Contact: Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0500 x317
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 5, 2002
America’s best to compete at Oracle US Open
INDIANAPOLIS - Marion Jones, Stacy Dragila, Gail Devers, John Godina, Kevin
Toth, Regina Jacobs, Walter Davis, Suzy Powell and Adam Goucher are just a
few of the top entries Saturday, June 8, at the third annual Oracle US Open
at Stanford University’s Cobb Track and Angell Field in Palo Alto,
California.
The IAAF Grand Prix I meet, the third event on USATF’s 2002 Outdoor Golden
Spike Tour, will be televised on CBS from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
on Sunday, June 9.
Stanford also will host the final event on this year’s Outdoor Golden Spike
Tour, the 2002 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and USA Junior Track
& Field Championships, June 21-23. The USA Outdoor Championships will be
televised on ESPN2 from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 23.
Now in its fourth year, USATF’s Golden Spike Tour provides America’s best
athletes the opportunity to compete in the United States and earn
substantial prize money in front of a nationally televised audience.
Sponsors of the 2002 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour are Verizon, Visa, and SoBe
Sports System, with additional support from Nike, Xerox and General Motors.
For more information on the Golden Spike Tour, visit the USATF Web site,
www.usatf.org.
Known for attracting world-class track and field competitors from around
the world, the 2001 edition of the US Open was staged in front of an
overflow crowd. To purchase tickets for the Oracle US Open, visit
www.trackandfieldusa.org or call 1-800-STANFORD.
2002 Oracle US Open at a Glance (fields subject to change)
Athletes listed are USA unless otherwise noted
Visa Women’s Pole Vault – 6:05 p.m.
THE FIELD: Stacy Dragila, Kathleen Donoghue, Becky Holliday, Shannon
Pierson.
THE SCOOP: Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion Stacy
Dragila broke her own world record twice in winning this competition in
2001, clearing 4.71m/15-5.50 before leaping 4.81m/15-9.25, which remains the
world record. Dragila owns the best mark in the world this outdoor season of
4.72m/15-5.75 in winning the Nike Prefontaine Classic on May 26. The
University of Oregon’s Becky Holliday finished third at the 2002 NCAA
Outdoor Championships (4.10m/13-5.25) and Stanford’s Kathleen Donoghue was
fourth at NCAAs with a best of 4.00m/13-1.50.
Men’s Triple Jump – 6:20 p.m.
THE FIELD: Walter Davis, Kenta Bell, LeVar Anderson, Tim Rusan, Von Ware,
LeJuan Simon, Brian Wellman (Bermuda), Andrew Owusu (Ghana), Jerome Romain
(France).
THE SCOOP: After winning the triple (17.34m/56-10.75) and long jumps
(8.08m/26-6.25) at the 2002 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Baton
Rouge over the weekend, 2001 World Outdoor Championships fifth-place
finisher Walter Davis enters the Oracle US Open on fire. Davis’ winning mark
in the triple jump in Baton Rouge is the second-best in the world this year.
Kenta Bell, the 2001 World University Games long and triple jump gold
medalist, who will also compete in Palo Alto, owns the best outdoor triple
jump mark in the world in 2002 of 17.63m/57-10.25. Additional U.S.
challengers include 2002 U.S. Indoor champion Tim Rusan, LeVar Anderson and
Von Ware. Bermuda’s Brian Wellman, who ended 2001 ranked #10 in the world,
should provide strong competition.
Women’s 100m Hurdles – 6:30 p.m.
THE FIELD: Gail Devers, Jenny Adams, Miesha McKelvy, Donica Merriman, Damu
Cherry, Vonette Dixon (Jamaica), Lacena Golding-Clark (Jamaica), Dionne
Rose-Henley (Jamaica).
THE SCOOP: Gail Devers enters Saturday’s competition as a three-time World
Champion in this event and the #1-ranked hurdler of 2001. A two-time Olympic
gold medalist at 100 meters, Devers, who won at the Nike Prefontaine Classic
two weeks ago in a wind-aided 12.29, will be challenged by Jenny Adams, who
placed fifth at last year’s World Championships and ended the season ranked
#3 in the world. 2002 U.S. Indoor Champs runner-up Miesha McKelvy owns the
second-fastest time in the world this year of 12.73. Dionne Rose-Henley of
Jamaica, who ended the 2001 campaign ranked #8 in the world, leads a strong
international contingent.
