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Richards, Perry, Edwards, Moore & Merritt win in Rome
Sanya Richards, Michelle Perry, Torri Edwards, Anwar Moore and LaShawn Merritt each won their respective events Friday at the third event of the 2007 IAAF Golden League, the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy.
Following recent wins in Oslo and Paris, 2006 Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards continues to stay alive for a share of the Golden League Jackpot with her win Friday in the women's 400 meters. Athletes must win at all six meetings of the Golden League series to claim a share of the Jackpot. Richards was the convincing winner in 49.77 seconds, with Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal the runner-up in 50.15 seconds. Other American finishers were 2007 NCAA champion Natasha Hastings (3rd-50.34), DeeDee Trotter (5th-51.05) and Mary Wineberg (7th-51.20).
Reigning world champion Michelle Perry also stayed alive in the race for a share of the Golden League Jackpot with her third win of the series this season. Perry won the women's 100m hurdles in 12.44 seconds, winning convincingly over runner-up Josephine Onyla of Spain, who finished in 12.67. 2007 U.S. Indoor champion LoLo Jones placed fourth in 12.84 seconds.
2003 World champion and reigning U.S. champion Torri Edwards continued her winning ways in the 100 meters Friday, crossing the finish line first in 11.03 seconds. Lisa Barber was the runner-up in 11.11 seconds, with fellow Americans Allyson Felix (4th-11.18), Marshevet Hooker (5th-11.21), Carmelita Jeter (6th-11.22) and Rachelle Boone-Smith (7th-11.23) in pursuit.
The men's 110m hurdles was won by Anwar Moore, who placed fifth at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships last month in Indianapolis. Moore won the race in 13.16 seconds, barely finishing ahead of Cuba's Dayron Robles, who was the runner-up in 13.17. David Oliver, who began this season ranked #7 in the world, was third in 13.36, with four-time World champion Allen Johnson fourth in 13.50.
2005 World Outdoor Championships 4x400m relay gold medalist LaShawn Merritt won the men's 400 meters in 44.44 seconds, with 2007 USA Outdoor champion Angelo Taylor the runner-up in 44.55.
In 400m hurdles action, two-time U.S. Outdoor champion Kerron Clement was the runner-up in the men's race in 48.26 seconds, with reigning USA champion James Carter third in 48.31. In the women's race, 2005 World Championships bronze medalist Sandra Glover finished third in 55.38 seconds.
World record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica won handily in the men's 100 meters in 9.90 seconds. Bahamian Derrick Atkins was the runner-up in 10.02, with Mark Jelks the highest finishing American coming in fourth in 10.17.
In the women's 5,000 meters, 2007 U.S. runner-up Jennifer Rhines finished fourth in 14 minutes 58.51 seconds, with American record holder Shalane Flanagan placing fifth in 15:04.27. Five-time U.S. 10,000m champion Deena Kastor finished seventh in 15:13.82.
In field event action, 2007 USA men's long jump runner-up Miguel Pate finished second with a best leap of 8.06 meters/26 feet 5.50 inches. Seven-time U.S. champion Breaux Greer finished third in the men's javelin with a toss of 84.53m/277feet 4 inches and three-time Olympian Amy Acuff finished fifth in the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.95 meters/6 feet 4.75 inches. 2007 U.S. champion Aarik Wilson finished fourth in the men's triple jump with a best effort of 16.98m/55-8.50.
For more information on the 2007 Golden Gala, including the complete results, visit www.iaaf.org.
2007 NACAC Champs get under way
The inaugural edition of the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships begins today and runs through Sunday, July 17, in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The U.S. is one of the 32 member nations of the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association, one of six regional athletics associations affiliated with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Among others, U.S. athletes to watch include 2007 NCAA champion Tiffany Ofili, who will compete in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Ofili's last international competition saw her win the bronze at the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships. 2006 U.S. Indoor champion and 2007 U.S. Outdoor runner-up Adam Shunk will compete in the men's high jump, while 2006 U.S. Outdoor runner-up Jordan Vaden will run the men's 200m. American record-holder Tiombe Hurd is entered in the women's triple jump.
Many of the athletes competing at the 2007 NACAC Championships will then travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Pan American Games.
For complete Team USA information, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/NACACChampionships/. For more information on the 2007 NACAC Championships, visit http://www.indes.gob.sv/nacac2007/.
Deep American squad heads for Sheffield
A strong contingent from the United States will converge on Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, Great Britain, for the Norwich Union British Grand Prix on Sunday.
Tyson Gay is slated to compete in the 100 meter dash at the very same meet where Jamaica's Asafa Powell set the world record of 9.77 seconds one year ago. Gay's season is highlighted by his performance at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in June where he won the 100m in 9.84 seconds and ran the second fastest time ever in the 200m of 19.62.
A strong group will compete in the men's 200m and 400m. 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Wallace Spearmon leads a 200m field that also includes 2004 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Crawford and Rodney Martin, while reigning Olympic and World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner returns to the 400m and will be joined by 2000 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist and 2007 U.S. champion Angelo Taylor and 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Darold Williamson.
Two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, along with 3-time U.S. Outdoor 800m champion David Krummenacker will compete in the men's 1,500m.
In the field events, 2007 U.S. Outdoor triple jump champion Aarik Wilson bolsters the field along with 2003 U.S. Outdoor champion Kenta Bell, and competing in the men's long jump is 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Brian Johnson.
A strong sprint crew also will be present on the women's side. 2006 IAAF World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards and 2005 World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix are the more popular names in the 200m. Richards is the American Record holder in the 400m and Felix is fresh off a 200m championship at the U.S. Outdoor Championships.
In the 400m, 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Moushaumi Robinson joins Monique Hennagan and Monique Henderson in the one-lap contest.
While the 800m run will not be contested on the men's side, two-time U.S. Outdoor champion Alice Schmidt is in the race for the women. Jenelle Deatherage and Amy Mortimer will compete in the other distance race, the 3,000m.
The competition in the hurdles may rival that of the sprints on the women's side. The 100m hurdles will see 2005 World Outdoor champion Michelle Perry and Lolo Jones, who was the 2007 US Indoor champion in the 60m hurdles.
In one of just two field events in the meet, three-time Olympian and six-time U.S. Outdoor champion Amy Acuff will strengthen the field in the high jump.
For more information on the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, visit IAAF.org.
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