Americans Score Impressive Wins in London
USATF Communications
August 3, 2007

Reese Hoffa, Tyson Gay, Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, Lauren Fleshman, Bernard Lagat, Ryan Wilson and Aarik Wilson all scored impressive wins Friday at the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix meet in London, England.

The highlight of the meet was a spirited battle in the men's shot put between reigning World Indoor and U.S. Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa and Christian Cantwell, who entered today's competition with the #1 throw in the world (21.96 meters/72 feet .75 inch). Hoffa won the competition with a monster personal best throw of 22.43 meters/73 feet 7.25 inches, which is the best in the world this year. The winning throw was Hoffa's last of the competition shortly after Cantwell took the lead with his eventual runner-up toss of 21.66 meters/71 feet .75 inch. Hoffa's previous career-best toss of 22.11m/72-6.50 came in winning the gold medal at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow.

Reigning USA 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay was the dominant force in the men's 100 meters, winning with little difficulty in 10.02 seconds. Francis Obikwelu (10.18) of Portugal and Marlon Devonish (10.26) of Great Britain finished second and third, respectively.

World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner grabbed the lead for good coming off the final turn and held off LaShawn Merritt down the stretch to win the men's 400 meters in 44.05 seconds, which equals the second-fastest time in the world this year set on June 23 by Angelo Taylor in winning the U.S. title in Indianapolis. Merritt's runner-up time of 44.23 seconds is the fourth-fastest time globally this outdoor season.

Also on the track, two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat won the men's 1,500 meters convincingly in 3 minutes 35.71 seconds. Kenya's Nicholas Kemboi was the runner-up in 3:36:13. In the men's 110m hurdles, 2007 USA Outdoor Championships finalist Ryan Wilson was the winner in 13.27 seconds. He was followed by a quartet of Americans including Aries Merritt (2nd-13.35), Ron Bramlett (3rd-13.47), David Payne (4th-13.59) and Joel Brown (5th-13.61).

The men's triple jump was won by reigning USA Outdoor champion Aarik Wilson, who hit the pit at 17.58 meters/57 feet 8.25 inches, which is his best performance of the season. Leevan Sands of The Bahamas was the runner-up, trailing Wilson by three centimeters.

In women's action, 2006 IAAF Women's World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards was victorious in the 400 meters, completing the race in 49.79 seconds. Reigning World Outdoor 200m champion Allyson Felix was the runner-up in 50.17 seconds.

The women's 3,000 meters was won by 2006 USA 5,000m champion Lauren Fleshman, who crossed the finish line in a season's best time of 8 minutes 43.92 seconds. 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor was fourth in 8:50.90.

Team USA's "B" squad was victorious in the 4x100m relay, crossing the line first in 38.38 seconds, which is the third-fastest time in the world this year. The team was comprised of Mickey Grimes, Leroy Dixon, Ernest Wiggins and Xavier Carter, who returned to competition for the first time since suffering a dislocated knee in June at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis.

For more information on the 2007 Norwich Union Super Grand Prix, including the complete results, visit: www.iaaf.org.

Abdi to appear in NYC

Two-time Olympian and reigning USA men's 10,000m champion Abdi Abdirahman will appear Wednesday, August 8, at the NBC Experience Store located at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Just prior to his appearance, Abdirahman and a dozen other Olympic hopefuls from a variety of sports will appear on the Today Show to mark the one-year out countdown from the start of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The athletes will be available for autographs and picture taking from 9:30-10:30 a.m.