INDIANAPOLIS – Five defending world champions and a host of favorites to win in 2003 highlight an impressive roster for Team USA at the 2003 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships August 23-31 in Paris.

Defending champions from 2001 who will return to take on all challengers for Team USA include three-time champion Allen Johnson in the 110m hurdles, three-time champion John Godina in the men’s shot put, Olympic and world champion and world record holder Stacy Dragila in the women’s pole vault, three-time defending champ Maurice Greene in the men’s 100m, and 2001 world indoor and outdoor gold medalist Anjanette Kirkland in the 100m hurdles. All five athletes receive automatic byes to the World Championships from the IAAF, so Team USA will field four athletes in each of their events.

Silver medalists from the 2001 World Championships include world record holder Tim Montgomery in the men’s 100m, three-time world champion Gail Devers in the 100m hurdles, Savante Stringfellow in the men’s long jump and Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson in the men’s shot put.

Headlining the 2001 bronze medalists coming back is double 2003 U.S. champion Kelli White. White leads the world this year in the women’s 100 meters and she will be a favorite in the short sprint after winning her first U.S. title last month in a personal-best time of 10.93, run into a strong headwind. She won bronze in the 200m at the 2001 World Championships and also will be among the favorites in Paris, with the second-fastest time in the world this year, her 22.21 personal best that she ran in winning the U.S. title. Other bronze medalists competing will be three-time U.S. champion Shelia Burrell in the heptathlon and 2003 U.S. 100m champion Bernard Williams in the men’s 100m.

Other stars competing for Team USA will be five additional 2003 world indoor champions: world indoor record holder Regina Jacobs in the women’s 1,500m, U.S. indoor and outdoor champion Tyree Washington in the men’s 400m, two-time U.S. champion David Krummenacker in the men’s 800m, U.S. outdoor champ Dwight Phillips in the men’s long jump and three-time U.S. champ Tom Pappas in the decathlon.

Seventeen-year-old Allyson Felix (women’s 200m) is the youngest member of the team, while 42-year-old marathoner Linda Somers Smith is the oldest. On the track, 39-year-old Regina Jacobs will turn 40 on August 28, one day after the first round of the women’s 1,500m.

The Team USA relay pools will be announced at a later date. In 2001, Team USA won the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay and the men’s 4x400m relay.

Head coaches for the World Championships are Angie Taylor (women) and Bubba Thornton (men). Head managers are Judy Harrison (women) and Larry James (men).

The United States names to its World Championships team the top three finishers in each event at the 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by Verizon (June 19-22 at Stanford) who have achieved the IAAF “A” qualifying standard by August 13, 2003. In most cases, this is the top three finishers overall.

If the U.S. champion in an event has achieved only the “B” standard and two or more competitors at the USA Championships have the “A” standard, those athletes with the “A” standard will be selected to the team. If the champion has the “B” standard but only one athlete in the field at USA Outdoors has achieved the “A” standard, then the champion will be selected to the team.

Any changes to the Team USA roster due to change in qualifying status, athlete withdrawal or other reasons will be reported as they occur.

For a full list of qualifying standards, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/IAAFWorldTFChampionships/entry/qualifyingStandards.shtml

Team USA Roster and Staff

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