Athletics: Gilreath, Parker win weight throws at USA Indoors

BOSTON - Erin Gilreath captured the first USA indoor title of her career Friday at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, winning the women’s 20-pound weight throw with a toss of 23.48meters, 77 feet, 0.50 inches.

Gilreath won by more than a foot over the runner-up, 2003 USA indoor champion Anna Mahon. Mahon’s best throw of the day at the Reggie Lewis Center was 23.14m/75-11, while Amber Campbell was third with a throw of 22.24m/72-11.75.

The 2003 NCAA champion while at Florida, Gilreath remains undefeated during the 2004 indoor season, including Golden Spike Tour victories at the Verizon Millrose Games (23.32m/76-6.25) and Tyson Foods Invitational (23.14m/75-11).

James Parker surprised the field in the men’s 35-pound weight throw with a winning toss of 23.18m/76-0.75. Parker won by more than two feet over second-place A.G. Kruger (74-0.25). Thomas “Jake” Freeman was third with a toss of 22.13m/72-7.25.

In other action during the first day of the Championships, Chantee Earl (2:05.20), Hazel Clark (2:04.81), Nicole Teter (2:06.24) and Jen Toomey (2:05.29) all won their heats in the Sunny D Intense Sport women’s 800m prelims.

In Xerox men’s 800m competition, Jesse O’Connell had the fastest time, winning heat 1 in 1:48.74, edging Derrick Peterson (1:49.04), who also qualified. Michael Stember raced to victory in heat 2, with a winning time of 1:48.80. In heat 3, Fred Sharpe won in 1:50.24, beating out Floyd Thompson by one hundredth of a second (1:50.25).

Day one concluded with the GM men’s 60m hurdle prelims, in which 28 athletes competed. Dawane Wallace won heat 1 in 7.65 seconds, Ron Bramlett took heat 2 (7.66), Larry Wade won heat 3 (7.63) and Duane Ross won heat 4 in the fastest time of the day, 7.53 seconds.

The 2004 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the concluding event of USA Track & Field’s Indoor Golden Spike Tour, continue Saturday and Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Track & Field Center. The meet will be broadcast Saturday on ESPN2 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Eastern, and on Sunday from 6-7 p.m. Eastern.

For complete results, athlete quotes and a daily photo gallery from the 2004 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit www.usatf.org.