Posted: June 4, 2004

Athletics: adidas Oregon Track Classic preview

INDIANAPOLIS – A strong field featuring U.S. stars Christian Cantwell, John Godina, Adam Nelson, Nicole Teter, Joey Woody, John Capel, and Allyson Felix will compete Saturday, June 5 at the 14th annual adidas Oregon Track Classic on the campus of Mt. Hood Community College in Portland. The third stop of USA Track & Field’s 2004 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour, the meet will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6-7 p.m. Eastern Time.

They will be joined by international standouts, including Olympians, Olympic hopefuls and International gold medalists.

In men’s competition the deepest field is the men’s shot put featuring 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell, who owns the best throw in the world this outdoor season of 22.35 meters/73 feet, 4 inches from his win May 22 at the Home Depot Invitational in Carson, Calif. Cantwell will face a strong challenge from three-time World champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina, who won the Payton Jordan U.S. Open on Memorial Day with his best throw in two years of 21.71m/71-2.75. 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson and 1999 Pan American Games silver medalist Jamie Beyer are also in the field along with six-time Canadian champion Brad Snyder.

The Verizon men’s 100 meters also will be highly competitive as 2003 world outdoor 200m champion John Capel leads a strong field. Capel, who ended last year ranked #1 in the world in both the 100 and 200 meters, will be challenged by World Championships silver medalist Darvis Patton. Coby Miller, Mickey Grimes, Tim Harden and Leonard Scott could also challenge the favorites.

Joey Woody won the silver medal at the World Championships last season, and he heads the field in the Alaska Airlines men’s 400m hurdles. Woody, who ended the 2003 campaign ranked #1 in the U.S. and #3 in the world, will be challenged by Fred Sharpe, who placed third at the 2003 NCAA Championships and ended last season ranked #5 in the U.S. 2003 NCAA champion Dean Griffiths of Jamaica also is in the field.

American record holder and 1996 Olympic high jump champion Charles Austin plans to defend his meet title where he will face top competition in the nation as a tune-up for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento. In his hunt for his fourth Olympic team, Austin, who plans to retire after this season, will go head-to-head against defending U.S. indoor and outdoor high jump champion Jamie Nieto, 2001 USA champion Charles Clinger, 2000 USA Indoor champion Matt Hemingway and 2000 Olympian Nathan Leeper. Also in the field, look for Canadian record holder, four-time NCAA champion and two-time world champion Mark Boswell.

A strong contingent of international competitors on the men’s side also will compete on Saturday, including 2003 IAAF Grand Prix 3,000m champion Luke Kipkoskei of Kenya; 2003 NCAA champion Dean Griffiths of Jamaica; 2000 world junior champion Hadi Al-Somayali of Saudi Arabia; seven-time Canadian 1,500m champion Kevin Sullivan and 2003 Irish 1,500m champion Gareth Turnbull.

In women’s competition, 2002 USA Indoor and Outdoor 800m champion Nicole Teter leads the field in the Sunny D Intense Sports Drink women’s 800m after an impressive victory on Monday with a winning time of 1:58.83 at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open. The American indoor record holder, Teter will be challenged by 2000 Olympic Trials champion Hazel Clark; 2000 NCAA Indoor champion Chantee Earl and Oregon high school 400m record holder Sasha Spencer.

The meet marks world junior 200m record holder Allyson Felix's first competitive appearance in Oregon, where she will have a rematch in the Visa women’s 200m against defending U.S. indoor 200m champion Crystal Cox. At the Payton Jordan U.S. Open, both Felix and Cox were even coming off the turn before LaTasha Colander grabbed the lead with 60 meters to go to win, with Cox finishing second in 22.58 and Felix finishing third in 22.71.

Women’s international stars include 2000 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas; 1999 World 200m silver medalist Beverly McDonald of Jamaica; NCAA relay champion Aleen Bailey of Jamaica will all compete in the 200m. Canadian 800m champion and record holder Diane Cummins; two-time 1,500m Australian champion Suzy Walsham will compete 800m. Canadian pole vault record holder Dana Ellis and 2003 Canadian 10,000m champion Courtney Babcock who will compete in the American Track & Field 3,000m should challenge the American contenders.

Media will have a chance to speak with Allyson Felix, John Capel, Darvis Patton, Joey Woody, John Godina and Carrie Tollefson at the adidas Village using a panel-style media conference this Friday, June 4th at 11:00 a.m.

