2003 USATF Indoor Nationals Event by Event Preview

BOSTON - The 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will feature some of the World's biggest track and field stars this weekend at Boston's Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, on the campus of Roxbury Community College. The top two athletes in each event will earn the right to represent Team USA at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships March 14-16 in Birmingham, England.

Events begin Friday afternoon, February 28, with the finals of the women's and men's weight throws and the first rounds of the 400 meters. A full schedule of competition begins Saturday, with the conclusion of the meet Sunday afternoon.

The 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships are the final stop on USA Track & Field's 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour. The Tour began February 1 at the adidas Boston Indoor Games; moved to New York February 7 for the Verizon Millrose Games; and headed to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Tyson Foods Invitational February 15. One World record and three American records have been set on the Tour in 2003 alone.

The 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on Saturday March 1.

On the track, Regina Jacobs, the freshly minted indoor World record holder for the women's 1,500 meters at the age of 39, tries to add to her 22 all-time USA championships. She broke the World record at the adidas Boston Indoor Games, so the Reggie Lewis Center is a favorite venue. Three-time World outdoor hurdles champion Gail Devers aims to win her first USA indoor title after breaking Jackie Joyner-Kersee's record in the 60m hurdles at the Verizon Millrose Games. Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell tries to prove he is the man to beat,Worldwide, in either the 60m dash or the 60m hurdles. But will outdoor 100-meter World record holder Tim Montgomery decide to run and throw a wrench into Trammell's plans?

Visit the 2003 Indoor Championships section of the USATF Web site, www.usatf.org, for a complete schedule of events. A preview of field events will move on Wednesday

Women's 60 meters Prelims Saturday 2:50 p.m., 4:55 p.m.; Final Saturday 7:14 p.m.
World record: 6.92, Irina Privalova (RUS), 1993, 1995
American record: 6.95, Gail Devers, 1993; Marion Jones, 1998
Meet record: 6.99, Gail Devers, 1993
THE SCOOP: Chryste Gaines is the two-time defending U.S. champion and is the 2001 World Indoor bronze medalist. She owns an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m relay, and she showed good form in winning the 60m at the Verizon Millrose Games on Feb. 7. Four-time NCAA 100m outdoor champion Angela Williams will give Gaines a run for her money, though. Williams beat Gaines here at the adidas Boston Indoor Games on Feb. 1, and she is the World Indoor silver medalist. Williams started training under coach John Smith, with the H.S.I. group, after graduating from USC last spring.

Verizon Men's 60 meters Prelims Saturday 3:15 p.m., 5:10 p.m.; Final Saturday 7:23 p.m.
World record: 6.39, Maurice Greene (USA), 1998, 2001
American record: 6.39, Maurice Greene, 1998, 2001
Meet record: 6.39, Maurice Greene, 2001
THE SCOOP: Terrence Trammell is the favorite after winning the Verizon Millrose Games and Tyson Foods Invitational in the 60m sprint - if he chooses the 60 sprint over the 60m hurdles. The 2001 World Indoor hurdles champion, Trammell also is the defending U.S. 60m sprint champion, and his time of 6.46 at the Tyson Foods Invitational on Feb. 15 is the fastest in the World this year. However, the meet schedule seems to prevent Trammell from competing in both events - he'd have to run six races in one day! With Maurice Greene withdrawing from the race due to a pulled calf muscle, the top contenders will be 2000 Olympic Trials 200m champion John Capel, who was a close second to Trammell at Tyson, and Justin Gatlin, the former NCAA champion who was second at Verizon Millrose. Coby Miller, the 2001 indoor 200m champ, has shown excellent speed this year in Europe as well. Wild cards are Tim Harden, the 2001 World Indoor gold medalist, and Tim Montgomery, the outdoor World record holder in the 100m and the 2001 World Indoor silver medalist. Montgomery has entered the USA Indoor Championships, but not until declarations are final just prior to the meet will it be known if he will take to the starting line. Montgomery has not raced since running 9.78 seconds to break the 100m World record September 14 at the Grand Prix Final in Paris, but he is reported to be extremely fit.

