U.S. stars set to compete at World Athletics Final
Posted September 20th, 2007 at 7:40 PM by Martha Jones
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Team USA standouts Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards, Brad Walker, Wallace Spearmon, Lauryn Williams, Reese Hoffa and Walter Davis lead a strong cast of U.S. stars slated to compete this weekend at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany.
The 2005 World 200m women’s champion, Allyson Felix defended her title at the World Championships in Osaka with the largest margin of victory in World Championships history, striding to the gold medal and a huge personal best of 21.81 seconds, the fastest time run by a woman this century. Felix, who has posted the three fastest 200m times in the world this year, also won gold in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays, splitting 48.0 in the 4×4. She will compete in the 100 meters in Stuttgart.
For the second consecutive year, Richards earned a share of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot by winning the women’s 400 meters at all six prestigious European meets. She enters Stuttgart with the four fastest women’s 400m times in the world this year, including the world-leading 49.27 she ran Sunday to close out her Golden League victories in Berlin.
2006 World Indoor champion and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Brad Walker became the first American ever to win the men’s pole vault world title when he cleared 5.86 meters/19 feet, 2.75 in Osaka. Walker posted the world’s top two clearances this year with his winning performances at Brisbane on March 10 (5.95m/19 feet 6.25 inches) and in Perth on February 24 (5.92m/19-5.25).
Wallace Spearmon continues to rank as one of the world’s most consistent performers in the red-hot men’s 200 meters. He won his his second consecutive men’s 200m medal at a World Outdoor Championships (bronze, 20.05) in Osaka and also ran on the winning 4×100m relay. He is coming off two straight Golden League wins in the 200, in Brussels and Berlin.
Lauryn Williams is closing out the year on a strong note, having followed up her 2005 World Outdoor title in the women’s 100m with a surprising, second-place finish at the 2007 Worlds in Osaka. After struggling for two years, she placed second by just .002 seconds and is once again a factor on the world stage. Williams also ran leadoff on Team USA’s winning 4×100m relay in Osaka.
As the 2005 World Outdoor and 2006 World Indoor men’s triple jump champion, Walter Davis figured to end up on the awards podium in Osaka, and he did. Davis made his first attempt in the final count as he leapt to a seasonal best distance of 17.33 meters/56 feet 10 inches, despite missing a sore right shin.
The men’s shot put in Stuttgart will feature 2007 World Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa, who owns the two best throws in the world this season and who will face Osaka silver medalist Adam Nelson and 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell.
The men’s 110m field will feature a trio of American stars Osaka medalists Terrence Trammell (silver) and David Payne (bronze) do battle, along with the resurgent four-time world champion Allen Johnson. In the men’s 400m hurdles, Osaka world champion Kerron Clement, 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor face off.
Additional U.S. stars to keep an eye on include Osaka men’s 400m medalists LaShawn Merritt (silver) and Angelo Taylor (bronze), Osaka 200m fourth place finisher Rodney Martin, reigning U.S. men’s 1,500m champion Alan Webb and Osaka 4×400m relay gold medalist Mary Wineberg.
For more information on the 2007 IAAF Grant Prix Final, including the complete results, visit: www.iaaf.org.
Written by: Tom Surber
Via: USA Track & Field
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Tags: Alan Webb, allyson felix, Angelo Taylor, Bershawn Jackson, brad walker, Christian Cantwell, David Payne, IAAF, IAAF World Athletics Final, Kerron Clement, LaShawn Merritt, lauryn williams, Mary Wineberg, Reese Hoffa, rodney martin, sanya richards, Stuttgart, Team USA, Terrence Trammell, USA Track & Field, usatf, wallace spearmon, Walter David
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The Final Sprint