NEW YORK – Following their record-setting performances last weekend at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, Regina Jacobs and Stacy Dragila will lead many of the world’s greatest athletes Friday night at the second event of USA Track & Field’s 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, the Verizon Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The event will be televised live on ESPN2 this Friday from 7-9 pm ET, and on NBC this Saturday from 2:30-4 p.m. ET.

Regarded as the world's greatest indoor invitational track meet, the Verizon Millrose Games have been a sporting fixture in New York City since 1908. Held annually since 1914, the Millrose Games is the longest running sporting event in Madison Square Garden history. In all, 87 world indoor records have been set or equaled and 117 Millrose winners have been Olympic Champions. This will be the 96th edition of this great event.

Last Saturday at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, 39-year-old Regina Jacobs broke 4 minutes for 1,500 meters for the first time in her storied career. She won the race in 3 minutes, 59.98 seconds, to break Romanian Doina Melinte’s world record of 4:00.27, set in East Rutherford, N.J. in 1990.

A 22-time U.S. champion at various distances, Jacobs broke Mary Slaney’s American record of 4:00.8, set in 1980, with her performance. Jacobs returns to Millrose Friday night as a heavy favorite in the Fred Lebow women’s mile, where she owns a four-year winning streak.

A four-time women’s pole vault winner at Millrose (1998, ’00, ’01, ’02), Stacy Dragila returns to the Garden after clearing 4.71 meters/15 feet, 5.50 inches to beat her own American record of 4.70/15-5 in the Visa women’s pole vault last Saturday in Boston. It was a tremendous beginning of the 2003 season for Dragila, who last year lost her indoor world record to Svetlana Feofanova of Russia while Dragila nursed a foot injury.

The women’s 60m hurdles features one of the most exciting matchups of the evening as Gail Devers, the three-time world champion in the 100m hurdles, takes on Brigitte Foster of Jamaica, who was second-ranked in the world behind Devers in 2002.

Defending Verizon Millrose Games champions competing Friday include Shawn Crawford in the men’s 60 meters. The 2001 World Indoor Championships gold medalist, Crawford will do battle with two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time Verizon men’s 60m winner Maurice Greene. In returning to the Big Apple following a two-year absence, Greene for a fourth Millrose 60m title after a great start out of the blocks propelled him to the 60m win at Boston last week in 6.52 seconds.

2002 Verizon Millrose men’s 60m hurdles champion Larry Wade will attempt to defend his title against a strong field including 1996 Olympic gold medalist and three-time Millrose winner Allen Johnson, and 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist Terrence Trammell, who set the Verizon Millrose Games record of 7.47 seconds with his win in 2001.

Trammell will attempt a daring double when he also competes in the Verizon men’s 60m.

Jeff Hartwig, who set a Millrose record in winning the Fred Schmertz men’s pole vault last year with a clearance of 5.87 meters/19 feet, 3 inches, will go for his fifth career Millrose title. Hartwig’s performance at Millrose last year helped springboard him to his finest season, as he ended the 2002 campaign ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News for the first time in his career.

Expect a great battle in the men’s high jump as 2002 Millrose winner Charles Clinger, who cleared 7 feet, 8 inches last week, takes on 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Nathan Leeper and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Charles Austin. Canadian star Mark Boswell also will provide a strong challenge.

International stars on hand to defend their 2002 Millrose titles include Wanamaker Mile champion Laban Rotich from Kenya, who will defend his title against a loaded field that includes 2000 Olympic gold medalist Noah Ngeny, 2001 World Championships silver medalist and 2002 World Cup champion Bernard Lagat, Ibrahim Aden and Sammy Mutai. Also look for 2002 U.S. Outdoor 1,500m runner-up Bryan Berryhill to be in the mix.

Tisha Waller will defend her Millrose women’s high jump title after adding the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor crowns to her resume last year. 2001 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion and Millrose crowd favorite Amy Acuff will challenge Waller.

For more information on the 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, including rankings of top performances and full results from last week’s adidas Boston Indoor Games, visit the USATF Web site, www.usatf.org.

Verizon Millrose Games At a Glance Fields subject to change; all nationalities USA unless otherwise noted.

Men

Verizon Men’s 60m: Maurice Greene, adidas; Shawn Crawford, Mizuno; Justin Gatlin, Nike; Jon Drummond, Nike; Kaaron Conwright, Nike; Terrence Trammell, Mizuno. THE SCOOP: Although Greene looked strong in winning last week in Boston, he faces tough competition against defending Millrose champion Shawn Crawford, Greene’s training partner and runner-up at Boston Jon Drummond and 2000 Olympic 110m hurdles silver medalist and 2001 World Indoor 60m hurdles champion Terrence Trammell. 2002 NCAA 60m champion Justin Gatlin, just 21, also is in the field and is considered a future sprint star.

