World Championships berths at stake at USA Outdoor Championships presented by Visa

LOS ANGELES - Justin Gatlin, Joanna Hayes, Maurice Greene, Lauryn Williams, John Godina, Allyson Felix, Tim Mack and Allen Johnson will lead a galaxy of stars who will compete June 23-26 in Carson, California, at the 2005 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by Visa. The sixth and final event of USATF's Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the USA Outdoor Championships will be televised on ESPN on Saturday, June 25 from 4-6 p.m., and from 5-7 p.m. on ESPN2 on Sunday, June 26 (All times Eastern).

In addition, the Visa Championship will be up for grabs, with indoor Visa Champion John Godina and Justin Gatlin tied atop the men's standings, and hurdler/heptathlete Michelle Perry currently leading the women. The male and female athlete with the top overall single performances in the 2005 Visa Championship Series will be named Visa Champion and each receive a $25,000 bonus to assist them on their journey to achieve their athletic goals. In addition, each Visa Champion will be awarded an invitation to their choice of a premiere Visa-sponsored event.

Nearly 1,000 of America's top athletes will compete at the Home Depot Center in Carson, vying for the right to represent Team USA August 6-14 at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The 2005 USA Junior Championships will be held concurrently with the USA Outdoor Championships in Carson, as the nation's best under-20-year-old athletes compete for spots on the Team USA roster for the 2005 Pan American Junior Championships, July 28-31 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Gatlin, Greene, Crawford to meet in 100 meters

One of the most highly anticipated events at the Championships will be the men's 100 meters featuring 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin, who will face 2000 Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Maurice Greene, as well as Olympic fourth-place finisher, Shawn Crawford. Greene and his training partner, Leonard Scott, share the fastest times by Americans this year having each run 10.03 seconds. Scott's 10.03 performance came in winning the 100m at the adidas Track Classic at the Home Depot Center on May 22. Gatlin is expected to be fit entering the Championships, having posted a windy 9.84 (+3.4) in winning the Nike Prefontaine Classic on June 4.

Men's 200 meters features incredibly deep field

The men's 200 meters also should provide a fair amount of fireworks as 2004 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Crawford takes on an amazingly talented lineup. Justin Gatlin ended the 2004 season ranked #2 in the world behind Crawford after picking up the bronze medal in Athens, and Bernard Williams came into the 2005 campaign ranked #3 in the world after capturing the Olympic silver medal. Other veterans to watch include J.J. Johnson and Darvis Patton, who ended last season ranked #8 and #10, respectively, in the world.

The 200 meters also will feature a precocious group of young sprinters, who will give the accomplished veterans a tremendous challenge. The University of Arkansas' Wallace Spearmon Jr. owns the fastest time in the world this season with his 19.91 performance in winning the NCAA Outdoor title last weekend in Sacramento. He also owns the third-fastest time in the world this year (19.97). Spearmon's Arkansas teammate, 2004 NCAA 100m champion Tyson Gay, owns the second-fastest time in the world this year (19.93), and hard-charging Xavier Carter (LSU) owns the fourth and fifth fastest times globally this season (20.02, 20.08). Also look for Florida State's Walter Dix to be a factor after posting times of 20.18 and 20.23 earlier this season. Dix also should factor in the 100 meters, an event in which he set the American junior record (10.06) in May.

Olympic medalists aplenty in men's 400 meters

Following a medal sweep in Athens at last summer's Olympic Games, the men's 400 meters should be a real dogfight this weekend in Carson. Olympic medalists Jeremy Wariner (gold), Otis Harris (silver) and Derrick Brew (bronze) will be in the mix along with Olympic 4x400m relay gold-medal anchor Darold Williamson, who posted the fastest time in the world this year of 44.27 seconds in the semifinals at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Williamson won the 2005 NCAA title in the second-fastest time in the world this year of 44.51. Others to watch include 2004 World Junior Championships gold medalist LaShawn Merritt and 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist Andrew Rock.

Hot hurdles races

The men's 110m hurdles should be very competitive as four-time world outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson takes on two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell and Dominique Arnold, who owns the third-fastest time in the world this year of 13.05, a new personal best he established with his runner-up finish June 11 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City.

