Posted: July 19, 2004

Athletics: USATF submits preliminary Olympic roster to USOC

SACRAMENTO – USA Track & Field, the national governing body of track & field, race walking and long distance running, on Sunday submitted its nominations for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team in the sport of track & field to the United States Olympic Committee. It is a preliminary roster that will be finalized on August 9, the deadline for athletes to achieve the Olympic “A” standards in their events.

It is an extremely potent combination of experienced Olympic medalists, exciting young athletes and emerging stars. Among the athletes scheduled to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games in Athens are past Olympic gold medalists Allen Johnson, Gail Devers, Maurice Greene, Marion Jones, Stacy Dragila, Angelo Taylor, Jearl Miles-Clark, Monique Hennagan and LaTasha Colander. Other Olympic medalists on the roster include Adam Nelson, John Godina, Melissa Morrisson, Terrence Trammell

A promising group of young people add their potential medal-winning talent to the team as well: 21-year-old Alan Webb, 18-year-old Allyson Felix, 19-year-old Sanya Richards, 22-year-old Justin Gatlin, 20-year-old Lauryn Williams, 21-year-old Sheena Johnson, 20-year-old Jeremy Wariner and a host of other 20-to-22 year-olds.

The Olympic Trials also made clear that emerging stars such as Shawn Crawford, Bryan Clay, Dwight Phillips, Melvin Lister, Tim Mack, Toby Stevenson, James Carter and Reese Hoffa must be considered serious medal threats – even gold-medal threats – as well.

The top three finishers in the men’s and women’s 100 and men’s and women’s 400 meters automatically were named to their respective relay pools, according to IAAF rules. Additional pool members named Sunday were: Men’s 4x100 – Coby Miller, Darvis Patton, John Capel; women’s 4x100 – Angela Williams, Consuella Moore, LaShauntae’a Moore; men’s 4x400 – Darold Williamson, Andrew Rock, Calvin Harrison; women’s 4x400 – Crystal Cox, Monique Henderson, Moushaumi Robinson. Any athlete on the roster in any individual event – including Maurice Greene, Justin Gatlin, Shawn Crawford, Marion Jones and Gail Devers, among others – also automatically is considered part of the relay pool.

“We saw a lot of young men step up their performances at the Olympic Trials,” said Men’s Olympic Head Coach George Williams. “I am confident we have the best team possible representing the United States at the Olympic Games.”

“We are blessed with a talent pool that includes some young, talented athletes and some very experienced athletes,” said Women’s Olympic Head Coach Sue Humphrey. “The athletes on this team have shown us throughout this season, and at the Olympic Trials, the high level of competition they are capable of. We are looking forward to continuing to improve upon these performances as we head into Athens.”

Athletes without an Olympic A standard in their events have until August 9 to achieve those standards (see “Selecting Team for 2004 Olympic Games,” below).

Any athlete losing his or her eligibility due to anti-doping proceedings prior to the Olympic track & field competition may be replaced, per IOC regulations.

2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team

As submitted to the United States Olympic Committee on July 18, 2004.