60m hurdles: Allen Johnson, Nike; Terrence Trammell, Mizuno; Larry Wade, Nike; Dudley Dorival, Haiti; Dominique Arnold, Nike; Arend Watkins, Nike. THE SCOOP: Defending Millrose champion Larry Wade had a tremendous season in 2002, ending the campaign ranked #3 in the world. He’ll do battle with 1996 Olympic gold medalist and 1995 World Indoor champion Allen Johnson, who posted the fastest time in the world this year of 7.48 seconds and was ranked #2 globally last year. 2001 World Indoor champion and two-time USA Indoor champ Terrence Trammell also is in the field, along with 2000 USA Indoor runner-up Dominique Arnold.

800m: David Krummenacker, adidas; Khadevis Robinson, Nike; Derrick Peterson, adidas; Trinity Gray, Nike; Daniel Caulfield, Ireland; Khalid Tighazouine, Morocco. THE SCOOP: David Krummenacker enters this race with tremendous confidence after ending the 2002 season ranked #3 in the world in the 800 meters. Last year Krummenacker set the American indoor record for 1,000 meters by running 2:17.85 at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, and he followed up by winning the 800 at Millrose. Derrick Peterson, who finished as the runner-up in Boston last weekend, also is in the field, along with 1999 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson and 2001 USA Indoor champion Trinity Gray. Look for Ireland’s Daniel Caulfield to provide a strong challenge after placing third last Saturday in Boston.

Wanamaker Mile: Bernard Lagat, Kenya; Laban Rotich, Kenya; Noah Ngeny, Kenya; Seneca Lassiter, Nike; Bryan Berryhill, adidas; Ibrahim Aden, Nike; Sammy Mutai, Kenya. THE SCOOP: Bernard Lagat leads a strong group of Kenyan competitors in this classic event. Lagat is considered the favorite following his 1,500m win last week in Boston in 3:38.18. Defending Wanamaker Mile champion Laban Rotich was a close second to Lagat in Boston in 3:38.14. 2000 Olympic 1,500m champion Noah Ngeny also should be a strong contender. 2002 USA Indoor mile runner-up Bryan Berryhill will contend, along with 2002 USA Outdoor 1,500m champion Seneca Lassiter.

3000m: Bolota Asmerom, unattached; Dan Browne, Nike; Paul Bitok, Kenya; Markos Geneti, Ethiopia; Martin Keino, Kenya; Kenneth Maiyo, Kenya; James Karanu, Kenya; James Thie, Great Britain. THE SCOOP: Kenyan Paul Bitok is the favorite here after finishing the 2002 season ranked #4 in the world in this event, and #7 globally at 5,000 meters. Fellow Kenyans Martin Keino, Kenneth Maiyo and James Karanu are expected to provide strong competition. Americans in the field include Bolota Asmerom, who ended the 2002 season ranked #3 nationally in this event after placing third at the 2002 USA Indoor Championships. 2002 USA men’s marathon champion and 1998 USA Indoor 3000m champion Dan Browne also will compete on Friday.

John Thomas Men’s High Jump: Charles Austin, So High Sports; Charles Clinger, Nike; Nathan Leeper, Nike; Mark Boswell, Canada; Kwaku Boating, Canada; Mike Morrison, Willingboro H.S. THE SCOOP: It is a field of U.S. high jump greats. Charles Clinger is the defending champion and has the highest jump in the world so far in 2003 (7-8). 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Nathan Leeper will try to win at Millrose after finishing as the runner-up last year. 1996 Olympic gold medalist Charles Austin will provide a strong challenge, as will Canadian Mark Boswell, who enters the 2003 season ranked #3 in the world.

Fred Schmertz Men’s Pole Vault: Jeff Hartwig, Nike; Derek Miles, Nike; Nick Hysong, Nike; Tim Mack, Nike; Tye Harvey, NYAC; Toby Stevenson, Nike; Piotr Busciarski, Denmark. THE SCOOP: Jeff Hartwig enters this year’s Verizon Millrose Games with a tremendous amount of confidence after ending the 2002 season ranked #1 in the world. The four-time Millrose champ will be challenged by 2000 Olympic Games gold medalist and 2002 USA Outdoor Championships third-place finisher Nick Hysong, 2002 USA Indoor champion Tim Mack and 2002 USA Indoor third-place finisher Derek Miles. 2001 World Indoor Championships silver medalist and 2002 USA Indoor Championships runner-up Tye Harvey also is in the field.

Women

60m: Chryste Gaines, Nike; Torri Edwards, HSI; Angela Williams, Nike; Inger Miller, Nike; Lisa Barber, Nike; Brianna Glenn, adidas. THE SCOOP: This could be anybody’s race in an extremely strong field. Veterans Chryste Gaines and Inger Miller, both Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalists, will be favored to win. Gaines is the two-time defending U.S. Indoor 60m champion and the 2001 U.S. Outdoor 100m champ. Miller won the gold medal in the 200 meters and the silver medal in the 100 meters at the 1999 World Outdoor Championships. Four-time NCAA Outdoor 100m champion and 2002 USA Indoor 60m runner-up Angela Williams will compete on Friday after finishing second (top American) at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, along with top young Americans Lisa Barber and Brianna Glenn.