Not to be outdone, U.S. men's 400m hurdles stars have dominated the world thus far in 2005, with Kerron Clement leading the world list with his time of 47.56 seconds set in winning the 2005 NCAA title in Sacramento. Bershawn Jackson won the World Athletics Final last year and ended the season ranked #3 in the world. So far this year Jackson remains on form with two of the four fastest times in the world this year. Jackson won the adidas Track Classic in Carson on May 22 in 47.62, the second-fastest time in the world this season, and posted the fourth-fastest time with his 47.91 win at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Olympian Bennie Brazell of LSU ran the third-fastest time globally this season with his runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships (47.67) and two-time Olympic Games fourth-place finisher James Carter has the fifth-best time in the world this year of 47.95.

In other men's running events, the top qualifiers include 2004 Olympic Trials champion Jonathan Johnson in the 800 meters (1:44.86), 2004 Olympians Charlie Gruber (3:34.71) and Alan Webb (3:35.90) in the 1,500 meters, 2004 Olympic Trials champion Tim Broe (13:18.61) in the 5,000 meters and 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi in the 10,000 meters (27:24.00).

Men's shot put & pole vault loaded with talent

Men's field events will feature tremendous battles in numerous events, including the shot put and pole vault.

Three-time world outdoor champion, two-time Olympic medalist and reigning Visa Championship Series indoor champion John Godina has dominated the world this outdoor season in the shot put. Godina owns four of the top six throws this year, including a new personal best of 22.20 meters/72 feet, 10 inches in winning the adidas Track Classic at the Home Depot Center. Godina's performance also has him tied for the lead in the outdoor Visa Championship Series competition with 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin (9.84w). Godina and Gatlin share the top spot in the men's competition with 1,254 points.

Godina, who injured his ankle June 11 at the Reebok Grand Prix, will be challenged in the shot put by two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson and Christian Cantwell, who ended the 2004 season ranked #1 in the world. Reigning World Indoor Championships silver medalist and 2004 Olympian Reese Hoffa will also contend for a spot on the U.S. World Outdoor Championships roster.

The men's pole vault will feature three of the world's top four vaulters from 2004, as Tim Mack looks to continue his successful ways after winning the Olympic gold medal in Athens and ending the season ranked #1 in the world. Mack will be challenged by 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson, who entered this season ranked #2 globally, and keep an eye on 2004 Olympic finalist Derek Miles, who ended last year ranked #4 in the world. Also look for talented newcomer Brad Walker, who posted a three inch personal best with his clearance of 5.90m/19-4.25 in winning the Nike Prefontaine Classic, the best performance by an American this outdoor season.

Phillips defends in LJ

2004 Olympic gold medalist and 2003 world champion Dwight Phillips looks to continue his world domination in the men's long jump after ending the 2003 and 2004 season ranked #1 in the world. Athens Olympic silver medalist John Moffitt is entered in the Championships, along with Brian Johnson, who owns the third-best performance in the world this year with his leap of 8.33 meters/27 feet, 4 inches on June 11. Two-time Olympian Walter Davis and 28-foot jumper, 2002 USA indoor champ Miguel Pate, also will challenge.

Others to watch for in men's field events include Breaux Greer, who finished the 2004 season ranked #2 in the world in the javelin throw, and 2004 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic silver medalist Bryan Clay in the decathlon.

Williams, Felix, Colander headline U.S. women's sprints

U.S. women are typically strong in the sprints and this year is no different. 2004 Olympic 100m silver medalist Lauryn Williams has the ability to make this race her own, but she'll face a tough challenge from LaTasha Colander, who won the 2004 Olympic Trials and finished seventh at the Games. Me'Lisa Barber is having a terrific 2005 season, highlighted by her personal best of 11.05 seconds in winning the Reebok Track Classic in New York on June 11. Barber's performance is the fastest by an American this season and the fourth-fastest in the world this year. 2005 Visa Championship Series women's indoor champion Angela Daigle also should be a factor, along with Marshevet Hooker, who posted a personal best time of 11.12 earlier this season.

2004 Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix is a strong favorite to win the women's 200 meters after posting the fastest time in the world this season of 22.14 seconds with her win at the adidas Track Classic on May 22. Lauryn Williams is putting an emphasis on the 200 meters this year, and she owns the second-fastest time in the world this season of 22.27 seconds with her runner-up finish at the adidas Track Classic. LaTasha Colander has also looked good in the half-lapper this season. Her fastest time this year of 22.39 is fourth on the world list. Other qualifiers to watch for and their best times this season include Rachelle Boone-Smith (22.53) and Angela Daigle (22.59).

