INDIANAPOLIS – Led by five-time medalist Marion Jones, nearly 26 Olympians are scheduled to compete Saturday, June 9, at the Peregrine Systems U.S. Open.

Held at Cobb Track & Angell Field on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California, the meet is the third stop on USA Track & Field’s Golden Spike Tour and is an IAAF Grand Prix I event. It will be broadcast from 5-6 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday, June 10, on CBS as part of a “Weekend of Track & Field” on TV. The weekend kicks off with the adidas Oregon Track Classic, broadcast from 12:30 a.m. until 2 a.m. Sunday morning on ESPN2, and continues with the NCAA Outdoor Championships from 2-4 p.m. on CBS. Athletes in select events at the Peregrine Systems U.S. Open will compete for IAAF Grand Prix points and prize money. Many of Team USA’s biggest names, including Jones, Inger Miller, Stacy Dragila, Terrence Trammell, Adam Nelson, John Godina, Jon Drummond, Kellie Suttle, Adam Goucher, Bob Kennedy, Tonja Buford-Bailey, Amy Acuff, Adam Setliff and Dawn Ellerbe are expected at Palo Alto. International stars include Kevin Sullivan, Daniel Zegeye, Catherine Scott, Jason Tunks, Otukile Lekote, Raymond Yator and Luke Kpkosgei. World-class matchups highlight every event. The Olympic champion goes head-to-head with the world champion in the Verizon women’s 200m; the top three-ranked throwers of last year do battle in the men’s shot put; the top hurdler of 2001 seeks revenge against the man who has given him his only defeat this season in the GMC Envoy Men’s 110m hurdles; Olympic finalists from the United States, Belarus, Estonia and Canada compete in the men’s discus; three of the top four finishers from the Olympic Trials run the adidas women’s 1,500m; and the American record looks to be in serious jeopardy in the men’s 3,000m. See below for event-by-event previews. Peregrine Systems is the title sponsor of the meet. USATF Golden Spike Tour sponsors are Verizon, adidas, GMC Envoy, Visa, SoBe Sports System and Pontiac Grand Prix.

"As title sponsor of the Peregrine Systems U.S. Open, we applaud the commitment and excellence of all the athletes competing in this event and the work that the USATF is doing to promote the sport," said Thomas Smith, Peregrine senior vice president of global marketing. "We are also delighted at the opportunity to reflect our 'frictionless business' brand campaign, which communicates how our software solutions help companies optimize productivity and profitability by minimizing friction points in their business processes."

The 2001 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour concludes June 21-24 at the GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Peregrine Systems U.S. Open At a Glance

Times and fields subject to change

Verizon Women's 200 Meters

The Field: Marion Jones, Inger Miller, Juliet Campbell (JAM), LaTasha Jenkins, LaKiesha Backus, Lilliana Allen (MEX)

The Scoop: Sparks will fly on the track as the 1999 world champion, Inger Miller, takes on the 2000 Olympic gold medalist, Marion Jones. All told, it is a stunning field: Juliet Campbell, a silver medalist on Jamaica's 4x100m relay team, won the 2001 World Indoor title, and LaTasha Jenkins was second. Jenkins is having a particularly strong 2001, with a win at the adidas Oregon Track Classic last week.

Pontiac Grand Prix Men's 200 Meters The Field: Jon Drummond, Ja'Warren Hooker, Kevin Little, Jeff Laynes, Kaaron Conwright, Dwight Thomas (JAM), Christopher Williams (JAM), Ricardo Williams (JAM)

The Scoop: It's USA vs. Jamaica in the Pontiac Grand Prix men's 200 meters. The 1997 U.S. champion at 200m and 2000 Olympic 4x100m gold medalist, Jon Drummond, provides an impressive resume for the Americans, as does 1997 World Indoor champion Kevin Little. Competing for the University of Washington, Ja'Warren Hooker was the sprinting sensation of the 2001 collegiate season but finished fifth at the NCAA championships. Christopher Williams has a personal best of 20.02 - the fastest in this field - and ran on Jamaica's bronze-winning 4x400 team at the 2000 Olympics.

