Big names set for AT&T USA Indoor Championships

BOSTON - The big name entrants keep piling up for the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Championships, to be held February 24-26 at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. Additional Olympic gold medalists and World Championship medalists are set to compete with the scores of stars previously announced.

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.

Olympic and World Championships medalists join the fray

With the start of the meet nearing, Olympic and World Championships medalists have thrown their hats into the ring.

* Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Dwight Phillips has entered the men's long jump and has also entered the Hershey's men's 60m. Phillips was the second-fastest American indoors at the distance in 2005.

* Olympic relay gold medalist, World Outdoor Championships silver medalist, 2005 Outdoor Champion and #1 world-ranked Sanya Richards heads the women's 400m

* 2003 World indoor champion David Krummenacker returns to the men's 800 meters in the best shape he's been in since 2003. He'll face U.S. outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson and Olympian Derrick Peterson

* The men's 60m hurdles field is crowded, being topped off by two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell and 2005 USA Outdoor runner-up Dominque Arnold. Joel Brown returns to defend his indoor title.

* The battle between World Championships silver medalist Chaunte Howard and three-time Olympian Amy Acuff continues in the women's high jump.

*2001 World Indoor bronze medalist and outdoor American record holder Tiombe Hurd tops the field in the women's triple jump

Distance drama set to unfold

The Reggie Lewis Center is known as one of the most distance-friendly tracks in the country, and in the world. Top Americans are turning out for what should be very exciting races.

* The Nike men's 1,500m should be one of the most competitive races of the meet, with two-time indoor champ Jason Lunn taking on 2004 champion Rob Myers, Olympian Charlie Gruber and 2005 USA outdoor runner-up Chris Lukezic, a new up-and-comer.

* The men's 3,000 meters will rival the 1,500 for tight competition, with two-time U.S. outdoor 5,000m champion Adam Goucher returning to his old form, having won the 2006 USA 4 km cross country title last week and having by far the fastest seed time (7:41.59). He'll be challenged by three-time indoor champion Jonathon Riley of Brookline, USA 5,000m runner-up Ian Dobson, 2003 USA steeplechase champion Steve Slattery, and 2001 USA steeplechase champion Tom Chorny.

* The women's 3,000m field is stacked, with 14-time NCAA All-American Lauren Fleshman, 2004 Olympic Trials 1,500m champion Carrie Tollefson, USA 10,000m champion Katie McGregor and former NCAA champion Sarah Schwald all on the start list.

* USA Outdoor champion Treniere Clement has seen close finishes with collegiate record holder Tiffany McWilliams throughout the Visa Championship Series in the women's 1,500m, and that trend should continue this weekend as a very fast time could be on tap.

* In the race walks, Tim Seaman goes for his ninth men's 5,000m indoor title and 28^th overall national race walking crown, while Joanne Dow of Manchester, N.H., goes for her fifth women's indoor title

Quality events across the board

Other top athletes set to compete in their events include:

* Two-time Olympic and two-time indoor champion Hazel Clark and NCAA outdoor champ Alice Schmidt in 800

*Defending indoor champion Tora Harris and 2004 indoor champion Jamie Nieto in the men's high jump

* Current U.S. leader Jenn Stuczynski, Olympians Jillian Schwartz and Kellie Suttle, and 2002 USA indoor champ Mary Sauer in the women's pole vault

* Outdoor American record holder, defending champion and indoor record holder Erin Gilreath in the women's weight throw

* Olympian Kristin Heaston, the first woman ever to compete at Ancient Olympia, in the women's shot put, and Olympian A.G. Kruger in the men's weight throw

Among the previously announced hot events and big-name competitors are:

* Olympic gold medalists Tim Mack and Nick Hysong, American record holder Jeff Hartwig, Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson; and #1 world ranked Brad Walker

* Visa Championship Series leader Reese Hoffa; world outdoor champion Adam Nelson, three-time world outdoor champion John Godina and world indoor champion Christian Cantwell in the Visa men's shot put

* Olympic gold medalists Joanna Hayes and defending champion Danielle Carruthers in the women's 60m hurdles. Gail Devers, rebounding from pregnancy, has opted not to compete in order to give herself more time to regain her fitness.

*World Outdoor champions Tianna Madison in the women's long jump and Walter Davis in the men's triple jump

*Indoor 300m world record holder Wallace Spearmon, 2003 world indoor champion Tyree Washington and World Championships 4x400m relay gold medalist LaShawn Merritt in the men's 400

* Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford and former world 200m champion John Capel in the Hershey's men's 60m

* World champion and Olympic 100m silver medalist Lauryn Williams, and Visa Championships leader and 2005 USA Outdoor Champion Lisa Barber in the AT&T women's 60m

*Olympic silver medalist John Moffitt and 2005 USA outdoor champion Miguel Pate in the men's long jump

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.