60m hurdles: Gail Devers, unattached; Brigitte Foster, Jamaica; Melissa Morrison, adidas; Jenny Adams, Nike; Vonetta Dixon, Mizuno; Perdita Felicien, University of Illinois. THE SCOOP: Two-time World Indoor champion and #1 ranked hurdler in the world in 2002 Gail Devers may have a difficult time holding off a strong field. A three-time World Outdoor 100m hurdles champion, Devers will face off against Brigitte Foster, the world #2 in 2002. Also aiming high are four-time U.S. Indoor champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison, who ended the 2002 season ranked #10 in the world, and #6 in the U.S.; and Jenny Adams, who won the adidas Boston Indoor Games and finished the 2002 campaign ranked #4 in the U.S. and #6 in the world.

800m: Hazel Clark, Nike; Jennifer Toomey, New Balance; Erin Belger, Univ. of California, Berkeley; Svetlana Badrankova, Kazakhstan; Sasha Spencer, Nike; Kenia Sinclair, Seton Hall University. THE SCOOP: The 2000 Olympic Trials and USA Indoor 800m champion, Hazel Clark returns to action at Millrose. Svetlana Badrankova brings international credentials. Jennifer Toomey was the runner-up at this event at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships, and is considered a strong contender in this race. Sasha Spencer was fifth at Millrose last year and third at the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and seventh at the IAAF World Cup.

Fred Lebow Women’s Mile: Regina Jacobs, Nike; Lyudmila Vasileyva, Russia; Catherine Berry, Great Britain; Geraldine Hendricken, Ireland; Birhane Hirpasse, Ethiopia. THE SCOOP: Coming off of her amazing world record performance in Boston last weekend, Regina Jacobs will step on the track Friday night as a heavy favorite. Jacobs will have to be at her best to defeat a strong international field including Ireland’s Geraldine Hendricken, who last year became the second-fastest Irish 1500m woman in history behind only Sonia O’Sullivan. Lyudmila Vasilyeva of Russia, who placed seventh last week in Boston, ran the eighth-fastest time in the world outdoors in 2001, also is in the field.

High Jump: Tisha Waller, Nike; Amy Acuff, Asics; Gwen Wentland, Nike; Lynn Houston, Nat’s Athletic Training. THE SCOOP: America’s best will go at it Friday night in what should be an outstanding competition. Reigning Millrose champion Tisha Waller is the favorite after winning the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and placing fourth at the World Cup. Last year’s Millrose runner-up Amy Acuff, who was the runner-up at last year’s USA Indoor Championships and placed third at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships, is in the field, along with 2002 USA Outdoor runner-up Gwen Wentland. Lynn Houston, who placed third at last year’s USA Indoor Championships, also should contend.

Visa Women’s Pole Vault: Stacy Dragila, Nike; Mel Mueller, Nike; Mary Sauer, Asics; Kellie Suttle, Nike; Tracy O’Hara, unattached; Jillian Schwartz, Nike. THE SCOOP: With her American record performance last week in Boston, Stacy Dragila sent a message to the rest of the world that she is back from a foot injury that hampered her throughout the 2002 season. A three-time defending champion at Millrose, Dragila set a world record here in 2001, one of four indoor WRs she set that year. Dragila will take on Mary Sauer, who ended the 2002 season ranked #2 in the U.S. and #10 in the world after winning the 2002 USA Indoor title. Former Millrose Champion Mel Mueller returns after placing third at the 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. 2002 NCAA Outdoor champion and Indoor runner-up Tracy O’Hara also will challenge Dragila, as will 2001 World Indoor Championships silver medalist Kellie Suttle.

Verizon Millrose Games Schedule of Events. For a complete schedule of all non-GST Millrose events, visit www.verizonmillrosegames.com.

5:40 p.m. Women’s High Jump 6:00 p.m. Visa Women’s Pole Vault 7:05 p.m. Men’s 60m hurdles 7:15 p.m. Women’s 60m hurdles 7:25 p.m. Women’s 60 meters 7:35 p.m. Verizon men’s 60 meters 8:15 p.m. Fred Schmertz Men’s Pole Vault 8:15 p.m. Men’s 3000 meters 8:20 p.m. John Thomas Men’s High Jump 8:40 p.m. Women’s 800 meters 8:50 p.m. Men’s 800 meters 9:10 p.m. Women’s 400 meters 9:30 p.m. Fred Lebow Women’s Mile 10:00 p.m. Wanamaker Mile