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Two American records and a WR fall at adidas Track Classic

Posted May 20th, 2007 at 9:22 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Breaux Greer and Jenn Stuczynski set American records in their respective events Sunday, while Meseret Defar (Pictured below) broke a world mark to highlight a day full of top performances at the adidas Track Classic. Held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the meet is the second event of USA Track & Field’s 2007 Outdoor Visa Championship Series.

Defar_2007_world_indoor_3000m_record Seven-time U.S. champion Breaux Greer opened up the meet’s first event, the men’s javelin, with a monster first throw that broke his own American record with a heave of 90.71 meters/297 feet 7 inches. The previous record of 87.68m/287-8 was set by Greer in 2004. His effort marks him as the ninth-best performer of all time globally.

2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Jenn Stuczynski surpassed the American record in the women’s pole vault with her clearance of 4.84m/15-10.5. The previous record of 4.83m/15-10 was set in 2004 by 2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila. 2002 U.S. Indoor champion Mary Sauer was second with a height of 4.44m/14-6.75. Continuing her comeback from two years of injury, Dragila finished in a tie for sixth with her clearance of 4.29m/14-00.75.

Tyson Gay won the men’s 100m in spectacular fashion, crossing the line in 9.79w seconds (+2.5mps wind). The performance would have tied Maurice Greene’s American record had the wind not exceeded 2.0m/s. Derrick Atkins was second in 9.86.

2004 Olympic 5,000m champion Meseret Defar of Ethiopia became the fastest woman in the world for the two mile, racing to the finish in 9:10.47. She surpassed Regina Jacobs previous world best of 9:11.97 from 1999.

2003 World champion Torri Edwards stole the show in a spectacular women’s 100m, sprinting to the finish in a world-leading and personal best 10.90. Veronica Campbell of Jamaica was second in 10.91 and 2006 World Indoor champion Lisa Barber was third in 10.95.

The men’s and women’s 200m proved events to watch as Wallace Spearmon and Allyson Felix both produced 2007 world-leading times. The 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist, Spearmon won the men’s race in 19.91, while 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2005 World Outdoor champion Felix cruised her way to 22.18.

A world-leader was also set in the men’s shot put as 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won with a heave of 21.96m/72-00.75. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson took second with 21.47m/70-5.25 and 2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa was third with 21.36m/70-1.

The men’s and women’s hurdles saw exciting performances as 2005 World champion Michelle Perry ran a world-leading 12.58, just ahead of Ginnie Powell and Lolo Jones at 12.61, and two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell won the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.17. The men’s 400m hurdles was won by 2006 NACAC champion Kenneth Ferguson in a personal-best 48.15. World Indoor 400m record-holder Kerron Clement was second in 48.46 and 2005 World silver medalist James Carter was third in 48.76.

Other notable performances were turned in by reigning Olympic and World champion Jeremy Wariner, who won the men’s 400m in 44.60 and 2007 USA 8km champion Anthony Famiglietti, who won the men’s 3,000m in 7:41.27. 2006 Commonwealth Games champion Nick Willis of New Zealand won the men’s 1,500m in 3:35.85 while Jamaican Kenia Sinclair won the women’s 1,500m in 4:05.56, outsprinting 2006 U.S. indoor champion Shayne Culpepper (4:05.98 PR). Novlene Williams of Jamaica won the women’s 400m in 50.66.

For more information on the adidas Track Classic, including live results, visit www.adidastrackclassic.com. For information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.

Release Via: USATF