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AT&T USA Outdoor T&F Champs: Saturday event previews

Posted June 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

HEPTATHLON, Day Two

Key Athletes: GiGi Johnson, Hyleas Fountain, Diana Pickler, Jacquelyn Johnson

The past two USATF champions are in the field with GiGi Johnson (2006) and Fountain (2005), but it is US list leader Pickler who topped the standings with 3,636 points after the first day. Fountain is 18 points adrift, with Johnson two more behind her. NCAA champ Johnson is fifth at 3,495.

DECATHLON, Day Two

Key Athletes: Tom Pappas, Paul Terek, Jake Arnold

Four-time U.S. winner Pappas, who leads with 4,394 points, is the defending champion and could tie Bill Toomey and Dan O’Brien for most U.S. titles in the event after the withdrawal of ‘05 world champion Bryan Clay. Arnold recently claimed his second NCAA title, scoring 8,215 for the victory, and is sxth after five events. Terek scored 8,134 to win at Desenzano on May 6 and is seeking his third Worlds team berth.

MEN’S 20K RACEWALK FINAL, 6:30 a.m.

Key Athletes: Kevin Eastler, Tim Seaman

Seaman has won five US titles, but Eastler won his second last year and is coming off a 12th-place finish at the IAAF Challenge in Spain, where he set a personal best of 1:22:56. Seaman was one spot behind Eastler in Spain and has a best of 1:23:38 this year.

VISA MEN’S SHOT PUT FINAL, 12:40 p.m.

Key Athletes: Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson

One of the hottest events on the card again this year with world-leader Cantwell looking for his second US title. He has a best of 72-0 3/4 this year and is the fourth-best American ever. Nelson, the ‘05 world champ and two-time Olympic silver medalist, won the last four even-numbered years, while Hoffa won the 2006 world indoor title.

HERSHEY WOMEN’S 100 HURDLES SEMIFINAL & FINAL, 1:40 p.m. & 2:52 p.m.

Key Athletes: Ginnie Powell, Michelle Perry, Lolo Jones

The past two USATF winners, Ginnie Powell (2006) and Michelle Perry (2005), were the fastest two qualifiers from the first round. Powell is the current world leader with a 12.45 from her Reebok GP victory. Perry is second on the 2007 world list with a 12.51 from her Pre win. Jones has a best of 12.61 and was the US indoor champ in the 60H.

WOMEN’S 400 HURDLES SEMIFINAL, 2:02 p.m.

Key Athletes: Sandra Glover, Nicole Leach, Tiffany Williams, Sheena Johnson

Williams, Glover and Johnson were the heat winners, led by 55.18 by Williams in the first prelim. Johnson set the meet record of 52.95 to win in 2004, and Glover has won four US titles to date. Leach, the NCAA champ, was the fastest non-winning advancer at 56.11.

TYSON MEN’S 400 HURDLES FINAL, 2:18 p.m.

Key Athletes: Kerron Clement, Kenneth Ferguson, James Carter, Michael Tinsley

Tinsley picked a fine time to set a lifetime best, winning the second semifinal in 48.02, the fastest time in the world this year. Clement, the two-time defending champ, was just .06 behind Tinsley, while Carter, also twice a US champion and the world silver medalist, powered to a 48.91 to win the first section.

NIKE WOMEN’S 1500 FINAL, 2:26 p.m.

Key Athletes: Treniere Clement, Shayne Culpepper, Lindsey Gallo, Christin Wurth-Thomas

Clement, the two-time defending champion, had the third-best quaifying time and sports a lifetime best of 4:03.32 from 2006. Two-time Olympian Culpepper ran her PR of 4:05.98 to take second at the adidas Track Classic, and Gallo was he runner-up last year. Wurth-Thomas was fifth in ‘06 and has a lifetime best of 4:05.00.

AT&T MEN’S 400 FINAL, 2:44 p.m.

