Nelson Launches Huge Throw at Tyson Invitational
Posted February 16th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
The most decorated shot putter in World Outdoor Championships history, Adam Nelson continued a streak of amazing performances to win the Visa men’s shot put Friday night in front of 4,519 screaming fans at the 2008 Tyson Invitational.
The fourth stop of the 2008 USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series, the Tyson Invitational will be televised on February 17 from 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
Nelson’s world-leading throw of 22.40 meters/73 feet 6 inches in the Visa men’s shot put is the third-best performance of all time in the shot, and he offered it up in front of the second-largest crowd in meet history at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. For his efforts, the four-time World Outdoor medalist was named the Team USA Athlete of the Meet, presented by Visa.
It was the second straight meet record and personal-best performance for Nelson, who threw 22.07/72-5 at the 101st Millrose Games on February 1. Reining World Indoor and Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa took runner-up honors Friday night with his heave of 21.14m/69-4.25 and 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell was third with 20.50m/67-3.25.
2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Wallace Spearmon shot out of the blocks and into the lead and never looked back, easily winning the Tyson Foods men’s 200 meters in a world-leading 20.19 seconds, the #5 performance of all-time. 2006 U.S. Outdoor runner-up Jordan Vaden was second in 20.80, followed closely by Tennessee’s Rubin Williams in 20.84.
In the Visa men’s 60m hurdles, 1996 Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Outdoor champion Allen Johnson was the first to the tape, winning in 7.60 with 2005 U.S. Indoor champion Joel Brown second in 7.64.
LSU phenom Trindon Holliday, the 2007 U.S. Outdoor 100m runner-up, held off 2006 World Indoor champion Leonard Scott at the tape to win the Tyson Foods men’s 60m in 6.60 to Scott’s 6.62. It was a photo finish on the women’s side, as 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter once again stole the show by winning the Nutrilite women’s 60m in 7.27. Hot on her heels was 2004 Olympian Muna Lee, who took second in 7.28. Reebok Boston Indoor Games winner Miki Barber in 7.29.
Former Arkansas standout Christin Wurth-Thomas cruised to victory in the Tyson Foods women’s mile in a meet record 4:27.18, the best time by an American this year. Jenelle Deatherage was second in 4:31.84 and Michigan’s Nicole Edwards was third in 4:33.23. In the men’s race, six of the seven entrants in the adidas men’s mile ran under four minutes, with Nick Willis of New Zealand winning in a world-leading 3:55.93 and Canadian Kevin Sullivan second in 3:57.50.
American Outdoor record holder and two-time U.S. Indoor champion Jenn Stuczynski won the Nutrilite women’s pole vault with her clearance of 4.64m/15-2.75. 2003 NCAA Indoor champion Lacy Janson was the runner-up and 2008 Millrose Games champion Jillian Schwartz took third, both setting personal records and also clearing 4.64m/15-2.75.
2006 Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year Bianca Knightblazed around the track, winning the Visa women’s 200m in 23.07, the fastest time by an American this year. 2006 NCAA 4×100m champion Alexandria Anderson took second in 23.36 and 2007 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 400m champion Natasha Hastings was third in 23.51.
Also on the track, former Arkansas standout Alistair Cragg of Ireland won the men’s 5,000m in a world-leading 13:32.01. Jamaica’s Kenia Sinclair won the women’s 800m in 2:01.41 and Arkansas alum James Hatch won the men’s 800m in 1:47.92.
The USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series will continue February 23-24 with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston. For more information, including TV broadcast schedules, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.
Via: Vicky Oddi, USA Track & Field
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Tags: adam nelson, AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Christian Cantwell, ESPN, Reese Hoffa, shot put, track and field, tyson invitational, USA Track & Field, USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series, usatf, Visa Championship Series, wallace spearmon
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The Final Sprint
this post is quite an readable and very straight to the points with accurate history and figures relating to the issue that is being discussed
February 20th, 2008 at 7:34 am