Women’s 400 Meters – 6:40 p.m.
THE FIELD: Jearl Miles-Clark, Michelle Collins, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha
Colander-Richardson, Suziann Reid, Sandie Richards (Jamaica), Catherine
Scott (Jamaica), Christine Amertil (Bahamas), Kaltouma Nadjina (Chad).
THE SCOOP: 2000 Olympian and 2002 Nike Prefontaine Classic winner Michelle
Collins enters what should be a very competitive race with the fastest 400m
time in the world this year of 50.43. Two-time U.S. 400m champion and 2000
Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist LaTasha Colander-Richardson will
challenge Collins, along with 2002 U.S. Indoor 400m champ and 2000 Olympic
4x400m relay gold medalist Monique Hennagan. Former world champion and
two-time Olympic relay gold medalist Jearl Miles-Clark is also in the field,
along with two-time U.S. Indoor champ and three-time NCAA Outdoor 400m
champion Suziann Reid. Chad’s Kaltouma Nadjina, who won in Portland last
month at the adidas Oregon Track Classic by 8/100ths of a second over
Miles-Clark, also is a favorite.
Oracle Men’s 100 Meters – 6:50 p.m.
THE FIELD: Tim Harden, Mickey Grimes, Marcus Brunson, Gerald Williams, Kim
Collins (St. Kitts and Nevis), Ricardo Williams (Jamaica), Aziz Zakari
(Ghana).
THE SCOOP: Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was the runner-up to Coby
Miller at the adidas Oregon Track Classic last month in 10.04, the fastest
time this year by the entrants in this meet. 2001 World University Games
100m gold medalist Marcus Brunson ran the fastest 60m indoor time by an
American in 2002 of 6.48. 1996 Olympic Games 4x100m relay silver medalist
and 1998 U.S. champ Tim Harden will also compete, as will 2001 World Outdoor
Championships 4x100m relay gold medalist Mickey Grimes.
Verizon Wireless Men’s 800 Meters – 7:00 p.m.
THE FIELD: Bryan Woodward, Bryan Berryhill, Trinity Gray, Jess Strutzel,
Jeff Delong, Zach Whitmarsh (Canada), Otukile Lekote (Botswana).
THE SCOOP: Botswana’s Otukile Lekote, who has the fastest time in the world
this year of 1:45.27, is the favorite. 2000 Olympian and eight-time NCAA
All-American Bryan Woodward of the Nike Farm Team enters the Oracle US Open
following a hernia operation, which kept him out of action all last year.
Trinity Gray, who ended the 2001 campaign ranked #4 in the U.S., and Jess
Strutzel, who placed third at last year’s USA Outdoor Championships, are the
U.S. favorites here. 2001 NCAA Outdoor 1,500m champion Bryan Berryhill is
entered after a strong second-place showing in the 1,500 meters at last
month’s adidas Oregon Track Classic.
Sobe Sports System Men’s 400 Meters – 7:10 p.m.
THE FIELD: Leonard Byrd, Derrick Brew, Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic),
Michael Blackwood (Jamaica), Davian Clarke (Jamaica), Alleyne Francique
(Grenada), Hamdan Al-Bishi (Saudi Arabia).
THE SCOOP: With the fastest time in the world this year of 44.45, 2001
World Outdoor Championships 4x400m relay gold medalist Leonard Byrd is the
favorite. Byrd’s World Championships relay teammate Derrick Brew, who ended
the 2001 season ranked #6 in the U.S., should provide a strong challenge,
along with Grenada’s Alleyne Francique, who has a 44.87 to his credit this
year. The Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez, who clocked 45.16 in finishing
third in Osaka, Japan on May 11, is the World Champion in the 400m hurdles.
Women’s High Jump – 7:15 p.m.
THE FIELD: Amy Acuff, Tisha Waller, Gwen Wentland, Carri Long, Stacy Ann
Grant, Nicole Forrester (Canada), Wanita May (Canada).
