Richards Golden League Jackpot dream stays alive

With her win Friday at the 2007 Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels, Belgium, 2006 World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards is only one victory away from winning a share of the IAAF Golden League $1 Million Jackpot for the second consecutive year.

Richards, who posted the fastest women's 400m time in the world this season (49.36 seconds) a week ago in Zurich, ran even faster today in Brussels, taking firm control of the race early on and finishing in 49.29 seconds. 2007 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Nicola Sanders of Great Britain was the runner-up in 50.34, and bronze medalist Novlene Williams of Jamaica was third in 50.66. Team USA World Championships relay gold medalist Mary Wineberg finished fourth in 50.76.

Richards ran the five fastest 400m times in the world in 2006, and currently owns the three fastest times in the world this season. Richards was undefeated outdoors in the 400m last year, winning a $249,999 portion of the jackpot for sweeping each race of the Golden League Series.

If Richards wins Sunday in Berlin, Germany, at the sixth and final event of the 2007 Golden League, her share of the total $1 Million Jackpot will be either half of it, or all of it. The only other athlete who remains undefeated in the first five events of the 2007 Golden League is women's pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, who was victorious today with her winning clearance of 4.80 meters/15 feet 9 inches, setting up what should be a dramatic showdown on Sunday.

In other women's events in Brussels, two-time World Outdoor 100m hurdles champion Michelle Perry finished third in her specialty in 12.61 seconds. Sweden's Susanna Kallur, who placed fourth at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, was the victor in 12.52 seconds. Jamaica's Delloreen Ennis-London, who won the bronze medal in Osaka, was the runner-up, finishing in the exact time as Perry (12.61). 2007 World Outdoor Champs finalist LoLo Jones placed fourth in 12.70.

Osaka World Championships 4x100m relay gold medalist Torri Edwards had a busy day in Brussels finishing second in the women's 200 meters in 22.81 seconds and third in the 100m in 11.22. Osaka 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter finished fourth in the 100m in 11.27, with Osaka finalist LaShuntea Moore placing fourth in the 200m in 23.13. Belgium's Kim Gevaert thrilled her home crowd with her win in the 200m in 22.75 seconds, as Jamaica's reigning world champion Veronica Campbell captured the 100m in 11.11.

In men's events, the highly anticipated battle between many of the world's best in the 200 meters proved to be a showcase for 2007 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon, who won the event in 19.88 seconds. Spearmon was followed by the third-fastest man of all-time Xavier Carter, who was the runner-up in 20.04 seconds, and Osaka silver medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who was third in 20.14. Osaka fourth place finisher Rodney Martin finished fourth again today in 20.39.

A trio of Americans finished behind Osaka fourth-place finisher Dayron Robles of Cuba in the men's 110m hurdles, as Robles crossed the finish line first in 13.21 seconds. Anwar Moore was the runner-up in 13.25 seconds, with four-time World Outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson third in 13.27. 2003 NCAA Outdoor champion Ryan Wilson was fourth in 13.32.

In men's field event action, 2007 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Walter Davis got back on the winning track in the triple jump, but it wasn't easy. In a competition that saw four lead changes in the last three rounds, Davis finally won on his final attempt with a hop, skip and jump of 17.27 meters/56 feet 8 inches. 2007 USA Outdoor champion Aarik Wilson was the runner-up with his best effort of 17.20m/56-5.25.

In the men's steeplechase, 2006 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Steve Slattery set a new personal best with his fifth-place finish in 8 minutes 15.69 seconds. He bettered his previous PR by 2.18 seconds.

For more information on the 2007 Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels and the IAAF Golden League, visit www.iaaf.org

USOC honors Team USA stars

The U.S. Olympic Committee announced Friday that Allyson Felix and Tyson Gay are its August Athletes of the Month.

Felix became just the second woman in history to win three gold medals at a single World Championships when she finished first in the 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Her most impressive run came in the 200m as she defended her world title with the largest margin of victory in World Championships history. In addition to achieving a personal best by finishing in 21.81 seconds, Felix also marked the fastest time run by a woman this century. She improved her previous best by .30 seconds and finished .53 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

In winning the gold medal in the women's 4x400m relay, the U.S. quartet of Dee Dee Trotter, Felix, Mary Wineberg and Sanya Richards ran the fastest time in 14 years (3:18.55).

Gay also earned gold medals in three events at the World Championships by winning the men's 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Gay's time of 9.85 seconds in the 100m was the third-fastest winning time in the history of the World Championships. Later in the week, Gay added to his feats by breaking Michael Johnson's championship record in the 200m with a time of 19.91 seconds.

Gay teamed up with Darvis Patton, Wallace Spearmon and Leroy Dixon in posting the fastest time in the world this year of 37.78 seconds in winning the gold medal in the men's 4x100m relay.

For more information visit: www.usocpressbox.org.

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