Third time's the charm for Kruger and Gilreath

Boston, Mass. - With the first event of the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships complete, A.G. Kruger and Erin Gilreath were the winners in the men's and women's weight throw. It was the third national title in the weight throw for each.

The USA Indoor Championships continue Saturday and Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College. The Championships are the final event of USA Track & Field's 2006 Indoor Visa Championship Series. The meet will be broadcast from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Eastern on February 26 on ESPN.

In the men's competition, A.G. Kruger won his third national 35-pound weight throw title. He took the lead in the fifth round with a throw of 23.74 meters/77 feet 10.75 inches and never looked back. The runner-up, Kibwe Johnson tried to surpass Kruger with his fifth throw but ended up just shy with a toss of 23.72m/77-10. Thomas Freeman placed third with a throw of 23.48m/77-0.75.

"Every competition is hard but I thought this time was a little harder," said Kruger. "I came into the competition knowing that I had to throw77-78 feet to get first or second. By the end I was clicking and I got it."

In the women's competition, Erin Gilreath won her third national title in the 20-pound weight throw. Gilreath's first place finish came after a season best throw in the final round of 22.95m/75-03.5. After battling it out with Gilreath, Amber Campbell was the runner-up for the second year in a row with a throw of 22.66m/74-4.25. Loree Smith, the 2005 NCAA champion in the hammer throw, took third with a throw of 21.82m/71-7.25.

"Competition for the first time in a year brought out the best in me," said Gilreath. "This win means a lot to me, my club (NYAC) has a great tradition in this event and they do so much for me. I wanted to keep up the tradition for them."

For more information on the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Championships and the 2006 Visa Championship Series, including complete and live meet results, visit www.usatf.org.