THE SCOOP: Amy Acuff and Tisha Waller renew their long standing rivalry
Saturday as the two best women’s high jumpers in the world this season. A
two-time Olympian who finished last year ranked #6 in the world, Acuff has
the best outdoor mark in the world this year of 1.95m/6-4.75. The U.S.
indoor record holder, a five-time U.S. indoor champion and three-time
national outdoor champ, Waller has the second-best mark in the world this
season of 1.94m/6-4.25. Stacy Ann Grant, who finished last year ranked #3
nationally, is poised to challenge, along with Gwen Wentland.
Women’s Discus Throw – 7:20 p.m.
THE FIELD: Suzy Powell, Seilala Sua, Kristin Kuehl, Teri Steer, Aretha
Hill, Roberta Collins, Summer Pierson.
THE SCOOP: Two-time Olympian Suzy Powell is the favorite after setting a
new American record of 69.44m/227-10 in April at the University of
California San Diego Open. Powell’s effort is the best in the world since
Russia’s Natalya Sadova threw 70.02m/229-9 in June of 1999. Powell, who owns
the two best marks in the world this year, will face a stiff challenge from
1996 Olympian Aretha Hill, who won this year’s Nike Prefontaine Classic over
Powell with a best of 63.48m/208-3. Hill owns the third and fourth best
marks in the world this year (best of 65.21m/213-11). Four-time U.S. champ
Seilala Sua and 1998-’99 U.S. runner-up Kristin Kuehl are also in the field.
Oracle Women’s 1,500 Meters – 7:25 p.m.
THE FIELD: Regina Jacobs, Sarah Schwald, Nicole Teter, Collette Liss, Mari
Chandler, Janet Trujillo, Diane Cummins (Canada), Mardrea Hyman (Jamaica),
Lyudmila Vasilyeva (Russia), Lena Nilsson (Sweden)
THE SCOOP: Four-time Olympic team qualifier and two-time World Outdoor
Championships 1,500m silver medalist Regina Jacobs will look to defend her
2001 US Open title. A ten-time U.S. Outdoor 1,500m champion, Jacobs won this
event last year in 4:04.85. Nicole Teter, who in March set a new American
record in winning the 2002 U.S. Indoor 800m title in 1:58.71, enters
Saturday’s race with the fourth-fastest 1,500m time in the world this year
of 4:09.71 and an impressive victory over Jacobs at the Nike Prefontaine
Classic. 2001 World Outdoor Championships semifinalist Sarah Schwald is also
in the mix, along with Jamaica’s Mardrea Hyman, who last month ran 4:11.45
in Doha, Qatar.
Verizon Women’s 100 Meters – 7:35 p.m.
THE FIELD: Marion Jones, Candace Young, Kiesha Givens, Veronica Campbell
(Jamaica), Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas), Tayna Lawrence (Jamaica), Beverly
McDonald (Jamaica), Tara Perry (Canada).
THE SCOOP: Three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor 100m
champion Marion Jones is the favorite in any race she enters, and Saturday’s
race is no different. Jones returns to Stanford after winning the 200m at
this event last year in 22.70. Saturday she will compete in the 100 meters,
where she owns the fastest time in the world this year of 10.90, set in
winning last month’s Nike Prefontaine Classic. The #1 ranked 100m and 200m
women’s sprinter in the world for five consecutive years, Jones will battle
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell, who ran 11.21 in Austin, Texas in April, and
her countrywoman Beverly McDonald, who posted a 11.24 earlier this year.
McDonald ran the third leg on Jamaica’s 2001 World Outdoor Championships
4x100m relay team that placed fourth. Originally slated to compete in this
event, Tasha Jenkins, who owns the third-fastest time in the world this year
of 11.05, was recently hospitalized for abdominal pain. She will undergo
surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2002 season.
Oracle Men’s Shot Put – 7:45 p.m.
THE FIELD: John Godina, Kevin Toth, Andy Bloom, John Davis, Brad Snyder
(Canada).
