last year, Dibaba ran most of the race by herself, finishing in 14:35.46, a time bested only by her world record 14:32.93, set in 2005 at this meet. Dibaba's sister Ejegayehu, who ended the 2006 season ranked #6 in the world, could make this race interesting for her younger sibling. Sara Slattery, who placed third here last year, is the leading American entrant.

Women's hurdles race up for grabs

While there's no clear favorite in the women's 60m hurdles, this talented field should produce a competitive and exciting race. Two-time defending U.S. 60m hurdles champion Danielle Carruthers looks to kickoff another successful season in 2007 with this race. Other possible winners include 2004 World Indoor champion Perdita Felicien of Canada, along with Jamaican Olympian Michelle Freeman.

Stuczynski inches toward American record

After finishing the 2006 season as the top ranked U.S. vaulter (#6 in world) Jenn Stuczynski has ridden that positive momentum into the current indoor season. Last week at the USA Track & Field National Pole Vault Summit Stuczynski cleared a career-best 4.70 meters/15 feet, five inches, which equals the top clearance in the world this indoor season. She'll be challenged by two-time U.S. World Outdoor Championships team member Mary Sauer, 2004 Olympian Jillian Schwartz and 2005 World Outdoor Championships team member Tracy O'Hara.