BOSTON – The Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College will host the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships March 1-2, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Wednesday. The 2004 USA Indoor Championships also will be at the Reggie Lewis Center.

More than 800 of America’s top athletes will compete in Boston, with the top two finishers in each event being selected for the contingent of Team USA – the World’s #1 Track & Field Team – that will compete at the 2003 World Indoor Championships March 14-16 in Birmingham, England. The 2003 USA and World Indoor Championships will serve as the first step on the road to Athens, Greece, and the 2004 Olympic Games.

As host site of the Boston Indoor Games, part of USATF’s Golden Spike Tour, the Reggie Lewis Center has been the site of three American records (men’s and women’s 1,000m, men’s 3,000m) a world and American best (women’s 2 mile), a U.S. all-comers record (women’s 800 meters) and one world and American record (men’s 4x800m relay). Built in 1995, the 4,000-spectator capacity Reggie Lewis Center has hosted an impressive list of competitions, including the Boston Indoor Games, NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Championships, the National Scholastic Championships, and hundreds of other high school and college track and field meets on its world-class Mondo Super X banked 200m track.

“The Reggie Lewis Center is one of the finest facilities in the country,” said USATF CEO Craig Masback. “It has proven itself as a fast track, and Boston’s fans have a well-deserved reputation for filling the stands and creating an exciting atmosphere at the Reggie Lewis Center. With those factors working together, the stage is set for an outstanding competition at what is a critical meet for our athletes.”

The concluding event of USATF’s Indoor Golden Spike Tour, the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships is the world’s oldest indoor track championship, with the first meet being held in 1888 in New York.

The Championships bring together America’s top athletes as they vie for the right to represent the United States at the World Indoor Championships. Among the athletes who have regularly competed at the meet are 60-meter indoor world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, Olympic gold medalist pole vaulter Stacy Dragila, three-time World Indoor shot put champion John Godina, Olympic silver medalist shot putter Adam Nelson, Olympic gold medalist hurdler Allen Johnson, defending World Indoor champion hurdler Terrence Trammell and Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers. Official athlete lineups will be announced in 2003.

“Over the past three years, the Reggie Lewis Center has proven to be the premier facility for exciting track meets for all levels,” said Reggie Lewis Center Director Keith McDermott. “Hosting the world’s greatest athletes as part of the USATF Indoor Championships in Boston, where track and field has always enjoyed world-class support, will be the highlight of our events so far.”

Masback and McDermott were joined in making the announcement at the Reggie Lewis Center by athletes Allen Johnson, the 1996 Olympic 110m gold medalist, three-time World Outdoor champion, 1995 World Indoor champion and two-time U.S. indoor titleist; and Tasha Downing, the Boston Technical graduate and 2001 World Indoor Championships 4x400m relay competitor.

Also on hand for the announcement were Roxbury Community College president Dr. Randolph Bromery, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) President and CEO Paul Guzzi, Massachusetts Sports Commission (MSC) President Mark R. Drago, and USA Track & Field New England (USATF-NE) Managing Director Steve Vaitones. Along with the Reggie Lewis Center, GBCC, MSC and USATF-NE serve as the local organizing committee for the Championships.

Tickets for the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will go on sale December 2 and will be available by calling USATF National Headquarters: (317) 261-0500. For more information on the 2002 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit www.usatf.org

USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Quick Facts

What: 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships When: March 1-2, 2003 Where: Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College Who: America’s finest track and field athletes Hosted By: USA Track & Field, the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Sports Commission and USATF New England

· World’s oldest indoor track championships, first held in 1888 · More than 600 athletes, plus their support staff take part · National television coverage, with international broadcast to more than 50 nations

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Records set at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center

WORLD RECORDS

Event Performance Athlete(s) Date

Men’s 4x800m relay 7:13.94 Global Athletics 6Feb00 (Joey Woody, Karl Paranya, Rich Kenah, David Krummenacker)

AMERICAN RECORDS

Men’s 1,000m 2:17.85 David Krummenacker 27Jan02; Women’s 1,000m 2:35.29 Regina Jacobs 6Feb00; Men’s 3,000m 7:39.23 Tim Broe 27Jan02; Men’s 4x800m relay 7:13.94 Global Athletics 6Feb00 (Joey Woody, Karl Paranya, Rich Kenah, David Krummenacker)

WORLD & AMERICAN BEST

Women’s 2 mile 9:23.38 Regina Jacobs 27Jan02

U.S. ALL-COMERS

Women’s 800m 1:57.79 Jolanda Ceplak (SLO) 27Jan02