Roster Is Preliminary. Final Roster Will Be Announced August 9

Men:
100 meters: Maurice Greene (Granada Hills, Calif.), Justin Gatlin (Raleigh, N.C.), Shawn Crawford (Raleigh, N.C.).
200 meters: Shawn Crawford (Raleigh, N.C.), Justin Gatlin (Raleigh, N.C.), Williams, Bernard (Gainesville, Fla.)
400 meters: Jeremy Wariner (Grand Prairie, Tex.), Otis Harris (Columbia, S.C.), Derrick Brew (Raleigh, N.C.).
800 meters: Jonathan Johnson (College Station, Tex.), Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.), Derrick Peterson (Columbia, Mo.).
1,500 meters: Alan Webb (Fairfax, Va.). Additional entries will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
3,000-meter steeplechase: Daniel Lincoln (Fayetteville, Ark.), Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.), Robert Gary (Westerville, Ohio).
5,000 meters: Final entries in this event will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of “A” and or “B” qualifying performances.
10,000 meters: Abdi Abdirahman (Austin, Tex.), Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.). Dathan Ritzenhein (Boulder, Colo.).
Marathon: Alan Culpepper (Lafayette, Colo.), Meb Keflezighi (San Diego, Calif.), Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.).
20 km race walk: Tim Seaman (Chula Vista, Calif.), John Nunn (Aurora, Colo.), Kevin Eastler (Chula Vista, Calif.).
50 km race walk: Curt Clausen (Chula Vista, Calif.), Philip Dunn (San Diego, Calif.)
110-meter hurdles: Terrence Trammell (Ellenwood, Ga.), Duane Ross (Garner, N.C.), Allen Johnson (Irmo, S.C.).
400-meter hurdles: James Carter (Hampton, Va.), Angelo Taylor (Decatur, Ga.), Bennie Brazell (Baton Rouge, La.).
High jump: Jamie Nieto (Chula Vista, Calif.), Matt Hemingway (Littleton, Colo.), Tora Harris (College Park, Ga.).
Pole vault: Tim Mack (Knoxville, Tenn.), Toby Stevenson (Chula Vista, Calif.), Derek Miles (Jonesboro, Ark.).
Long jump: Dwight Phillips (Mesa, Ariz.), John Moffitt (Baton Rouge, La.), Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.).
Triple jump: Melvin Lister (Fayetteville, Ark.), Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.), Kenta Bell (Chula Vista, Calif.).
Shot put: Adam Nelson (Athens, Ga.), Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), John Godina (Mesa, Ariz.).
Discus: Jarred Rome (Chula Vista, Calif.), Ian Waltz (Coeur D’Alene, Id.), Casey Malone (Fort Collins, Colo.).
Hammer Throw: James Parker (Great Falls, Mt.). Additional entries will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Javelin: Breaux Greer (Athens, Ga.). Additional entries will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Decathlon: Bryan Clay (Azusa, Calif.), Tom Pappas (Knoxville, Tenn.), Paul Terek (Livonia, Mich.).
4x100m relay pool: Maurice Greene, Justin Gatlin, Shawn Crawford, Coby Miller (Pasadena, Calif.), Darvis Patton (Fort Worth, Tex.), John Capel (Gainesville, Fla.)
4x400m relay pool: Jeremy Wariner, Otis Harris, Derrick Brew, Darold Williamson (Waco, Tex.), Calvin Harrison (Raleigh, N.C.), Andrew Rock (LaCrosse, Wis.).

