Posted: January 13, 2004

Athletics: 15 stars to take part in January 21 NYC Media Tour

INDIANAPOLIS – USA Track & Field will kick off 2004 by hosting a Media Tour in New York City on Wednesday, January 21. USATF will host a press conference with 15 of the sport’s biggest athletes, and CEO Craig A. Masback, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Madison Square Garden, site of the Verizon Millrose Games.

Held in advance of the 2004 USATF Indoor Golden Spike Tour and in anticipation of the opening of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in New York, the event will provide the media with group and one-on-one interviews with track & field stars including Maurice Greene, Tom Pappas, Allen Johnson, Justin Gatlin, Tyree Washington, Adam Nelson, John Godina, Allyson Felix, Torri Edwards and Amy Acuff. See below for a complete list of athletes and their career highlights.

The 2004 USATF Media Tour is part of a big week for track & field in New York. The National Track & Field Hall of Fame will officially open at the Armory Track & Field Center on 168th St. on Saturday, January 24. The Hall of Fame also will host a media luncheon on Thursday, January 22 at noon.

The Golden Spike Tour (GST) includes the historic Verizon Millrose Games February 6 in Madison Square Garden. The GST begins January 31 with the adidas Boston Indoor Games and continues with the Tyson Foods Invitational February 14 in Fayetteville, Ark., and the 2004 USA Indoor Championships Feb. 27-29 in Boston.

WHAT: 2004 USATF Media Tour

WHEN: 11:00 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2004 NOTE: Continental breakfast served at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Madison Square Garden Theater Lobby (Enter on 7th Ave. between 32nd and 33rd)

WHO: 15 of track & field’s biggest stars

MORE INFORMATION: Jill M. Geer, USATF Director of Communications Jill.Geer@usatf.org; 508-695-0595

FOR CREDENTIALS: Tom Surber, USATF Media Manager Tom.Surber@usatf.org; 317-261-0478 x317

2004 USATF Media Tour athletes

Women

Amy Acuff – Two-time Olympian; 4-time U.S. outdoor champion; 2001 U.S. indoor champion
Jenny Adams – 5th in 100m hurdles at 2001 World Championships; 6th at 2003 World Championships; 2001 U.S. long jump champion
Nicole Teter – American indoor record holder in 800 meters; 2002 U.S. indoor and outdoor champion; 2003 U.S. indoor champion
Torri Edwards – 2003 World Championships silver medalist (100m; 4x100m relay) and bronze medalist (200m); 2003 world indoor 60m bronze medalist; 2000 Olympic bronze medalist (4x100m relay)
Allyson Felix – American junior record holder at 200 meters; 2003 Pan Am Games bronze medalist; 2003 U.S. indoor runner-up; 2003 U.S. outdoor third place

Sanya Richards – 2003 World Championships gold medalist (anchored 4x400m); 2003 U.S. and NCAA 400m champion; American junior record holder 400m

Men

Allen Johnson – 4-time world champion in 110m hurdles; 1996 Olympic gold medalist; 2-time world indoor 60m hurdles champion (1995, 2003); 6-time U.S. outdoor champion
Justin Gatlin – 2003 world indoor 60m champion; 6-time NCAA sprint champion; 2003 U.S. indoor 60m champion; 2003 Moscow Challenge champion
John Godina – 3-time world shot put champion; 1996 Olympic silver medalist; 2000 Olympic bronze medalist; 3-time U.S. champion; 2001 world indoor gold medalist
Maurice Greene – 2000 Olympic 100m and 4x100m gold medalist; 3-time world 100m champion; former world record holder; 3-time U.S. 100m champion; world indoor 60m record holder; 1999 world indoor 60m gold medalist
David Krummenacker – 2003 world indoor 800m gold medalist; 3-time U.S. champion; 2003 U.S. indoor champion; American indoor record holder, 1,000m
Adam Nelson – 2-time U.S. outdoor shot put champion; 2-time U.S. indoor champion; 2-time World Outdoor shot put silver medalist; 2000 Olympic silver medalist; 2001 world indoor silver medalist
Tom Pappas – 2003 World Championships decathlon gold medalist; 2003 world indoor heptathlon gold medalist; 3-time U.S. champion; 5th at 2000 Olympics

Dwight Phillips – 2003 World Championships long jump gold medalist; 2003 world indoor gold medalist; 2003 U.S. outdoor champion; 2001 U.S. indoor champion

Tyree Washington – 2003 world indoor 400m, 4x400 gold medalist; 2003 World Championships 4x400m gold medalist and 400m silver medalist; 2-time U.S. outdoor champion; 1997 World Championships gold medalist (4x400) and bronze medalist (400m)

From USATF