Gilreath takes Visa Championship lead

BOSTON, Mass. -- Erin Gilreath took the lead in the women's Visa Championship Series competition by winning the women's 20-pound weight throw national title Friday at the 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston.

The USA Indoor Championships continues Saturday and Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College. The Championships are the final event of USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series. The meet will be broadcast from 3-5 p.m. Eastern on February 27 on ESPN.

Gilreath, who won her first indoor title last year, took the lead in the 2005 Visa Championship Series over 60m hurdler Danielle Carruthers with her winning throw of 24.46 meters/80 feet, 3 inches. Gilreath's performance totaled 1,199 points toward the Championship, which betters Carruthers' 1,191 points from her win (7.98 seconds) February 11 at the Powered by Tyson Invitational. Carruthers must run 7.94 seconds on Sunday to retake the Visa Championships Series lead over Gilreath.

The 2004 Olympic Trials women's champion and American record holder outdoors in the hammer throw, Gilreath broke the world indoor best for the 20-pound weight throw twice this year. Her most recent world best was February 18 in Bloomington, Ind., with a throw of 24.23m/79-6.

Though Gilreath's winning throw in Boston surpasses her world best in Bloomington, it will not be considered for record purposes. "The weight was certified prior to (the competition)," said meet referee Rita Somerlot. "It was the right weight and the right length. When it was re-certified [after the record throw], it was too long in overall measurement. When it landed it changed things, and it was too long. It will not count as the American record. It does count as the winning mark."

Amber Campbell put the pressure on Gilreath in round three when she took the lead with a meet-record throw of 23.99m/78-8.50. Gilreath answered Campbell's effort in the third round with her winning toss of 24.46m/80-3, leaving Campbell to finish as the runner-up. LaQuanda Cotton placed third with a best of 21.42m/70-3.50.

"I just wanted to come in and throw the best I could," Gilreath said. "Really this wasn't a very good day for me, technically or whatever. Amber had a great day. No doubt about it. She pushed me and that's good."

In the men's competition, 2004 Olympian and 2003 U.S. Indoor champion A.G. Kruger won his second national 35-pound weight throw title. He took the lead in the fourth round with a throw of 22.44m/73-7.50 before eventual runner-up Jake Freeman threw 23.16m/76 feet, in round five. Kruger answered Freeman's effort with his fifth-round throw of 23.47m/78-0 that won the event. Kibwe Johnson placed third with a throw of 22.27m/73-0.75.

"At U.S. Nationals it's always tough competition and I started off a little slow," said Kruger. "Jake had a great throw in the fifth round and I was able to answer back with a new lifetime best, and I'm very happy about that. It was a real good competition and I knew both Jake and Kibwe would be tough to beat, but I was the lucky one on the day."

For more information on the 2005 USA Indoor Championships and the 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, including complete and live meet results, visit www.usatf.org.