Contact: Jill M. Geer USATF Director of Communications Jill.Geer@usatf.org http://www.usatf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 28, 2003

FINALS

Men’s long jump
8 p.m.
U.S. entrants: Dwight Phillips (Mesa, Ariz.), Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.)
THE SCOOP: Phillips is the 2003 World Indoor Champion, and Davis was the #3 qualifier on Wednesday. Either man – or both – could win a medal. Yago Lamela of Spain is the world leader at the favorite, but Phillips defeated him at the Indoor Championships.

Men’s 200 meter final
9 p.m.
U.S. entrants: Darvis Patton (Fort Worth, Texas), John Capel (Gainesville, Fla.), J.J. Johnson (Garland, Texas)
THE SCOOP: Team USA has three men in the 200 meter final for the first time in World Championships history. Patton looked especially sensational in Thursday’s semifinal, but Capel has pure speed that is dangerous and Johnson is a big closer. Team USA hopes for a sweep, and at least two medals are a distinct possibility.

Men’s 400m hurdles final
10:05 p.m.
U.S. entrant: Joey Woody (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
THE SCOOP: Woody ran an exceptionally strong final 100 meters in Wednesday’s semifinal race. Woody was sixth at the 1999 World Championships, and the 2003 USA Outdoors third-place finisher hopes to improve on that placing in Paris.

QUALIFYING ROUNDS

Men’s javelin throw qualifying
6:30 p.m.
U.S. entrant: Breaux Greer (Athens, Ga.)
THE SCOOP: Greer is a four-time U.S. champion coming back from shoulder surgery in 2002, looking to make another World Championships final. Greer placed fourth at the 2001 World Outdoor Championships with his personal-best throw of 87.00m/285-5, just five inches shy of the American record.

Women’s high jump qualifying
6:45 p.m.
U.S. entrant: Amy Acuff (Austin, Texas)
THE SCOOP: Four-time U.S. outdoor champion Acuff is jumping higher, and with more confidence, than at any time in her career. She cleared 2.01m/6-8 in Zurich and, barring catastrophe, should easily advance to Sunday’s final. Acuff is the lone American competitor in this event after Tisha Waller withdrew last week due to a stress fracture in her foot, and Gwen Wentland withdrew with a lower back injury.

Men’s 110m hurdles semifinals
8:05 p.m.
U.S. entrants: Allen Johnson (Irmo, S.C.), Terrence Trammell (Columbia, S.C.), Larry Wade (Canoga Park, Calif.), Chris Phillips (Maumelle, Ark.)
THE SCOOP: Team USA will try to pack four hurdlers into Saturday’s final. All four men fared well in Thursday’s quarterfinals, and although the hurdles is an unpredictable event, more than one medal is a strong possibility with three-time world champion Johnson; Olympic silver medalist Trammell; #3 world-ranked Wade; and rapidly improving Phillips running for America.

Men’s 800 meter semifinals
8:40 p.m.
U.S. entrant: David Krummenacker (Tucson, Ariz.)
THE SCOOP: Krummenacker looks to make his first final in his third appearance at the World Championships. Over the last few weeks he has not shown the early-season form that brought him a World Championships gold, but experience and smart running could land him in the final.

Women’s 4x100m relay semifinals
9:15 p.m.
Relay pool: Angela Daigle (Carson, Calif.), Gail Devers (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Chryste Gaines (Lithonia, Ga.), Inger Miller (Van Nuys, Calif.) Kelli White (Union City, Calif.), Angela Williams (Ontario, Calif.), Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.)
THE SCOOP: Team USA has won the gold medal at the World Championships five times in the sprint relay, including 2001. A deep pool of talented sprinters means that White and Edwards will likely be able to rest in the semifinals, if they and head coach Angie Taylor choose to do so. Chryste Gaines could be the key to the relay, having run a world-leading 10.89 seconds in Zurich for the 100 meters. 

Women’s 1,500m semifinals 
9:35 p.m.
U.S. entrant: Regina Jacobs
THE SCOOP: Jacobs moved through the first round on Wednesday and now eyes the final on Sunday. Saturday will be Jacobs’ 40th birthday, and she plans this to be her final World Championships. A 12-time U.S. champion in the 1,500, Jacobs is a two-time World silver medalist in this event, in 1997 and 1999. An Achilles injury kept her out of the race in 2001.