Peregrine Systems Men's 800 Meters The Field: Khadevis Robinson, Trinity Gray, David Kiptoo (KEN), Sammy Langat (KEN), Otukile Lekote (BOT), Derrick Peterson, James McIlroy (GBR), Jess Strutzel

The Scoop: Athletes from three continents meet for what should be a blazing race in the Peregrine Systems Men's 800. Khadevis Robinson is on a roll after placing third at the Prefontaine Classic May 27 in a personal-best time of 1:45.15 and winning last week at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Trinity Gray finished fourth at Pre and is the U.S. Indoor champ. Gray and Robinson will have their hands full - David Kiptoo, who ran 1:44.6 last season but finished fifth at Pre, and fellow Kenyan Sammy Langat have personal bests under 1:44. The spoiler could be Lekote, the NCAA champion from South Carolina, who has the fastest time of the field so far this year at 1:44.76.

adidas Women's 1500 Meters

The Field: Regina Jacobs, Marla Runyan, Shayne Culpepper, Sarah Schwald, Amy Rudolph, Mardrea Hyman (JAM), Kathy Butler (GBR), Elva Dryer, Sinead Delahunty (IRL), Leah Pells (CAN), Ludmyla Vasilyeva (RUS)

The Scoop: Three of the top four finishers at the Olympic Trials face a very strong field. The American record holder at 1,000 and 5,000 meters, two-time World Championships silver medalist and Olympic Trials champion, Regina Jacobs, heads the field. Marla Runyan set an American record indoors at 5,000 meters in 2001 and was eighth in the 1,500 at the Olympic Games. Shayne Culpepper was an Olympian at 1,500m and has proven her speed this season with a 2:02.18 personal best for 800 meters at the adidas Oregon Track Classic, while Amy Rudolph is a two-time Olympian and former American record holder at 5,000m. Dryer recently ran an American best time on the roads for 4 miles and is an Olympian at 5,000m. Kathy Butler ran for Great Britain at the 2000 Games in the 5,000m, while Delahunty and Pells represented their respective countries at the Games as well.

Peregrine Systems Men's Mile

The Field: Michael Stember, Jonathon Riley, Jason Lunn, Seneca Lassiter, Kevin Sullivan (CAN), William Chirchir (KEN), Graham Hood (CAN), James Karanu (KEN), Martin Keino (KEN), Rob Mitchell, Andrew Walker (IRL), Daniel Zegeye (ETH)

The Scoop: The invitational portion of Peregrine Systems U.S. Open comes to an exciting conclusion with this field that includes some of Stanford's and the world's best. William Chirchir leads the field with a blazing personal best of 3:47.94, while Olympic 5th-place finisher Kevin Sullivan ran 3:51.82 in the mile in the Prefontaine Classic and is showing fine form. Daniel Zegeye was sixth at the 2000 Olympics. Stanford's Mike Stember brings Olympian credentials to the race and was fourth at the NCAA championships; Cardinal Jonathon Riley is on a winning streak with the 2001 NCAA 5,000 title to his credit, and 1998 Stanford grad Jason Lunn has the benefit of international experience and a personal best of 3:36.74. The top American indoors this year was Lassiter, who became the fastest American man indoors in 16 years when he ran 3:54.21 at the Tyson Invitational.

