Posted: February 16, 2007

Athletics: Shot putters take center stage at AT&T USA Indoor Champs

INDIANAPOLIS - In what could be the most closely contested event of the meet, the top three shot putters of 2007 - Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa and Dan Taylor - will battle it out at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston. The final event of USA Track & Field's 2007 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Indoor Championships will be televised on Sunday, February 25, from 4-6 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN 2. Not only will this talented triumvirate, who own 13 of the 14 best throws in the world this year, compete for this year's national indoor title, but the Visa Championships Series also is on the line with its winner-take-all bonus of $25,000 for the top male performance of the Series. With his stunning effort February 2 at the 100th Millrose Games in New York, when he posted the farthest throw in the world this season of 21.88 meters/71 feet 9.50 inches, Cantwell leads the men's VCS standings with 1,233 points. Taylor currently sits in third place in the men's VCS with 1,215 points after surprising Cantwell and reigning World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa with his impressive win January 27 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with his heave of 21.57m/70-9.25. A recent Ohio State University grad, Taylor enters this season ranked #8 in the world, and his winning effort in Boston is the third best throw in the world this year. The #1 ranked shot putter in the world last season, Hoffa enters the AT&T USA Indoor Championships as the reigning champion. The 2006 Visa champion, Hoffa earned the #1 global ranking last year from Track & Field News by winning the World Indoor title and by having a winning 7-6 head-to-head record over world #2 Cantwell. Hoffa, who has a habit of shining when it matters most, posted the #2 throw in the world this year of 21.75 meters/71 feet 4.25 inches with his runner-up effort at the Millrose Games. Flying under the radar prior to this competition is two-time Olympic medalist, three-time World Outdoor champion and 2001 World Indoor champion John Godina, who is coming off a shoulder surgery that cost him most of the 2006 season. One of the most remarkably consistent performers in track and field history, Godina, who captured the inaugural indoor Visa Championship Series in 2005, was ranked top ten in the world every season since 1994 until last year. For more information on the AT&T USA Indoor Championships, including status of entered athletes, visit USATF.org. For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.