Women's 60m hurdles Prelims Saturday 1:45 p.m., 4:25 p.m.; Final Saturday 6:45 p.m.
World record: 7.69, Lyudmila Narozhlenko (URS), 1990
American record: 7.78, Gail Devers, 2003
Meet record: 7.85, Melissa Morrison, 1999
THE SCOOP: Three-time World outdoor champion Gail Devers is at the top of her form in 2003. At the age of 36, she broke Jackie Joyner-Kersee's American record at the Verizon Millrose Games with her time of 7.78 seconds. The two-time Olympic 100m champion looks virtually unbeatable, both here and at World Indoors - but don't count out four-time defending U.S. indoor champion Melissa Morrison, who owns the meet record and has dominated this event at the USA Indoor Championships in recent years. Jenny Adams and 2002 USA indoor runner-up Miesha McKelvy are other top contenders.

Men's 60m hurdles Prelims Saturday 2:11 p.m., 4:40 p.m.; Final Saturday 6:54 p.m.
World record: 7.30, Colin Jackson (GBR), 1994
American record: 7.36, Greg Foster, 1987
Meet record: 7.38, Reggie Torian, 1999
THE SCOOP: The United States has the best men's hurdlers in the
World, and the men's 60m hurdles has produced some of the most exciting races on the 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour, and the USA Indoor Championships should be no exception. Two-time Verizon Millrose Games champion Larry Wade came from behind to edge out 2001 World Indoor champion Terrence Trammell by .01 seconds at this year's Verizon Millrose Games, but Trammell responded with a .02 second margin of victory over Wade at the Tyson Foods Invitational, with a World-leading time of 7.42 seconds. If he runs the hurdles instead of the 60m dash, look for Trammell, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 110m hurdles, to get off to a quick start, but Wade closes quickly at the end. If Trammell is not in the race, Wade will be the favorite. The wild card is 1996 Olympic champion and defending U.S. indoor champion Allen Johnson. Johnson was a close third at Millrose but didn't run at Tyson due to leg cramps. He is a threat to win any race he enters, and he is a strong threat to win another U.S. title.

Women's 200m Prelims Sunday 2 p.m.; Final Sunday 5:06 p.m.
World record: 21.87, Merlene Ottey (JAM), 1993
American record: 22.33, Gwen Torrence, 1996
Meet record: 22.33, Gwen Torrence, 1996
THE SCOOP: Michelle Collins, normally a 400-meter specialist, has dropped down to the 200m indoors this year, with stunning success. She opened the year with a time of 22.85 in January to lead the World, then ran a sizzling 22.64 at the Tyson Foods Invitational. If she chooses the 200 at this meet and is on her form, it could be a race for second place among her competitors - and Collins would go on to be a gold-medal threat at the World Indoor Championships. Defending indoor champion and 2001 World Outdoor bronze medalist Kelli White will contend, but she finished in 23.18, behind Collins, at Tyson. 2001 World Indoor silver medalist LaTasha Jenkins could be in the mix as well.

Men's 200 meters Prelims Sunday 2:25 p.m.; Final Sunday 5:15 p.m.
World record: 19.92, Frank Fredericks (NAM), 1996
American record: 20.26 Shawn Crawford and John Capel, 2000
Meet record: 20.31, Coby Miller, 2001
THE SCOOP: John Capel enters as the favorite after running the World's fastest time in 2003, 20.39 seconds, February 15 in Fayetteville. He shares the American record with Shawn Crawford, who is the defending U.S. champion and the 2001 World Indoor gold medalist. Capel took two years off from track after winning the 2000 Olympic Trials to try his hand at football. His decision to return has paid off. Crawford made news off the track when he ran against a zebra and a giraffe in FOX television's "Man vs. Beast." Darvis Patton, a man who was runner-up in this race last year, could be a surprise winner after being ranked #1 in the 200 among Americans outdoors in 2002. This is another event in which the United States will be a gold-medal favorite at
World Indoors.

Women's 400 meters Prelims Friday 3:00 p.m.; Final Saturday 6:16 p.m.
World record: 49.59, Jarmila Kratochvilova (TCH), 1982 American record: 50.64, Diane Dixon, 1991
Meet record: 50.99, Jearl Miles, 1995
THE SCOOP: Suziann Reid is a two-time champion and Monique Hennagan, ran on the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay at the 2000 Olympic Games, returns to defend her title. Meet record holder Jearl Miles-Clark is concentrating on outdoor track and will not compete, so the door is open for a well-balanced field.