Men's 3000 Meters

The Field: Abdi Abdirahman, Alan Culpepper, Adam Goucher, Bob Kennedy, Brad Hauser, Brent Hauser, Luke Kipkosgei (KEN), Nick Rogers, Matt Lane, Brian Baker, Albert Chepkurui (KEN), Daniel Gachara (KEN), James Getanda (KEN), Ben Maiyo (KEN), Edwin Maranga (KEN), Phil Price

The Scoop: With Edwin Maranga serving as pacesetter, Luke Kipkosgei owning a personal best of 7:27.59 and a glittering field toeing the start line, the American record is in jeopardy. Bob Kennedy currently holds the mark at 7:30.84, and his competition here is intense. The Olympic Trials 5,000m champion, Goucher showed excellent speed in running a 3:55.47 at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Abdi Abdirahman and Alan Culpepper were 10,000m Olympians for the U.S. in 2000 and have shown superlative fitness in 2001, and Brad Hauser was a U.S. Olympian at 5,000m. They will face fierce - and fast - competition from the Kenyan contingent. Kipkosgei and Albert Chepkurui have run under 13 minutes for 5k, and Ben Maiyo as a 3k best of 7:32.36.

GMC Envoy Men's 110 Meter Hurdles

The Field: Terrence Trammell, Dawane Wallace, Eugene Swift, Dominique Arnold, Deworski Odom, Terry Reese, Adrian Woodley (CAN)

The Scoop: Dawane Wallace delivered World Indoor hurdles champion and Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell his first defeat of the year last week at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Trammell seeks revenge in Palo Alto, but 1996 Olympian Eugene Swift and world-ranked American Dominique Arnold could pull off the surprise victory.

Women's 400m Hurdles

The Field: Lade Akinremi (NGR), Tonja Buford-Bailey, Sandra Farmer-Patrick, Yvonne Harrison, Catherine Scott (JAM), Ryan Tolbert

The Scoop: Catherine Scott won Olympic silver as part of Jamaica's 4x400m relay team and brings sharp speed to this event. Two-time Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey was the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and still holds the second-fastest time ever run at 52.62. Sandra Farmer-Patrick is the 1992 Olympic silver medalist, Ryan Tolbert was the 1997 NCAA champion and Yvonne Harrison was sixth at the Olympic Trials, shaping up a strong field.

Men's 3000m Steeplechase

The Field: Joel Bourgeois (CAN), Fred Carter, Stephen Cherono (KEN), Billy Herman, Greg Jimmerson, Jesse Thomas, Clint Wells, Raymond Yator (KEN)

The Scoop: With a personal-best of 8:03.74, Kenyan Raymond Yator is the heavy favorite. Canadian Olympian Joel Bourgeois leads the rest of the field, which includes American up-and-comers Greg Jimmerson and Clint Wells. Jimmerson ran on the men's 12k team that placed third at the World Cross Country Championships in March, while Wells ran on the fourth-place U.S. 4k team.

Women's Hammer

The Field: Dawn Ellerbe, Bethany Hart, Cari Soong, Melissa Price, Lisa Misipeka (ASA), Karen DiMarco (AUS), Bronwyn Eagles (AUS)

The Scoop: As the American record holder, Olympic Trials Champion, seventh-place Olympic finisher and four-time U.S. outdoor champion, Dawn Ellerbe is the odds-on favorite. A strong field accompanies her, including Lisa Misipeka of American Samoa who defeated Ellerbe last weekend at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Bethany Hart was fifth at the Olympic Trials and Cari Soong and Melissa Price are also among the top Americans. Bronwyn Eagles of Australia has the second-best personal record in the field behind Ellerbe. She and comrade Karen DiMarco add an Aussie flavor.

VISA Women's Pole Vault

The Field: Stacy Dragila, Kellie Suttle, Mel Mueller, Mary Sauer, Alicia Warlick.

The Scoop: Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila and World Indoor Championships silver medalist Kellie Suttle lead a field that features five of the top six performers from the Olympic Trials. Dragila has already broken her own world record this year, going 4.70m/15 feet, 5 inches in Pocatello, Idaho, this year, and is coming off two straight wins at the Prefontaine Classic and adidas Oregon Track Classic. Suttle has been keeping pace, becoming only the second American ever to clear 15 feet, which she has done twice in 2001 - at the Drake Relays and the Modesto Relays, where she set her personal best of 15-1/4.60m. Mueller, Sauer and Warlick were third, fourth and sixth, respectively, to Dragila's and Suttle's 1-2 finish at the Olympic Trials.

