Devers, Johnson to double at Tyson Foods Invitational
2-11-2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Nick Karas
Communications Intern
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x357
Nick.Karas@usatf.org

INDIANAPOLIS - The world’s top two hurdlers both will attempt a hurdle/sprint double Saturday at the Tyson Foods Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Defending world indoor 60-meter hurdle champions Gail Devers and Allen Johnson will go for 60-meter/60m hurdles doubles at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The third stop on USA Track & Field’s Indoor Golden Spike Tour, the Tyson Foods Invitational will be broadcast on Saturday from 9-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, on ESPN2.

A two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist and seven-time world champion indoors and outdoors in the sprints and hurdles, Devers will run in the women’s 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles in Fayetteville. The American record holder in both events is undefeated in the hurdles in 2004, having won the adidas Boston Indoor Games (7.85) and Verizon Millrose Games (7.76 world leader). She won the world indoor title in the hurdles in 2003 and was the 1993 and ’97 world indoor champion in the sprint.

Johnson also has planned a double in his future. His time of 7.43 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the Verizon Millrose Games is the fastest in the world this year, and earned him the Fred Schmertz Trophy as the meet’s top performer. The 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the hurdles, Johnson owns an unprecedented four world outdoor titles in the 110m hurdles, and has two world indoor titles in the 60m hurdles, from 1995 and 2003. Johnson also is an accomplished sprinter and was the 1998 USA outdoor runner-up in the 200 meters.

A full preview of the Tyson Foods Invitational will move Thursday. For more information on the Indoor Golden Spike Tour, visit www.usatf.org