Posted: February 7, 2005

Athletics: Carruthers Extends Lead, Nelson Clings To First In Race For The Championship

INDIANAPOLIS - Hurlder Danielle Carruthers extended her lead in the women's competition while Adam Nelson clings to a narrowing lead in the men's division of the Race for the Visa Championship.

Standings have been updated following Friday night's Millrose Games in New York, the second stop of the 2005 Visa Championship Series. The Visa Championship Series moves to the Powered by Tyson Invitational on February 11 in Fayetteville, Ark.

At Millrose, Carruthers posted a time of 8.02 seconds in the women's 60-meter hurdles, good for 1,183 points using IAAF scoring tables. Her performance improved on her previous total of 1,170 points, which she garnered at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games January 30 with her time of 8.08. Sarah Schwald remains in second with 1,168 points from Boston (8:54.42 in the 3,000 meters), while Angela Daigle's Millrose victory in the 60 meters (7.22 seconds) moves her into third with 1,166 points.

Nelson's still leads the men's race with 1,220 points, from his impressive toss of 21.66m/71-0.75 in Boston. But fellow shot putter Reese Hoffa showed he could threaten Nelson for the title, scoring 1,118 points at Millrose with his winning throw of 21.62m/70-11. Hurdler Allen Johnson is third, having earned 1,202 points in winning the Millrose Games in 7.53 seconds.

During USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, American athletes will compete not only for more than $1 million in prize and athlete support money, they will also be racing toward their share of a combined $100,000 jackpot and other prizes for the Visa Championship.

The male and female athlete with the top overall performances in the 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series will be named Visa Champion and receive a $25,000 bonus. In addition, each Visa Champion will be awarded an invitation of their choice to a premiere Visa-sponsored event.

Crowning the Visa Champion

The top American male finisher and top American female finisher in each event of the Visa Championship Series, including the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, will have their performances assigned a point total based on the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics. The athlete whose single-best performance has the highest point total at the end of the Visa Championship Series will be named the Visa Champion.

Although the top performance can come at any of the Visa Championship Series meets, an athlete must compete at the USA Indoor Championships in order to be named Visa Champion. Athletes competing on the high school or college level are not eligible. In addition, athlete performances in the first three meets of the Visa Championship Series must come in events that also are contested at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, or other events that qualify athletes to compete at the Championships, in order to be eligible for Visa Champions point totals and rankings.

Ties will be broken by determining which tied athlete had the best mark at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. If a tie still exists, it will be broken by a coin toss.

For more information on the 2005 Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org.

Source: Jill Geer
Director of Communications
USATF.org.