Godina seizes lead for Visa Championship with world-leading throw

BOSTON - At the 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday, three-time world outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina showed that, even at age 32, he intends to continue to add to his exhaustive resume.

The three-time world indoor medalist usurped fellow shot putter Adam Nelson in the race for USA Track & Field's Visa Championship, uncorking a world-leading throw of 21.83 meters/71 feet, 7.5 inches in the Visa men's shot put at the Reggie Lewis Center. His throw was worth 1,230 points using IAAF scoring tables, putting him well ahead of previous Visa Championship leader Nelson, whose toss of 21.66/71-0.75 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 30 had put him was the previous leader with 1,220 points.

On Saturday, Godina put together an impressive series of throws in a competition that most observers feel will produce the 2005 Visa Champion. With three men throwing over 70 feet, that feeling could be well-founded. It would take monumental marks in Sunday's competition, such as 17.69m/58-0.5 in the triple jump, 7.43 seconds in the 60m hurdles, 5.92m/19-5 in the pole vault, or 45.38 in the 400m to overtake him. Still, Godina will have to wait until Sunday's competition concludes - and to see his point total withstand challenges - in order to be declared the men's Visa Champion.

Big day for Godina

Godina wasted no time in staking his claim to the Visa Championship, worth $25,000 and a trip to a premiere Visa event. His first-round, 2005 world-leading throw of 21.83meters/71 feet, 7.5 inches gave him the win and broke Ulf Timmerman's meet record of 21.63m/70-11.75, set in 1987. The rest of Godina's series was nearly as impressive as he threw 21.33m/69-11.75, 21.31m/69-11, 20.73m/68-0.25, 21.47m/70-5.5, and 21.12/69-3.5.

2004 world indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa, two-time Olympic silver medalist Nelson and 2004 world indoor champion Christian Cantwell all gave chase in an attempt to wrest the U.S. title and cash prize from their compatriot. Hoffa's fifth-round throw of 21.74m/71-4 is the #2 throw in the world this year, but it wasn't enough to unseat Godina.

Battling foot and back injuries over the last several weeks, Nelson used the crowd to help him rally and pop off a throw of 21.59m/70-10 on his fourth attempt. Cantwell was fourth with 20.57m/67-6.

Eight is great for Seaman

Two-time Olympian Tim Seaman won his eighth U.S. indoor title in the men's 5,000-meter race walk in dominating fashion, finishing in 19:56.41 to nearly lap the field. Fellow double Olympian Curt Clausen was second (20:41.33) and Benjamin Shorey was third (21:48.56).

Local runners make good

Local favorites Jonathon Riley and Jennifer Toomey pleased the local crowd by successfully defending their titles in the Nike men's 3,000 meters and women's 1,500, respectively.

A Brookline, Mass., native, Riley won his third consecutive U.S. indoor title, moving past Bolota Asmerom to win in 7:53.73. Asmerom was a stride back in 7:53.81, with Luke Watson third in 7:57.23.

Toomey, a Salem, Mass., resident, made history in 2004 when she became the only person ever to win the 800 and 1,500 at the same USA Indoor Championships. Injured since last August, Toomey raced for the first time since last summer on Saturday. She showed very little evidence of rust, using her 800-meter speed to distance herself from the field in a winning time of 4:13.25. Treniere Clement was second in 4:14.20, with Christin Wurth third in 4:14.74.

More middle distance

World indoor bronze medalist Shayne Culpepper successfully defended her title in the women's 3,000 meters. The two-time Olympian sprinted away from Amy Rudolph and Lauren Fleshman to win in 8:55.57. Rudolph was second (8:57.42) and Fleshman third (8:59.93).

Scott McGowan, whose previous claim to fame was being the first person from Montana to break 4:00 in the mile, was a surprise winner in the Nike men's 1,500 meters. With his winning time of 3:44.06, McGowan handily defeated defending national indoor champion Rob Myers (3:45.18) and Olympic Trials runner-up Charlie Gruber (3:46.11).

Jubilant jumpers

2004 Olympian and two-time NCAA champion Tora Harris won his first U.S. title in the men's high jump, clearing 2.27m/7-5.25 on his first attempt to defeat a solid field that included Olympic fourth-place finisher and defending USA indoor champion Jamie Nieto (second, 2.24m/7-4.25) and 2003 NCAA indoor champion Adam Shunk (third, 2.24m/7-4.25).

Gwen Wentland won the second U.S. indoor title of her career, ten years after her first victory in 1995. The 32-year-old, who did not compete in 2004 in order to give birth to her now 9-month-old daughter, Paris, cleared 1.88m/6-2 to win over Kaylene Wagner in second (1.85m/6-0.75).

A promising new talent emerged in the women's pole vault as Jennifer Stuczynski, from tiny Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y., won the competition with a height of 4.35m/14-3.25. The 5-11 former basketball player took up the vault only eight months ago and is a sometime training partner of national high school record holder Mary Saxer. Becky Holliday placed second at 4.30m/14-1.25, with 2002 USA indoor champion Mary Sauer third at the same height.

Brian Johnson won a close competition in the men's long jump with a best mark of 7.89m/25-10.75. Tony Allmond was second with 7.76m/25-5.50 and Juane Armon was third with 7.73m/25-4.5. Rose Richmond won the women's long jump with a best of 6.44m/21-1.5. Hyleas Fountain was second (6.29m/20-7.75) and Ola Sesay third (6.26m/20-6.5).

2004 Stanford graduate and Olympic Trials third-place finisher Jillian Camarena won her first U.S. title in the shot put with a throw of 17.31m/56-9.5.

Qualifying roundup

In qualifying rounds, Kameisha Bennett was the fastest qualifier into Sunday's final of the women's 800 meters, winning heat 1 in 2:03.85. Two-time Olympian Hazel Clark won the second heat in 2:05.45. Kevin Hicks posted the fastest men's qualifier with 1:47.98. Bershawn Jackson had the fastest 400m qualifier with his second-heat win in 46.96.

TV Time

The final event of USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Indoor Track & Field Indoor Championships conclude Sunday and will be broadcast from 3-5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday on ESPN.

For complete results and athlete quotes, as well as more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org