Clement, Richards win Visa Championships

LOS ANGELES - Kerron Clement staked his claim to the title in the final day, while Sanya Richards' performance on Saturday earned her the title of 2005 Visa Champion at the 2005 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, presented by Visa.

The men's and women's Visa Championships go to the man and woman with the top individual performances of the 2005 Outdoor Visa Championship Series. A cash prize of $25,000 each to go toward helping the winners fulfill their Olympic dreams, plus a trip to a premier Visa-sponsored event, go to Clement and Richards.

Clement's remarkable time of 47.24 seconds on Sunday in the 400 meter hurdles, the fastest time in that event in seven years, vaulted him to the win in the Race for the Championship with 1,261 points.

Indoor Visa Champion John Godina and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin had been tied heading into USA Outdoors with 1,253 points. Gatlin's top 100m time of 9.84w at the Nike Prefontaine Classic on June 4 gave him the tie with Godina, whose world-leading shot put of 22.20m/72-10 came at the adidas Track Classic. But neither mark was enough to withstand Clement's run.

Michelle Perry had entered the USA Outdoor Championships in first place among the women, her 100-meter hurdles time of 12.45 at the Reebok Grand Prix earning her 1212 points. But Richards seized the title on Saturday when her world-leading 400-meter time of 49.28 garnered 1,226 points. Lashinda Demus' personal-best 53.35 in the 400 hurdles on Saturday put her just one point behind, with 1,225.

For more information on the Visa Championship Series and the Race for the Championship, visit www.usatf.org/visa