Women:
100 meters: LaTasha Colander (Garner, N.C.), Torri Edwards (Los Angeles), Lauryn Williams (Miami).
200 meters: Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.), Muna Lee (Baton Rouge, La.), Torri Edwards (Los Angeles).
400 meters: Monique Hennagan (Stockbridge, Calif.), Sanya Richards (Austin, Tex.), DeeDee Trotter (Knoxville, Tenn.).
800 meters: Jearl Miles-Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.), Nicole Teter (Palo Alto, Calif.), Hazel Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.).
1,500 meters: Final entries in this event will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of “A” and or “B” qualifying performances.
5,000 meters: Shayne Culpepper (Lafayette, Colo.), Marla Runyan (Eugene, Ore.), Shalane Flanagan (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
10,000 meters: Elva Dryer (Albuquerque, N.M.), Kate O’Neill (New Haven, Ct.). The final roster position will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Marathon: Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.), Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Jen Rhines (Ardmore, Pa.).
20 km race walk: Final entries in this event will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of “A” and or “B” qualifying performances..
100-meter hurdles: Gail Devers (Duluth, Ga.), Joanna Hayes (Los Angeles, Calif.), Melissa Morrison (Columbia, S.C.).
400-meter hurdles: Sheena Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.), Brenda Taylor (Chula Vista, Calif.), LaShinda Demus (Columbia, S.C.).
High jump: Tisha Waller (Atlanta), Chaunte Howard (Atlanta), Amy Acuff (Austin, Tex.).
Pole vault: Stacy Dragila (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jillian Schwartz (Jonesboro, Ark.), Kellie Suttle (Jonesboro, Ark.).
Long jump: Marion Jones (Cary, N.C.), Grace Upshaw (Menlo Park, Calif.). The final roster position will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Triple Jump: Tiombe Hurd (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Additional entries will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Shot put: Laura Gerraughty (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Kristin Heaston (Palo Alto, Calif.). The final roster position will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Discus: Aretha Hill (Opelika Ala.), Stephanie Brown (Oceano, Calif.), Seilala Sua (Anaheim, Calif.)
Hammer Throw: Erin Gilreath (Gainesville, Fla.), Anna Mahon (Orange, Conn.), Jackie Jeschelnig (Ashland, Ohio).
Javelin: Kim Kreiner (Baton Rouge, La.). Additional entries will be determined by August 9, pending the achievement of Olympic “A” standards.
Heptathlon: Shelia Burrell (Chula Vista, Calif.), Tiffany Lott-Hogan (Pleasant Grove, Utah), Michelle Perry (Los Angeles).
4x100m relay pool: LaTasha Colander, Torri Edwards, Lauryn Williams, Angela Williams (Ontario, Calif.), Consuella More (Chicago, Pa.), LaShaunta’e Moore (Fayetteville, Ark.),
4x400m relay pool: Monique Hennagan, Sanya Richards, DeeDee Trotter, Crystal Cox (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Monique Henderson (Bonita, Calif.), Moushaumi Robinson (Cary, N.C.).

In addition to athletes listed in relay pools, any athlete on the Team USA roster, in any event, is eligible to compete in the relays in Athens. Two athletes may be substituted in each relay after the semifinal rounds are run.

Selecting Team USA for the 2004 Olympic Games

Countries are allowed to send one athlete per event to the Olympic Games if that athlete has met the Olympic 'B' qualifying standard. To send two or three athletes, those entrants must meet the more stringent Olympic “A” standard. It is the priority of USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee to send the largest team possible to the Olympic Games.

USA Track & Field must submit to the USOC an Olympic roster of three athletes and one alternate for each individual event, by 11:59 p.m. on July 18. Those rosters are determined by the order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Due to the short turn-around time for submitting a roster, in 2004 a maximum of only four athletes in each event will be able to chase the Olympic “A” standard. This marks a change from past Olympic years. The following selection system is in place in 2004.

Guidelines for selecting Team USA is as follows:

1. The top three finishers at the U.S. Olympic Trials who have already met the Olympic "A" qualifying standard in their event will be named to the Team USA roster for the 2004 Olympic Games. In the vast majority of events, that means the first, second and third-place finishers will go to Athens.

2. If there is an event where two or more finishers have met the Olympic "A" standard, any finisher(s) who have the "A" standard will be named to the Team USA roster. Any remaining spots, as well as the position of alternate, will be filled by the highest-placing finishers who have made the "B" standard.

3. Athletes named to the roster in each event then have until August 9 to achieve the Olympic "A" standard, if they don't already have it. Athletes on the roster must make the Olympic "A" standard by August 9 in order to compete in Athens.

4. If, by August 9, only one athlete in any given event has achieved the "A" standard, then the highest-placing finisher who has a “B” standard will be the only Team USA athlete to compete in that event at the Olympics. If two or more athletes have achieved the “A” standard, those athletes will compete.

Relays:

1. USA Track & Field will submit pools of six athletes for each relay (men’s and women’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m) to the USOC on July 18. The top three finishers in the men’s and women’s 100m and men’s and women’s 400m will automatically be chosen for the pool, in accordance with IAAF rules. The remaining three spots in each relay pool may be filled by any athlete competing at the Olympic Trials.

2. At the 2004 Olympic Games, Team USA’s relay pools will include the six athletes named on July 19. Any athlete already on the Team USA roster also may compete in a relay. However, no more than six athletes total can compete in each relay at the Olympic Games, including the rounds and finals.