Women's High Jump

The Field: Amy Acuff, Karol Damon, Erin Aldrich, Gwen Wentland, Nicole Forrester (CAN)

The Scoop: With her best season since 1997 when she won the U.S. and NCAA titles, Amy Acuff has emerged as one of the world's top jumpers in 2001, finishing second in the World Indoor Championships and twice beating Olympic bronze medalist Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden. Coming off a win and a clearance of 1.98m/6-6 at the Prefontaine Classic May 27, Acuff meets fellow Olympians Karol Damon and Erin Aldrich here.

Women's shot put

The Field: Connie Price-Smith, Teri Tunks, Valentina Fedyushina (AUT), Kristin Heaston, Lieja Koeman (NED), Dana Lawson

The Scoop: Four-time Olympian Connie Price-Smith and 2000 Olympian Teri Tunks face a formidable challenger in Valentina Fedyushina, who has the farthest personal best mark in the field at 21.08m/69-2.

Men's Shot Put The Field: Adam Nelson, Andy Bloom, John Godina, Kevin Toth, John Davis, Tonyo Sylvester

The Scoop: America's 2000 Olympic Team - the top three world-ranked shot putters of 2000 - take on the best of its U.S. rivals in what promises to be an amazing competition. Adam Nelson is the Olympic Trials champion, Olympic silver medalist and top-ranked thrower of last year. Andy Bloom was third at the Trials and fourth at the Games but won the IAAF Grand Prix Final. John Godina won bronze in Sydney and has had an amazing 2001, winning the world indoor title and owning the five best throws by an American this year - including three marks over 70 feet. Fifth at the Olympic Trials, Kevin Toth leads the challengers.

Men's Discus

The Field: Andy Bloom, John Godina, Adam Setliff, Vasiliy Kaptyukh (BLR), Nick Petrucci, Aleksander Tammert (EST), Jason Tunks (CAN), Robert Weir (GBR), Ian Winchester (NZL)

The Scoop: The men's discus features a field similar in strength to the shot put, with four Olympic finalists. Two-time Olympian Adam Setliff placed fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games and is a favorite, along with Vassiliy Kaptyukh of Belarus (4th in Sydney), Jason Tunks of Canada (6th) and Aleksander Tammert of Estonia (9th). But John Godina, a two-time Olympian in both the shot put and discus, has the farthest throw by an American this year at 67.66m/222-0, which is also the best throw this year by anyone in the field. Shot put Olympian Andy Bloom has the second-best American throw in 2001 and will vie for the win as well. Winchester posts Olympic credentials for New Zealand, and Olympian Robert Weir of Great Britain is also the coach of shot putter Adam Nelson.

Peregrine Systems U.S. Open Schedule of Events / Subject to change

2:00pm Women's Hammer 5:00pm Men's Discus 5:30pm VISA Women's Pole Vault 6:05pm GMC Envoy Men's 110 Meter Hurdles 6:15pm Peregrine Systems Men's 800 Meters 6:25pm Verizon Women's 200 Meters 6:35pm Women's 400m Hurdles 6:40pm Women's High Jump 6:45pm Pontiac Grand Prix Men's 200 Meters 6:55pm Men's 3000 Meters 7:10pm Peregrine Systems Men's Mile 7:20pm Men's 3000m Steeplechase 7:35pm Women's 1500 Meters 7:50pm Men's Shot Put 8:15pm Women's Shot Put

Additional Events

8:00pm Men's 1500 Meters 8:10pm Women's 1500 Meters 8:20pm Women's 800 Meters 8:30pm Men's 800 Meters 8:40pm Women's 5000 Meters 9:00pm Men's 5000 Meters