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Talented fields to compete at 2007 Mt. SAC Relays
Allyson Felix, Dwight Phillips Joanna Hayes and Asafa Powell will lead a galaxy of stars converging on Hilmer Lodge Stadium for the 49th annual Mt. SAC Relays this weekend in Walnut, California. The three-day competition will showcase high school, collegiate and world-class athletes.
The Invitational Division on Sunday, April 15 will feature international and Olympic stars including U.S. Olympic silver medalist and reigning world outdoor women's 200m champion Allyson Felix (in 400m competition), reigning Olympic and world outdoor men's long jump champion Dwight Phillips, 2004 Olympic women's 100m gold medalist Joanna Hayes and men's 100-meter world record holder Asafa Powell, who will compete in 4x100m relay competition for Jamaica against the U.S. National Team. Team USA quartets also will compete in 4x400m relay competition.
Elsewhere, two-time USA Outdoor men's 1,500m champion Alan Webb will compete in the 800 meters against 2006 USA Indoor mile champion Chris Lukezic and Sam Burley, who placed fourth in the two-lap event at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships. The Americans will be challenged by reigning Olympic 400m hurdles champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic.
In other running events, look for a highly competitive women's 200 meters featuring 2003 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Torri Edwards, 2004 Olympian LaShauntea Moore and former UCLA standout and 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist Monique Henderson.
The men's pole vault will feature an interesting border battle between U.S. Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson and Mexican Olympian and record holder Giovanni Lanaro. They have battled for the past two Mt. SAC Relays titles, finishing first and second each year. Along with Stevenson and Lanaro, Japanese record holder and Olympian Daichi Sawano (#6 IAAF world ranking) and 2006 U.S. Champion Russ Buller also will showcase their talents in this stellar field.
In other field events, look for three-time Olympian Amy Acuff in the women's high jump, Jesse Williams (world-ranked #9) in the men's high jump, along with A.G. Kruger (ranked #1 U.S.) and Jake Freeman (ranked #4 U.S.) in the men's hammer throw.
Friday, April 13th will feature the Invitational Distance Carnival and Saturday, April 14th will feature the High School Division. All three days will feature collegiate competition.
For tickets and more information visit: www.mtsacrelays.com or call (909) 594-5611ext. 4840.
Lewis named 2007 National Pathfinder Award Recipient
National Track & Field Hall of Famer and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis will be honored with the 2007 National Pathfinder Award at the annual Pathfinder Awards Banquet on Sunday, June 24 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Lewis will be in Indianapolis prior to the Pathfinder Awards Banquet for the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will take place at Carroll Stadium on the IUPUI campus, June 20-24.
The Pathfinder Awards annually recognize individuals for their contributions and dedication to youth. The awards banquet complements the Youthlinks Indiana Charity Golf Tournament, co-presented by Indiana Sports Corporation and Indiana Black Expo. The event raises thousands of dollars that are distributed back into the community to support youth-based sports programs and initiatives through the CHAMPS (Champions in Life) grant program.
Since his retirement from active competition in 1997, Lewis has devoted a great deal of his time and energy to charity, founding "The Carl Lewis Foundation," which serves as an umbrella for the many charities that Lewis supports, including the College Fund (formerly known as the United Negro College Fund), The Wendy Marx Foundation (for organ donor awareness) and the UNCF Walkathon in Houston. Lewis also serves as a spokesperson for The Hershey's Track & Field Games. As a board member, he is active in the "Best Buddies" Organization.His passion through the foundation is children. Lewis started his foundation to fight the growing problem of childhood obesity.He holds an annual Family Fitness Festival with the proceeds benefiting the American Diabetes Foundation.
Former Pathfinder Award recipients include college basketball coaching legend John Wooden, three-time Olympic gold-medal winner Jackie Joyner-Kersee, golfing greats Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and Chi Chi Rodriguez, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband, Sargent Shriver, Indiana Senators Richard Lugar and Birch Bayh, NFL coaching greats Tom Landry and Tony Dungy, and former United States Olympic Committee President Dr. Leroy Walker. Awards presented at the banquet will also include the Indiana Pathfinder Award, PeyBack Award presented by Peyton Manning's PeyBack Foundation, and the Reverend Charles Williams Award.
For more information on the 2007 Pathfiner Award Banquet, contact the Indiana Sports Corporation at 317-237-5000.
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