|
BOSTON - Christian Cantwell put an exclamation point on his indoor
season Saturday at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships,
held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center. The #2 world-ranked
shot putter with the farthest throw in the world this year easily won
the men's Visa Championship as the athlete with the top performance of
the Indoor Visa Championship Series and the women's 3,000-meter winner
on Saturday, Shalane Flanagan, won the women's Visa Championship.
Cantwell dominates
The Visa Championship Series leader entering this meet, Cantwell had
confessed that he arrived in Boston in questionable form, having thrown
inconsistently since winning the 100th Millrose Games on February 2 with
his Series-leading throw of 21.88m/71-9, scoring 1,233 points. A big
throw from one of his well-credentialed competitors could have cost him
the $25,000 bonus as Visa Champion, but Cantwell put his stamp on the
competition with his first throw of 21.72m/71-3.5. Nobody else came
close, with reigning World Indoor champ Reese Hoffa second with a toss
of 21.21m/69-7, and Reebok Boston Indoor Games winner Dan Taylor third
with 20.32m/66-8.
It wasn't a sure thing for the 6-5 giant, however. A time of 6.45 was
needed in the final race of the night, the Visa men's 60m, to overtake
Cantwell in points - a time barely faster than Marcus Brunson's seasonal
best of 6.46. But when the gun went off in the sprint, it was DaBryan
Blanton across the line first in 6.56, with Brunson second in 6.58.
Symmonds sizzles
The Keyspan men's 800 featured one of the country's most exciting new
talents in Nick Symmonds, and the seven-time NCAA Division III champion
delivered a worthy performance. Floyd Thompson had taken an early and
commanding lead in the race but as the bell rang, Symmonds went to the
front, bumping elbows with Thompson in the process. Former NCAA champ
Sam Burley challenged Symmonds at mid-backstretch, but Symmonds sprinted
away the victor in 1:48.73, with Burley second in 1:49.42. It was the
first national title for Symmonds, a one-time hockey and soccer player.
The Nike men's mile provided excitement, if not a blinding pace. Known
for his affinity for leading from the front, two-time outdoor champion
Alan Webb sat back in a pack that passed through the first 400 meters in
62.8 seconds. When 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings took the
lead with 600 meters left, however, the pace took a decided upturn. Webb
showed fine closing speed to win in 4:01.07, with 2004 indoor champ Rob
Myers second in 4:01.78 and Jennings third in 4:01.93.
Photo-finish women
Hasani Roseby, an All-American while at UCLA, sprinted to her first
title in the Visa women's 60 meters, tying the 2007 U.S.-leading time
with her winning 7.16. She needed every hundredth of a second, with
Carmelita Jeter a close runner-up in 7.17. The race for third was
equally close, with Marshevet Hooker third in 7.22, 2005 Visa Champion
Angela Daigle fourth in 7.23 and Amber Plowden fifth in 7.24.
In another close race, the Boston Herald women's 60m hurdles revealed a
new star in 2003 NCAA indoor champion LoLo Jones. The 2004 LSU grad was
quick out of the blocks and won her first U.S. title in 7.88, with 2005
USA indoor champion Danielle Carruthers second in 7.92 and Nichole Denby
third in 7.93.
Ron Bramlett was an impressive winner in the men's 60m hurdles. In
Saturday's semifinals he had posted the U.S. leader with his time of
7.51, and on Sunday he improved that time in winning his first U.S.
title in 7.47 seconds. David Payne was second in 7.51 with David Oliver
third in 7.57.
Fantastic field events
Amber Campbell won her first Gill women's weight throw national crown in
grand style, posting a meet-record throw of 24.54m/80-6.25. Her mark was
just three centimeters from the American record and world best.
Three-time defending champion Erin Gilreath was second with 22.40m/73-6.
2005 national indoor champ Shani Marks returned to the winner's stand in
the women's triple jump, taking the competition with a best effort of
13.56m/44-6. Outdoor American record holder Tiombe Hurd was second at
13.39m/43-11.25. Dee Dee Trotter did the same in the Hershey women's
400m, winning the 2007 title in 51.95 seconds to go along with her '05
title. Monica Hargrove was second in 52.26.
Trevell Quinley led three men over 8 meters in the long jump, winning
the competition with a jump of 8.06m/26-5.5, with Brian Johnson second
at 8.03m/26-4.25 and triple jump titlist Aarik Wilson third at
8.00/26-3.
More winners
In the women's 800, former Wake Forest All-American Nikeya Green staged
an impressive run over the final 200 meters to score a decisive win in a
U.S.-leading time of 2:02.68, with 100th Millrose Games champion
Christin Wurth second in 2:03.70. Greg Nixon won the AT&T men's 400 in
46.76 with Fernada Blakely second in 46.97.
Sam Cohen won her first indoor 3,000m race walk title in 13:51.29 with
Lauren Forgues second in 13:55.90, after 5-time winner Joanne Dow was
disqualified for loss of contact while in the lead.
For complete results and quotes from the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track &
Field Championships, visit: www.usatf.org . For
more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit
Check out our FrontPage for all the latest running and triathlon news.
Top of News
Runner's Web FrontPage
© 1996 - 2007 RunnersWeb.com - All rights reserved.
|
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?