Monday, July 21, 2008

Team USA continue Beijing tune-up in Stockholm

The IAAF World Athletics Tour resumes Tuesday in Stockholm, Sweden at the DN Galan, the second installment of the Super Grand Prix. U.S. athletes continuing their tune-up for the Beijing Olympics include world leaders Jeremy Wariner, Torri Edwards and Lolo Jones.

The men's 100 meters will heat up the track when world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica, compatriot Asafa Powell, and Darvis Patton take their lanes. Bolt set his world record time of 9.72 seconds on May 31 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City. On June 28^th, Patton and Powell posted times of 9.89 and 9.90 that place them 4th and 5th on the world list, respectively.

World leader Torri Edwards, 2008 Olympic Trials champion Muna Lee, and Trials fourth-place finisher Marshevet Hooker will showcase the women's 100m. At the Olympic Trials, Edwards and Lee posted times of 10.78 and 10.85 that are the first and third fastest times in the world so far this year, respectively. Also featured in the event are 4x100m relay pool members Mechelle Lewis, LaShaunte'a Moore, and Angela Williams.

Reigning World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner is fresh off his world leading 43.86, set only three days ago on July 18th in Paris, and is ready to run another 400. Wariner holds five of the top ten times in the world this year, with two races clocked in sub-44. Also set to compete are Team USA members David Neville, 4x400m relay pool members Reggie Witherspoon, Calvin Smith, and 2007 World Outdoor 400m hurdle champion Kerron Clement.

The women's 400m will be a duel between Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards, who hold the first- and second-fastest times in the world this year, at 49.83 and 49.86 seconds, respectively. (Felix is tied for the world leader with Amantle Montsho of Botswana.) Also watch for 2007 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Natasha Hastings.

Highlighting the women's 100m hurdles is Lolo Jones, who ran a world-leading time of 12.45 seconds at the Olympic Trials, and reigning Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes. In the men's 110mH, 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion David Oliver and two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, both members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, will challenge Dayron Robles of Cuba, who posted a world record time of 12.87 seconds in Ostrava on June 12th.

Team USA will be in full force in the men's high jump, with Jesse Williams, Andra Manson, and Dusty Jonas, who will compete against world leader Stefan Holm of Sweden (2.37m/7-9.25). Jonas has the second-highest clearance in the world this year at 2.36m/7-8.75, followed closely by Manson, the 2008 World Indoor bronze medalist, who cleared 2.33m/7-7.75 claiming the fourth highest clearance.

Four-time Olympic Team qualifier Amy Acuff and 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard are set compete in the women's high jump, jumping against a formidable opponent in world leader Blanka Vlašic of Croatia. Vlašic holds eight of the top ten jumps in the world this year, with a highest clearance of 2.06m/6-9. Acuff and Howard have cleared season's best of 1.93m/6-4 and 1.98m/6-6 respectively.

The women's long jump will feature all three Team USA members in Brittney Reese, Funmi Jimoh and Grace Upshaw. Reese enters the competition with the third-best mark in the world at 6.95m/11-9.75, followed by Jimoh at 6.91m/22-8 and Upshaw at 6.88m/22-7.

Rounding out the list of Team USA members set to compete are 2008 Olympic Trials runner-up (5,000m) Matt Tegenkamp running in the men's 3,000m and 2008 Olympic Trials 3,000m steeplechase champion Anthony Famiglietti.

For more information about the IAAF World Athletics Tour, including compete results from the DN Galan meeting, visit www.iaaf.org/competitions/wat/index.html.

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