Men's 400 meters Prelims Friday 3:25 p.m.; Final Saturday 6:25 p.m.
World record: 44.63, Michael Johnson (USA), 1995
American record: 44.63, Michael Johnson, 1995
Meet record: 44.63, Michael Johnson, 1995
THE SCOOP: The scramble continues for U.S. and World 400-meter supremacy since the retirement of Michael Johnson in 2001. After sitting out almost two years with injury, two-time U.S. outdoor champion Jerome Young is back on track. He won the Tyson Foods Invitational in 46.10 seconds, the fastest time of his career. This year also has seen the return of one of America's most promising quarter milers, Tyree Washington. The World Outdoor bronze medalist in 1997, Washington has shown flashes of brilliance. A hamstring injury in 2001 was followed by family issues in 2002, but Washington is once again training hard. He won the Verizon Millrose Games and ran 45.3 outdoors this winter, so he could be in the mix. Brandon Couts is the defending champion, and Leonard Byrd had the fastest time in the World outdoors in 2002, with 44.45. James Davis ran 45.99 on February 23 in France, becoming the first American since 2001 to run sub-45 indoors.

Women's 800 meters Prelims Saturday 5:24 p.m.; Final Sunday 4:16 p.m.
World record: 1:55.82, Jolanda Ceplak (SLO), 2002
American record: 1:58.71, Nicole Teter, 2002
Meet record: 1:58.41, Maria Mutola (MOZ), 1995
THE SCOOP: Nicole Teter broke the American record, formerly held by Mary Slaney and Suzy Favor Hamilton, last year at the USA Indoor Championships, and she will be the favorite if she runs. Hazel Clark, the 2000 Olympic Trials champ, is competing again after spending 2002 recovering from an injured foot she suffered late in 2001. At the Tyson Foods Invitational she ran the fastest time by an American to date in 2003, 2:04.45, and she continues to improve every week. She will face a strong challenge from Jen Toomey of Salem, Mass. Toomey is the 2002 USA Indoor runner-up, and she was third in this event in 2001. The 1984 Tufts graduate has become one of the United States' most consistent 800m specialists. Chantee Earl trains with Teter and could contend.

Men's 800 meters Prelims Saturday 5:49 p.m.; Final Sunday 4:25 p.m.
World record: 1:42.67, Wilson Kipketer (DEN), 1997
American record: 1:45.00, Johnny Gray, 1992
Meet record: 1:46.60, Derrick Peterson, 2002
THE SCOOP: Derrick Peterson is the defending champion and meet record holder, but it will take a big performance to defeat the heavily favored David Krummenacker, the two-time U.S. outdoor champion. Krummenacker was ranked #3 in the World outdoors at 800 meters last year and won the Verizon Millrose Games and Tyson Foods Invitational - both over Peterson - on the 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour. Krummenacker's style is to wait behind the leaders until the final stages of the race. If Peterson can hold him off, it will make for an exciting finish! Others to keep an eye on are 2002 indoor runner-up Michael Stember, 2000 indoor champion Bryan Woodward and 1999 champion Khadevis Robinson.

Nike Women's 1,500 meters Final Sunday, 7:03 p.m.
World record: 3:59.98, Regina Jacobs (USA), 2003
American record: 3:59.98, Regina Jacobs, 2003
Meet record: 4:03.08, Mary Slaney, 1997
THE SCOOP: The women's 1,500m run is being contested for just the third time at the USA Indoor Championships, replacing the mile. (The 1,500m was previously held in 1997 and 1999.) Regardless of the distance, Regina Jacobs unquestionably is the woman to beat, in the U.S. and on the World stage. A 22-time U.S. champion at various distances in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, Jacobs broke theWorld record in the 1,500 at the 2003 adidas Boston Indoor Games, becoming the first woman ever to break 4:00 indoors. At the age of 39, Jacobs is fitter than she's ever been and should dictate this race. Collette Liss was the 2001 U.S. indoor champion in the mile and should make a strong showing. Other contenders include Mary Jayne Harrelson and Sarah Schwald, who finished 2-3 in the mile last year, behind Jacobs.