Key Athletes: Angelo Taylor, LaShawn Merritt, Lionel Larry

Merritt, the runner-up last year, zipped to a 44.44 in the second semi to lead all qualifiers, with USC’s Larry, the NCAA silver medalist, clocking 44.67 in second. Taylor, the ‘02 champion and the 2000 Olympic 400H gold medalist, cruised to a 44.64 to win the first semi. World 400H champ Bershawn Jackson also advanced to the final, but the ‘06 winner, Andrew Rock, was fifth and did not qualify.

HERSHEY WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP FINAL, 3:10 p.m.

Key Athletes: Destinee Hooker, Amy Acuff, Erin Aldrich

Acuff is the only woman in the field to have won a US title, and she has five to her credit. Hooker, also a volleyball star at Texas, won the NCAA gold for the Longhorns and has the top jump in the nation this seaosn at 6-4. Aldrich finished up her pro beach volleyball season in April and scaled 6-3 1/2 on May 20 to pop back into contention.

24-HOUR FITNESS WOMEN’S HAMMER FINAL, 3:20 p.m.

Key Athletes: Erin Gilreath, Amber Campbell, Brittany Riley, Jessica Cosby

Cosby is the defending champion, but Riley, the NCAA runner-up, has been the top performer this year with a best of 237-11 for Southern Illinois. Gilreath has won two US titles and is the American record holder at 242-4. Campbell was third the past three years.

WOMEN’S LONG JUMP FINAL, 3:30 p.m.

Key Athletes: Tianna Madison, Grace Upshaw, Brianna Glenn, Brittney Reese, Rose Richmond

Madison has a pass to the Worlds after winning at Helsinki in ‘05, so the US could have four jumpers in Osaka. Former Indiana star Richmond won here last year, while Upshaw has two national crowns and Glenn one. Reese was second at the NCAA meet for Ole Miss.

MEN’S 200 METER 1st Round, 4:05 p.m.

Key Athletes: Wallace Spearmon, Tyson Gay, Xavier Carter, Walter Dix

Once the “other” sprint, the 200 has been brought into the world spotlight by a posse of young guns led by defending champ Spearmon, who has run 19.82 already this year and who clocked 19.65 in ‘06. Carter shocked the track world with his 19.63 at Lausanne last year, while Florida State’s Dix, a double NCAA winner, dropped a 19.69 bomb earlier this season. Gay won the World Athletics Final in ‘06 with a 19.68.

WOMEN’S 200 METER 1st Round, 4:30 p.m.

Key Athletes: Allyson Felix, Rachelle Smith, Sanya Richards, Torri Edwards

Smith broke a two-year Felix nationals win streak last year at this meet, and she ran away with the Reebok meet on June 2 in 22.31. Felix, the 2005 world champion and ‘04 Olympic silver medalist, leads the world list at 22.18, a time she recorded to win the adidas Track Classic in her only 200m race so far this year. Richards will try to turn the 200/400 double, while Edwards won this event in ‘03.

MEN’S 110 HURDLES 1st ROUND, 4:50 p.m.

Key Athletes: Dominique Arnold, Ryan Wilson, Allen Johnson, Terrence Trammell

Arnold is the defending champion and set the American record of 12.90 last year. Johnson has seven US titles to go with his four world outdoor golds and an Olympic title in 1996, but this is his first meet of the year. Trammell, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, joined the sub-13 ranks with a 12.95 at the Reebok meet June 2. Wilson was third in ‘06 and has a best of 13.02 in ‘07.

WOMEN’S 3000 STEEPLECHASE FINAL, 5:50 p.m.

Key Athletes: Anna Willard, Lindsey Anderson, Jennifer Barringer, Lisa Galaviz

Willard set a collegiate record to win the NCAA title two weeks ago and leads the US list at 9:38.08. She won her heat in 10:04.88. Anderson nabbed silver at the NCAA meet, and Barringer was the fastest qualifier at 9:57.77. Galaviz is the defending champion.

Written by: Jill Greer
Via: USA Track & Field