THE SCOOP: Three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist
John Godina returns after an amazing performance at last year’s US Open,
where he won the shot put with a best of 21.95m/72-0.25, in a series that
featured five throws over 70 feet. His best mark this season of 21.89m/71-10
is from his runner-up finish to 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson at
the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Three-time U.S. World Outdoor Championships
team member Kevin Toth has returned after back surgery in 2001 to have a
monster year. Toth won last month’s Nike Prefontaine Classic over Nelson and
Godina with a best-ever effort of 22.19m/72-9.75, the second-best mark in
the world this year. 2000 Olympic fourth-placer Andy Bloom is also in the
mix, along with Canada’s Brad Snyder, who’s thrown 20.59m/67-6.75 this year.
Nelson, who owns the best mark in the world this year of 22.51m/73-10.25,
was forced to bow out of Saturday’s event due to a strained Achilles tendon.
Nike Men’s Mile – 7:55 p.m.
THE FIELD: Adam Goucher, Seneca Lassiter, Jason Lunn, Michael Stember,
Jonathan Riley, Gabe Jennings, Bolota Asmeron, Adrian Blincoe (New Zealand),
William Chirchir (KEN), Graham Hood (Canada), David Kiptoo (Kenya), David
Lelei (Kenya), Leonard Mucheru (Kenya).
THE SCOOP: The best way to handicap this race is to look back on the mile at
the May 26 Nike Prefontaine Classic, where an astounding 11 competitors
broke the four-minute barrier. After finishing second at Prefontaine in
3:51.03, Kenyan William Chirchir has to be the favorite on Saturday.
Chirchir should plan on hearing Seneca Lassiter’s footsteps after the 2001
U.S. Indoor mile champ finished an impressive fourth at Pre in 3:55.30. 2000
Olympic Trials and 1999 U.S. Outdoor 5,000m champion Adam Goucher was ninth
at Pre in 3:56.76. 2000 Olympian Michael Stember and 2002 U.S. Indoor mile
champ Jason Lunn, both Stanford grads, who will run on their home track, are
also in the field.
Men’s 5,000 Meters – 8:10 p.m.
THE FIELD: Meb Keflezighi, Abdi Abdirahman, Brad Hauser, Dan Browne, Matt
Lane, Nick Rogers, Chris Graff, Abrahim Chebii (Kenya), Daniel Gachara
(Kenya), Martin Keino (Kenya), Luke Kipkosgei (Kenya), Shadrack Kosgei
(Kenya), Sean Kaley (Canada).
THE SCOOP: Kenyan Abraham Chebii comes in as the favorite after winning the
5,000 meters at last month’s Nike Prefontaine Classic in 13:13.53. His
countryman Luke Kipkosgei was fifth at Pre in 13:30.71, followed in
sixth-place by 2000 Olympian and U.S. 10,000m record holder Meb Keflezighi,
who finished in 13:31.37. Keflezighi’s Olympic 10K teammate and 2001 U.S.
champ at that distance Abdi Abdirahman was ninth at Pre in 13:45.19. Other
Americans in the field include Dan Browne, who ran 13:31.26 earlier this
year at Mt. SAC, and Stanford grad Brad Hauser, who finished behind Browne
at Mt. SAC in 13:32.82.
A series of Olympic Development events will also be contested Saturday in
Palo Alto, highlighted by the nation’s finest men’s high jumpers. 1996
Olympic gold medalist Charles Austin headlines the field that includes
two-time U.S. Indoor champion and 2001 national outdoor champ Nathan Leeper,
and 2001 NCAA Outdoor champion Charles Clinger, who won at the Nike
Prefontaine Classic with a best of 2.35m/7-8.50, the best by an American
this year. 2000 U.S. Indoor champ Matt Hemingway won at Portland last month
in the second-best outdoor performance by an American this year, a clearance
of 2.32m/7-7.25.
A quality field is also expected in the Olympic Development men’s pole vault
featuring 2002 U.S. Indoor champion and 2001 Goodwill Games winner Tim Mack,
who won at the Nike Prefontaine meet with the best mark by an American this
outdoor season of 5.84m/19-2. 2000 NCAA Outdoor champion Russ Buller and
Derek Miles, who placed third at the 2002 USA Indoor Championships and tied
for third at the 2000 Olympic Trials, are also in the field.
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