Phillips defends LJ title, Gay goes for another gold on Thursday

OSAKA, Japan - Dwight Phillips will try to win his third straight world long jump title, while Tyson Gay goes for his second gold of the Championships during Thursday competition at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Nagai Stadium.

The 2003 and 2005 world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Phillips (Snellville, Ga.) looked very strong in Wednesday's qualifying round in the men's long jump. He's joined in the final by 2005 USA outdoor champion Miguel Pate (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and 2002 World Junior bronze medalist Trevell Quinley (Sacramento, Calif.).

Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.) will try to complete a 100-200 double achieved previously by Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin when he competes in the men's 200m final with teammates Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Ark.) and Rodney Martin (Los Angeles, Calif.).

2007 Visa Champion and 2007 world leader Tiffany Williams (Columbia, S.C.) competes in her first women's 400m final.

Several potential medalists compete in semifinal action Thursday night, including the women's 200m corps of Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.), Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas), Torri Edwards (Corona, Calif.), LaShaunte'a Moore (Akron, Ohio) and men's 110m hurdles crew Terrence Trammell (Ellenwood, Ga.), David Oliver (Orlando, Fla.) and David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Fresh off winning the men's 1,500m gold medal Wednesday night, Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.) is joined by Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.) and Adam Goucher (Portland, Ore.) in the men's 5,000m first round.

Below is a complete listing of USATF entrants for Thursday competition.

Team USA entrants - Thursday, August 30

7:35 p.m., men's pole vault qualifying - Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, WA), Jeff Hartwig (Jonesboro, AR), Jacob Pauli (Cedar Falls, IA)

7:40 p.m., men's 800m first round - Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.), Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.), Duane Solomon (Los Angeles, Calif.)

8:25 p.m., women's 400m hurdles FINAL - Tiffany Williams (Columbia, S.C.)

8:40 p.m., men's long jump FINAL - Dwight Phillips (Snellville, GA), Miguel Pate (Tuscaloosa, AL), Trevell Quinley (Sacramento, CA)

8:45 p.m., men's 5,000m first round - Bernard Lagat (Tucson, AZ), Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, WI), Adam Goucher (Portland, OR)

9:30 p.m., men's 110m hurdles semifinal - Terrence Trammell (Ellenwood, GA), David Oliver (Orlando, FL), David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio)

10 p.m., women's 200m semifinal - Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, CA), Sanya Richards (Austin, TX), Torri Edwards (Corona, CA), LaShaunte'a Moore (Akron, OH)

10:20 p.m., men's 200m FINAL - Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.), Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Ark.), Rodney Martin (Los Angeles, Calif.)