INDIANAPOLIS – A potentially powerful blend of experienced champions and young upstarts will lead Team USA into the 2003 Pan American Games next month in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Nine 2003 USA champions will join NCAA champions, 2000 Olympians and one internationally famous high schooler during track competition August 5-9 in Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium.

1999 Pan Am champions Dawn Ellerbe (hammer) and Aretha Hill (discus) return to defend their titles as the leaders on a women’s team that also features junior record-breaker and U.S. third-place finisher Allyson Felix in the 200 meters, as well as four-time NCAA champion and 1999 Pan Am silver medalist Angela Williams in the 100 meters. They anchor a sprint crew that also includes 2002 World Junior champion Lauryn Williams, a sophomore from Miami, in the 100.

In the distance events, NCAA champion Lauren Fleshman of Stanford will be joined in the 5,000 meters by Shayne Culpepper, a 2000 Olympian at 1,500m. Two-time NCAA champion (’99, ’01) Mary Jayne Harrelson is in the 1,500m.

Current U.S. champions abound in the field events, with two-time champ Yuliana Perez in the triple jump, Kristin Heaston in the shot put, Hill in the discus, and Erica Wheeler in the javelin. American record holder Kim Kreiner adds depth in the javelin. American record holder and 2002 U.S. champion Anna Mahon will try to unseat Ellerbe in the hammer throw, and NCAA champion and collegiate record holder Becky Holliday is in the pole vault.

The 400m hurdles could be a strong event for the United States, with 2003 U.S. runner-up and 1999 NCAA champion Joanna Hayes teaming with 2001 NCAA champion Brenda Taylor. 2000 Olympians on the women’s roster include Mel Mueller in the pole vault, Suzy Powell in the discus, Ellerbe in the hammer, and Olympic Trials champion Hazel Clark in the 800 meters.

Monica Gary will serve as head coach for the U.S. women’s squad, with Ramona Pagel as head manager.

Team USA’s men also are packed with talent, as 2003 U.S. champions Eric Thomas (400m hurdles), Jamie Nieto (high jump), James Parker (hammer), Carl Brown (discus) and Breaux Greer (javelin) lead the way.

Youth is served in the sprints by NCAA champion Marcelle Scales, a junior from Middle Tennessee State, in the 100 meters, and by the dynamic University of Minnesota duo of Adam Steele and Mitch Potter in the 400. Both juniors, Steele and Potter went 1-3 at the 2003 NCAA Championships, separated by just .01 seconds as Steele ran 44.57 to steal a come-from-behind victory.

Yet another NCAA champion who just finished his junior year, Grant Robison of Stanford, will compete in the 1,500 meters with 2001 NCAA champion Bryan Berryhill, the 2003 U.S. runner-up. In case there was any doubt about the power of college juniors, NCAA runner-up Louis Luchini, a junior from Stanford, will add his skills to the 5,000m. 2001 World University Games gold medalist and 2002 U.S. champion Anthony Famiglietti competes in the steeplechase alongside 2001 U.S. champ Tom Chorny.

In the throws, Greer is a four-time U.S. champion and 2000 Olympian who placed fourth at the 2001 World Championships and is recovering from rotator cuff surgery last year. Reese Hoffa is the #10 shot putter in the world in 2003, was third at the 2003 USA Outdoor Championships and has the best mark among athletes entering the Pan Am Games.

In the walks, 1999 Pan Am bronze medalist and 2000 Olympian Philip Dunn will look to continue his strong performances in the 50 km event. Other notable entrants for Team USA include last year’s #3 world-ranked 110m hurdler Larry Wade; 2000 Olympian and 1999 NCAA champion Melvin Lister in the long jump; 1999 U.S. champion Kevin Dilworth in the long jump; former NCAA champions Toby Stevenson (1998) and Russ Buller (2000) in the pole vault; three-time U.S champion and 2000 Olympian Tim Seaman in the 20 km race walk; and 2001 U.S. champion Kip Janvrin in the decathlon.

Fred Harvey will serve as head coach of the men’s squad, with Manny Bautista the head manager.

For a full roster of Team USA athletes and staff, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/PanAmericanGames/