Men's 1,500 meters Final Saturday 6:34 p.m.
World record: 3:31.18, Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 1997
American record: 3:38.12, Jeff Atkinson, 1989
Meet record: 3:48.4, Glenn Cunningham, 1938
THE SCOOP: The men's 1,500m hasn't been held at the USA Indoor Championships since 1939, so a new meet record is all but assured. The mile was held from 1940-2002. This year, Jason Lunn looks to win his second straight title after winning the mile in 2002 with a time of 3:57.45. Lunn ran a brilliant mile at the Tyson Foods Invitational with a personal best of 3:55.49 and is in peak shape. Front-running former NCAA champion Bryan Berryhill was second to Lunn in 2002 and could make a run for his first title.

Women's 3,000 meters Final Sunday 4:34 p.m.
World record: 8:29.15, Berhane Adere (ETH), 2002
American record: 8:39.14, Regina Jacobs, 1999
Meet record: 8:40.45, Lynn Jennings, 1990
THE SCOOP: Amy Rudolph, Cheri Kenah and Carrie Tollefson went 1-2-3 in this event last year, and the three should also lead in the way in 2003. In what order they finish is still up for grabs. Among the three former NCAA champions, the 26-year-old Tollefson is the youngest and in 2003 she set personal bests outdoors for 1,500 and 5,000 meters. Amy Rudolph also won this race in 1997, and she is a former American record holder outdoors over 5,000 meters. Kenah is a five-time USA Indoor runner-up in the 3,000 meters. Kenah led the race until the final steps in 2002, so a close finish should be in the cards. Sarah Schwald, traditionally a miler but a former NCAA indoor champion at 3,000m also is entered, as is Regina Jacobs. If they compete in the 3,000, they will significantly impact the shape of the race.

Men's 3,000 meters Final Sunday 4:50 p.m.
World record: 7:24.90, Daniel Komen (KEN), 1998 American record: 7:39.23, Tim Broe, 2002
Meet record:7:42.81, Moses Kiptanui (KEN), 1994
THE SCOOP: The men's 3,000m is a wide-open race, with different men winning the race each of the last six years. 1998 champion Dan Browne is a favorite after finishing as the top American, second overall, at the Verizon Millrose Games in 8:00.90. The 2002 USA marathon champion in his debut at the distance, Browne has shown great versatility and improvement since moving to Eugene, Ore., to be trained by Alberto Salazar. Clint Wells, the 5th-place finisher in the steeplechase at the 2000 Olympic Trials, has run 7:56.06 this year and could get his first U.S. title. Bolota Asmerom owns a qualifying time of 7:49.68, and former NCAA 5,000m champion Jonathon Riley also is a favorite.

Women's 3,000m race walk Final Saturday 4:05 p.m.
World record: 11:40.33, Claudio Iovan (ROM), 1999
American record: 12:20.79, Debbi Lawrence, 1993
THE SCOOP: Joanne Dow is the returning champion and looks strong after setting an American record in winning the 20 km walk at the 2002 USA Outdoor championships, on the track. It's a mix of veterans and relative newcomers in the field. Michelle Rohl has been the top U.S. walker outdoors the last several years and is coming back from maternity in 2002. She is a five-time indoor champion. Dow has won twice, while American record holder Debbi Lawrence is a four-time champion. Amber Antonia is an up-and-comer who placed second last year.

Men's 5,000m race walk Final Sunday 3:21 p.m.
World record: 18:07.08, Mikhail Shchennikov (URS), 1995
American record: 19:18.40, Tim Lewis, 1987
Meet record: 18:53.25, Guillaume LeBlanc (CAN), 1988
THE SCOOP: Tim Seaman, a 2000 Olympian in the 20 km race walk, has owned this event, winning the last five indoor titles. The crown could be his for the taking, but 50,000 km outdoor specialist Curt Clausen could show some speed. Al Heppner of the U.S. Army, Philip Dunn and other younger walkers are waiting for their chance to steal a title, however, if they compete in Boston.