Short races are long on quality at AT&T USA Indoor Championships

BOSTON - A showdown is set for the nation's top sprinters in the Men's 60 meter dash and the women's 60m hurdles at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, February 24-26 in Boston.

Olympic gold medalists Joanna Hayes and Gail Devers are entered in the women's hurdles, while fellow gold medalist Shawn Crawford is joined by world outdoor champion John Capel and two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell in a packed men's sprint.

The AT&T USA Indoor Championships is the final event of USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series and serves as the selection event for Team USA roster spots for the 2006 World Indoor Championships next month in Moscow, Russia. ESPN will televise the AT&T USA Indoor Championships on February 26 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

Strength in women's hurdles

Expect a close race as an excellent field vies for the U.S. crown in the women's 60m hurdles. Top entries in the event include two Olympic champions.

Gail Devers, a two-time Olympic 100m champion and three-time World 100mH champion, has returned to competition after taking a year off to give birth to her daughter, Karsen Anise. In 2004, Devers was the World Indoor 60m champion and was the 60mH runner-up. Devers is the current American record holder in the 60m dash, the 60m hurdles and the 100m hurdles.

The reigning Olympic champion in the 100 meter hurdles, Joanna Hayes was the Jesse Owens Award winner in 2004. Hayes is having a strong season and currently has the third fastest time by an American this year.

Close competition in Hershey men's 60m

The Hershey men's 60m dash promises some exciting competition. Leonard Scott, the fastest American Indoors in 2005, will face plenty of fast competitors as he goes up against the current world and American leaders as well as Olympic and world championship medalists. Scott finished out his 2005 season with a sixth place finish at the World Championships and a ranking of #7 in the world in the 100m by Track and Field News.

The reigning Olympic 200m gold medalist, Shawn Crawford was the World Indoor 60m runner-up in 2004. He completed his 2005 campaign ranked #3 in the United States over 100m.

A two-time Olympic hurdles silver medalist, Terrence Trammell was the 2002 USA indoor 60m champion and a two-time USA Indoor 60mH champion. Trammell will be attempting the 60 meter sprint/hurdle double.

Also look for John Capel, the 2005 World Outdoor 200m bronze medalist and 2003 World Outdoor 200m and 4x100m champion. Coby Miller, runner-up in the 200m at the 2004 USA Indoor championships, was a member of the Olympic silver medal 4x100m relay team in Athens. Newcomer and Central Michigan University senior Johnie Drake, who has the current world-leading time in the 60m clocking in at 6.53 seconds, also competes.

For more information on the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, including schedule, ticket information and status of entries, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/

For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com

Sponsors of the AT&T USA Indoor Track & field Championships are AT&T, Nike, Visa, Hershey's, 24 Hour Fitness, Gleukos, Gill Athletics and Sport Court. Local sponsors include the Boston Herald, Coca-cola, Keyspan, Hilton Family of Hotel, MBTA and Hot 97.7FM.