More information available at: www.oregontrackclassic.com.

Complete fields for the 2004 adidas Oregon Track Classic follow. All athletes are American unless otherwise noted (Subject to Change).

Verizon Men’s 100 Meters: Nicconnor Alexander (Trinidad), John Capel, Mickey Grimes, Tim Harden, Coby Miller, Darvis Patton, Leonard Scott, Dwight Thomas, (Jamaica)

Adidas Men’s 400 Meters: Hamden Al-Bishi (Saudi Arabia), Michael Blackwood (Jamaica), Derrick Brew, Gary Kikaya (Congo), Michael McDonald (Jamaica), Avard Moncur (Bahamas), Brandon Simpson, (Jamaica).

Chevrolet Men’s 1,500 Meters: Julius Achon, Ibrahim Aden, Nate Brannen (Canada), David Fiegen (Luxembourg), Adam Goucher, Charlie Gruber, Ryan Hayden (Canada), Gabe Jennings, Joseph Kosgei (Kenya), Seneca Lassiter, Mike Miller, Rob Myers, Laban Rotich (Kenya), Kevin Sullivan (Canada) James Thei (Great Britain), Gareth Turnbull (Ireland), Nick Willis (New Zealand).

Adidas Men’s 3,000 Meters: Michael Aish (New Zealand), Elkanah Angwenyi (Kenya), Ryan Bak,

Tim Broe, James Carney, Boaz Cheboiywo (Kenya), Anthony Famiglietti, Matt Gabrielson, Robert Gary, James Getanda (Kenya), Mark Johnston (Canada), Luke Kipkoskei (Kenya), Shadrack Kosgei, (Kenya), Paul Morrison (Canada), Joseph Mwai (Kenya), Jonathon Riley, Nolan Swanson, Jorge Torres.

Alaska Airlines Men’s 400M Hurdles: Sherman Armstrong, Neil Gardner (Jamaica), Dean Griffiths (Jamaica), Bayano Kamani (Panama), Fred Sharpe, Ian Weakley (Jamaica), Joey Woody.

Horizon Men’s High Jump: Charles Austin, Mark Boswell (Canada), Charles Clinger, Matt Hemingway, Nathan Leeper, James Nieto, Terrance Woods.

Verizon Men’s Long Jump: Walter Davis, Kevin Dilworth, Brian Johnson, Osbourne Moxey (Bahamas), Miguel Pate, Bashir Ramzy, Erick Walder.

Portland Tribune Men’s Shot Put: Christian Cantwell, Jamie Beyer, John Godina, Vince Mosca, Tyrel Nelson, Adam Nelson, Brad Snyder (Canada).

Visa Women’s 200 Meters: LaKeisha Backus, Aleen Bailey (Jamaica), Crystal Cox, Allyson Felix, Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas), Beverly McDonald (Jamaica), Cydonie Mothersill (Cayman Islands).

Sunny D Intense Sport Women’s 800 Meters: Tanya Blake (Malta), Marian Burnett (Guyana), Hazel Clark, Diane Cummins (Canada), Chantee Earl, Vicky Fleschner, Heather Henniger (Canada), Frances Santin, Sasha Spencer, Nicole Teter, Aimee Teteris (Canada), Suzy Walsham (Australia).

American Track & Field Women’s 3,000 Meters: Aziza Aliyu (Ethiopia), Courtney Babcock (Canada), Catherine Berry (Great Britain), Marie Davenport (Ireland), Sentayehu Ejigu (Ethiopia), Kara Goucher, Kelly McDonald, Amy Mortimer, Amy Rudolph, Yimanashu Taye (Ethiopia), Carrie Tollefson.

Adidas Women’s 100m hurdles: Jenny Adams, Vonette Dixon (Jamaica), Toni Ann D'Oyley (Jamaica), Lacena Golding-Clarke (Jamaica), Anjanette Kirkland, Championships Miesha McKelvy, Donica Merriman, Melissa Morrison.

Visa Women’s Pole Vault: Dana Ellis (Canada), Becky Holliday, Stephanie McCann (Canada), Niki McEwen, Tracey O'Hara, Mary Sauer, Kellie Suttle.

American Track & Field Women’s Discus: Aretha Hill, Kris Kuehl, Debbie Pickersgill (Australia), Suzy Powell, Seilala Sua, Deshaya Williams.