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The Golden League continues in Paris
The women's 400 meters and men's 400m hurdles will be the most anticipated events at the second event of the IAAF Golden League, the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis in France. The IAAF Golden League 2007 offers a $1 Million Jackpot, which represents international athletics' biggest annual payday. Athletes must win at all six meetings to acquire at least a share.
*The women's 400 meters will see a rematch of the 400 final from the U.S. Championships, as 2007 U.S. champion DeeDee Trotter is challenged by 2007 NCAA champion and 2007 U.S. runner-up Natasha Hastings, 2007 U.S. third-place finisher Mary Wineberg and 2006 IAAF Athlete of the Year, Sanya Richards. Richards is a contender for the Golden League Jackpot, having won the women's 400m at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, and is determined to win after her surprising fourth-place finish in Indy.
*Newly crowned U.S. champion James Carter enters the men's 400m hurdles with the fastest time in the world so far this year. Also in the mix will be the holders of the #2 and 3 times this year, two-time U.S. champion Kerron Clement and 2006 NCAA champion Michael Tinsley. Not to be overlooked are 2000 Olympic gold medalist and current U.S. 400m champion Angelo Taylor and 2003 Junior Pan Am gold medalist Kenneth Ferguson.
*The women's 100m will be a battle between 2003 World champion and reigning U.S. champion Torri Edwards, 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams, 2005 World 200m champion Allyson Felix, 2006 World Indoor champion Lisa Barber, 2007 U.S. third-place finisher Carmelita Jeter and #7 world-ranked Stephanie Durst.
*The men's 100m features 2004 Olympic 200m silver medalist Shawn Crawford, 2007 U.S. fourth-place finisher Mark Jelks and 2006 World Indoor champion Leonard Scott.
*A clash of the titans is set in the men's 1,500m as 2007 U.S. champion Alan Webb will look to keep his winning streak going against two-time Olympic medalist and 2006 U.S. champion Bernard Lagat.
*American record-holder Dominique Arnold will face off against 2006 NCAA champion Aries Merritt in the men's 110m hurdles. Also look for David Oliver, ranked #7 in the world for 2006 by Track & Field News, and ExxonMobill Bislett Games champion Anwar Moore.
*The top three fastest hurdlers in the world so far this year will square off in the women's 100m hurdles. Look for two-time U.S. champion Ginnie Powell to try and hold off 2005 World champion Michelle Perry and 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Lolo Jones.
*Also on the track, 2007 U.S. champion and Visa Championships Series winner Tiffany Ross-Williams will face two-time World Outdoor medalist Sandra Glover in the women's 400m hurdles. The men's 400m will see three members of the 2005 World Outdoor 4x400m gold medal-winning relay, as LaShawn Merritt, Darold Williamson and Derrick Brew take to the track. 2004 Olympian Jen Rhines will run in the women's 5,000m.
*In the field events, look for 2007 U.S. Indoor and Outdoor champion Aarik Wilson to challenge reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Walter Davis in the men's triple jump. Seven-time U.S. champion and American record-holder Breaux Greer will compete in the men's javelin and three-time Olympian Amy Acuff is entered in the women's high jump.
For more information and complete results, visit IAAF.org.
Felix, Gay, Richards, Wariner nominated for ESPY Award
Four of America's finest track and field athletes have received ESPY Award nominations for the Best Track & Field Athlete Award. The 15th annual ESPY Awards, which celebrate the top moments, most emotional stories and best performances from the past year in sports, will be televised Sunday, July 15 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
2006 Jesse Owens Award winners Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards are nominated for the Best Track & Field Athlete Award after dominating the world last year in men's and women's 400m competition. Additional nominees include Allyson Felix, the #1 world ranked women's 200m runner in the world, and men's star sprinter Tyson Gay, who began this season ranked #1 in the world at 200 meters and #2 globally at 100m.
The ESPYs recognize outstanding achievements and performances by athletes during the previous year and include 19 "Best in Sport" categories, which pit athletes from different sports against each other, along with 17 individual sport categories and two sponsored awards.
Voting ends at 11:59 p.m., on July 7. To vote for your favorite visit: ESPN.go.com.
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