Richards leads women 400m competitors

Americans have staked their claim on the women's 400m world list this year with Sanya Richards rising above the rest. Richards owns the second, third and fourth-fastest times in the world this season, which include a win at the adidas Track Classic (50.00), a runner-up finish at the Nike Prefontaine Classic (49.98) and a win in Kingston, Jamaica on May 7 in 49.96. Others to watch include 2004 Olympic relay gold medalists Monique Hennagan and Dee Dee Trotter, who finished fourth and fifth in the Olympic 100, and 2005 NCAA champion Monique Henderson of UCLA.

Former University of Georgetown standout Treniere Clement currently owns the third-fastest time in the world this year in the women's 800 meters with her runner-up finish at the Reebok Track Classic in 1 minute, 59.59 seconds. 2004 USA Indoor 800m and 1,500m champion Jennifer Toomey has the eighth-fastest time in the world this year (1:59.96) and former University of Tennessee star Kameisha Bennett, who placed fourth at the 2004 Olympic Trials, has a best time this year of 1:59.99. Two-time Olympian Hazel Clark also will be in the field along with her sister-in-law five-time Olympian Jearl Clark, who owns the American record (1:56.40 '99).

In other women's running events, the fastest qualifiers include 2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson in the 1,500 meters (4:06.13), two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph in the 5,000 meters (15:00.03) and 10,000 meters (31:18.96).

Perry leads Visa Championship Series

2004 Olympic heptathlete Michelle Perry has really made her mark as a 100m hurdler this outdoor season, highlighted by her world-leading time of 12.45 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York. Perry's performance gave her 1,212 points and the lead in the Visa Championship Series by one-point over Olympic 200m silver medalist Allyson Felix, whose 200m time of 22.14 at the adidas Track Classic (1,211 points) on May 22 also is a world-leader. Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, who ended the 2004 season ranked #1 in the world, currently owns the second-fastest time in the world this year of 12.47 from her runner-up finish to Perry in New York. Other contenders include 2005 USA Indoor champion and 2004 Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Danielle Carruthers, 2001 World Outdoor Champion Anjanette Kirkland and two-time World Outdoor Championships team member Jenny Adams.

The women's 400m hurdles also will be quite competitive with Lashinda Demus and Sandra Glover leading the way. A 2004 Olympian and 2002 world junior champion, Demus currently owns the third-fastest time in the world this year of 53.56. Glover had 14 wins during the 2004 season, including the World Athletics Final en route to her global #1 ranking. 2004 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic fourth-place finisher Sheena Johnson is in the field, along with Olympic Trials runner-up and Olympic finalist Brenda Taylor.

Field events up for grabs

In field event action, Amy Acuff will look to build on her 2004 Olympic Games fourth-place finish last year in the women's high jump, where she'll face a resurgent Erin Aldrich, who posted wins earlier this year at Nike Prefontaine (1.95m/6-4.75) and at the adidas Track Classic (1.92m/6-3.50). Chaunte Howard will enter this competition as a favorite, as she and Aldrich share the best clearance by Americans this year of 1.95m/6-4.75.

2000 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Stacy Dragila has been battling injuries all year, but is slated to be in Carson to fight for her ninth USA Outdoor title. Contenders include Tracey O'Hara, whose personal best clearance of 4.60 meters/15-1 in winning the Payton Jordan U.S. Open is the second-best mark in the world this outdoor season. 2004 Olympic Trials runner-up Jillian Schwartz owns the sixth-best mark in the world this year (4.55m/14-11) and look for veterans Kellie Suttle and Mary Sauer to challenge for a spot on this year's world outdoor team.

Other field event favorites include 2004 Olympic finalist Grace Upshaw and Rose Richmond in the women's long jump, current U.S. leader Candice Baucham in the triple jump, 2004 Olympian Kristin Heaston in the shot put, 2004 Olympian Aretha (Hill) Thurmond in the discus and U.S. record holder, 2004 Olympian Erin Gilreath in the hammer throw and Hyleas Fountain in the heptathlon.

For more information on the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships presented by Visa and the Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org/visa