BOSTON - Olympic and World Outdoor Championships medalists Terrence
Trammell, Adam Nelson and Dwight Phillips will headline a stellar men's
field at the 2009 USA Indoor Track & Field Championship, February
28-March 1 at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury
Community College in Boston.
The concluding event of USATF's Indoor Visa Championship
Series, the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships is the world's
oldest indoor track championship, with the first meet being held in
1888 in New York. The USA Indoor Championships will be televised live
on ESPN 2 on Sunday, March 1 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
A two-time Olympic Games 110m hurdles silver medalist,Terrence Trammell has enjoyed a highly successful indoor campaign this
year. It began January 30 at the 102nd Millrose Games in New York,
where Trammell won the 60m hurdles in the fastest time in the world
this year of 7.45 seconds, and followed that with a runner-up finish in
the Millrose men's 60 meters in 6.54. At the Reebok Boston Indoor Games
on Feb. 7, Trammell won the 60m hurdles in 7.53, and the next week he
won the 60 meter dash (6.56) Feb. 13 at the Tyson Invitational in
Fayetteville, Ark. Trammell, who will run only the 60m hurdles at the
championships, will be challenged by Dexter Faulk, who won in Karlsruhe
earlier this year in 7.50 seconds.
The 2005 World Outdoor men's shot put champion and a
two-time Olympic silver medalist, Adam Nelson enters the championships
in the Visa men's shot put following his win earlier this year at the
Millrose Games (20.79 meters/68 feet, 2.50 inches). Nelson, who owns
four USA outdoor titles, will be gunning for his third national indoor
crown, and his first since 2002. His chief competitor likely will be
2004 Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Dan Taylor, who ended the
2008 season ranked #10 in the world by Track & Field News.
2004
Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion, Dwight
Phillips will compete in Boston this weekend, but not in his specialty.
One of the finest long jumpers in U.S. track and field history,
Phillips will compete in the Nike men's 60 meter dash, where he'll be
looking for his first national title in that event. Phillips will do
battle with 2007 USA Indoor 60m champion Dabryan Blanton, who finished
first in Dusseldorf on February 13 in a season's best time of 6.59
seconds, and 2007 USA Outdoor Championships fourth-place 100m finisher
Mark Jelks.
Look for an interesting matchup in the men's 800 meters as
2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson does battle with 2008 Olympic team
member Christian Smith. In one of the most unforgettable moments of the
Trials, Smith's desperate dive across the finish line gave him the
third and final Olympic Team berth in the men's 800 and and barely
kept Robinson from qualifying for Beijing. Robinson will be in search
of his fifth U.S. Indoor crown, while Smith will attempt to earn his
first.
Also in the 800 meters, keep an eye on 25-year old Tetlo
Emmen, who won the 2007 Big West Conference outdoor title while at
UC-Santa Barbara. Emmen, who battled injuries in 2008 and is reportedly
in the best shape of his life, lowered his personal best last year to
1:46.04.
Three-time U.S. Outdoor 1,500m champion and American mile
record holder Alan Webb will headline the Visa men's 1,500 meters. Webb
will be challenged by two-time USA Outdoor Championships fourth-place
finisher Chris Lukezic and 2008 Olympic Trials finalist Rob Myers, who
ended last season ranked #10 in the U.S. by T&FN.
American record holder Bernard Lagat, who had previously announced
his intent to compete in the men's 1,500m for the first time at the
national indoor championships, has withdrawn from the race. Lagat
sustained an ankle injury while competing in Birmingham, England, on
Saturday and is resting the ankle as he continues to get it evaluated
and treated.
In the men's 3,000 meters, 2008 Olympic Trials
10,000m fifth-place finisher Josh Rohatinsky has the fastest qualifying
time of 7 minutes 49.55 seconds, and look for two-time Olympian Tim
Seaman in the men's 5,000m race walk. Seaman won this event 10 times in
a row between 1998 and 2007.
2008 Olympic Trials champion Jesse Williams, who ended the
2008 campaign ranked #6 in the world and set a new personal best with
his clearance of 2.36 meters/7-8.75 earlier this indoor season,
headlines the men's high jump. He'll be challenged by his two Beijing
Olympics teammates Andra Manson and Dusty Jonas. Last year Manson won
the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships and Jonas was the
NCAA Indoor champion while competing for Nebraska.
Other field event standouts to keep an eye on include
Olympic Trials fifth-place finisher Jacob Pauli in the Gill men's pole
vault, 2008 Pac 10 Outdoor champion and NCAA runner-up Matt Turner in
the long jump, 2008 USA Indoor Champs fourth-place finisher and Olympic
Trials fifth-place finisher Brandon Roulhac in the triple jump and
reigning Olympic Trials hammer throw champion and four-time USA Indoor
champion A.G. Kruger in the 35 lb. weight throw.
For more information about the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships or to purchase tickets, log onto www.visachampionshipseries.com or www.usatf.org.
For questions regarding tickets, please call (317) 713-4680. USATF
welcomes you to purchase tickets with your Visa Card. Visa is the only
credit card accepted by USATF. |
