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Cantwell takes men’s Visa Championship at Indoors

Posted February 25th, 2007 at 7:32 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Christian Cantwell put an exclamation point on his indoor season Saturday at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.

The #2 world-ranked shot putter with the farthest throw in the world this year easily won the men’s Visa Championship as the athlete with the top performance of the Indoor Visa Championship Series and the women’s 3,000-meter winner on Saturday, Shalane Flanagan, won the women’s Visa Championship.

Cantwell dominates

The Visa Championship Series leader entering this meet, Cantwell had confessed that he arrived in Boston in questionable form, having thrown inconsistently since winning the 100th Millrose Games on February 2 with his Series-leading throw of 21.88m/71-9, scoring 1,233 points. A big throw from one of his well-credentialed competitors could have cost him the $25,000 bonus as Visa Champion, but Cantwell put his stamp on the competition with his first throw of 21.72m/71-3.5. Nobody else came close, with reigning World Indoor champ Reese Hoffa second with a toss of 21.21m/69-7, and Reebok Boston Indoor Games winner Dan Taylor third with 20.32m/66-8.

It wasn’t a sure thing for the 6-5 giant, however. A time of 6.45 was needed in the final race of the night, the Visa men’s 60m, to overtake Cantwell in points - a time barely faster than Marcus Brunson’s seasonal best of 6.46. But when the gun went off in the sprint, it was DaBryan Blanton across the line first in 6.56, with Brunson second in 6.58.

Symmonds sizzles

The Keyspan men’s 800 featured one of the country’s most exciting new talents in Nick Symmonds, and the seven-time NCAA Division III champion delivered a worthy performance. Floyd Thompson had taken an early and commanding lead in the race but as the bell rang, Symmonds went to the front, bumping elbows with Thompson in the process. Former NCAA champ Sam Burley challenged Symmonds at mid-backstretch, but Symmonds sprinted away the victor in 1:48.73, with Burley second in 1:49.42. It was the first national title for Symmonds, a one-time hockey and soccer player.

The Nike men’s mile provided excitement, if not a blinding pace. Known for his affinity for leading from the front, two-time outdoor champion Alan Webb sat back in a pack that passed through the first 400 meters in 62.8 seconds. When 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings took the lead with 600 meters left, however, the pace took a decided upturn. Webb showed fine closing speed to win in 4:01.07, with 2004 indoor champ Rob Myers second in 4:01.78 and Jennings third in 4:01.93.

Photo-finish women

Hasani Roseby, an All-American while at UCLA, sprinted to her first title in the Visa women’s 60 meters, tying the 2007 U.S.-leading time with her winning 7.16. She needed every hundredth of a second, with Carmelita Jeter a close runner-up in 7.17. The race for third was equally close, with Marshevet Hooker third in 7.22, 2005 Visa Champion Angela Daigle fourth in 7.23 and Amber Plowden fifth in 7.24.

In another close race, the Boston Herald women’s 60m hurdles revealed a new star in 2003 NCAA indoor champion LoLo Jones. The 2004 LSU grad was quick out of the blocks and won her first U.S. title in 7.88, with 2005 USA indoor champion Danielle Carruthers second in 7.92 and Nichole Denby third in 7.93.

Ron Bramlett was an impressive winner in the men’s 60m hurdles. In Saturday’s semifinals he had posted the U.S. leader with his time of 7.51, and on Sunday he improved that time in winning his first U.S. title in 7.47 seconds. David Payne was second in 7.51 with David Oliver third in 7.57.

Fantastic field events

Amber Campbell won her first Gill women’s weight throw national crown in grand style, posting a meet-record throw of 24.54m/80-6.25. Her mark was just three centimeters from the American record and world best. Three-time defending champion Erin Gilreath was second with 22.40m/73-6.

2005 national indoor titlist Jenn Stuczysnki won the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.50m (14-9) and 4.60m (15-1) on her first attempts. Lacy Janson also cleared 4.60 but had two misses at 4.40m/14-5.25 and finished second. After winning the competition, Stuczynski moved the bar to an American-record height of 4.82m/15-9.75, where she had a near miss on her second of three unsuccessful attempts.

2005 national indoor champ Shani Marks returned to the winner’s stand in the women’s triple jump, taking the competition with a best effort of 13.56m/44-6. Outdoor American record holder Tiombe Hurd was second at 13.39m/43-11.25. Dee Dee Trotter did the same in the Hershey women’s 400m, winning the 2007 title in 51.95 seconds to go along with her ‘05 title. Monica Hargrove was second in 52.26.

Trevell Quinley led three men over 8 meters in the long jump, winning the competition with a jump of 8.06m/26-5.5, with Brian Johnson second at 8.03m/26-4.25 and triple jump titlist Aarik Wilson third at 8.00/26-3.

More winners

In the women’s 800, former Wake Forest All-American Nikeya Green staged an impressive run over the final 200 meters to score a decisive win in a U.S.-leading time of 2:02.68, with 100th Millrose Games champion Christin Wurth second in 2:03.70. Greg Nixon won the AT&T men’s 400 in 46.76 with Fernada Blakely second in 46.97.

Sam Cohen won her first indoor 3,000m race walk title in 13:51.29 with Lauren Forgues second in 13:55.90, after 5-time winner Joanne Dow was disqualified for loss of contact while in the lead.

For complete results and quotes from the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit: www.usatf.org. For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.