Posted: April 7, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 23

Team USA stars to compete at Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays

U.S. Olympic medalists Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Maurice Greene, Sanya Richards, Allen Johnson, Lauryn Williams, Derrick Brew and Terrence Trammell will lead a star-studded lineup at the 2005 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, April 6-9, at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Nearly 5,000 elite, collegiate and high school athletes will compete in 125 separate events at this year's Relays, presented by Nike Timing.

As part of USA Track & Field's National Relay Program - in which top athletes compete in relays around the country and around the world during the season, with the goal of reaping gold medals at World Championship and Olympic competition - many of America's finest sprinters will compete in relay competitions at this year's Texas Relays.

The men's 4x100m relay invitational in Austin will feature four separate U.S. relay squads (Blue, Red, White and High Performance Team), that will take on the Canadian national squad.

Former 100m world record holder and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene will make his 10th appearance at the Texas Relays competing for one of the Team USA 4x100m teams (final lineups to be determined at a later date). Also competing in the men's 4x100 will be 1996 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medalist and four-time world outdoor champion Allen Johnson, and two-time Olympic 110m hurdles Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell. 2004 Olympic 200m silver medalist and 2000 Olympic relay gold medalist Bernard Williams, also will be featured in the men's 4x100.

Reflecting the depth and dominance the U.S. has shown through the years in the 400 meters, five U.S. squads will battle one another in the men's invitational 4x400m relay in Austin. An impressive group of performers will be headlined by former Baylor University star Jeremy Wariner, who won the 400m gold medal at last year's Olympics in Athens, before running the third leg on Team USA's gold medal winning 4x400m relay squad. Wariner will be joined by 2004 Olympic 400m bronze medalist Derrick Brew, who handed the baton to Wariner after running the second leg on Team USA's gold medal winning 4x400m team in Athens. Andrew Rock, who won a gold medal in Athens by running the third leg for Team USA in the 4x400m prelims, will also compete this weekend.

The women's 4x400m invitational relay will feature three U.S. squads headlined by former University of Texas great Sanya Richards. A five-time NCAA champion during her two years as a Longhorn, Richards owns the U.S. junior 400m record (49.89). After placing sixth in the 400 meters at the 2004 Olympics, Richards ran the third leg on Team USA's gold medal winning 4x400m relay squad.

The women's 4x100m invitational relay will feature U.S. Olympic medalists Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix and Inger Miller. Williams, who won the silver medal in the 100 meters in Athens and the 2004 NCAA Outdoor title while at the University of Miami, will be a member of one of the three teams competing in Austin. Williams will be joined by 2004 Olympic 200m silver medalist and world junior record holder Allyson Felix, along with 1996 Olympic 4x100m gold medalist and 1999 World Outdoor 200m champion Inger Miller.

For more information on the 2005 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, visit TexasSports.com.

Team USA to compete in Beijing International Women's Ekiden

Six members of Team USA will compete in the Beijing International Women's Ekiden in Beijing, China, this coming Sunday, April 10. The 26.2 mile relay will be divided into six legs of between 5 and 10 km each.

This marks the 19th edition of the annual event, which is contested on the streets of Beijing, the 2008 Summer Games host city. More than 15 countries, including defending champion China and runner-up Japan, are expected to compete. At the 2004 race Team USA finished third, tying the highest finish ever by a U.S. team.

Headlining the roster for Team USA is Briana Shook, American record holder for the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase and 2003 USA outdoor steeplechase champion. The roster for Team USA is as follows:

Briana Shook Toledo, OH 5 km
Samia Akbar Herndon, VA 10 km
Lucinda Hull Raleigh, NC 5 km
Sabrina Monro Rochester Hills, MI 10 km
Patricia Nervo Salem, VA 5 km
Erika Aklufi Santa Monica, CA 7.195 km
Megan Daly Palo Alto, CA Alternate
Team Manager, Kevin Curtin 

For more information on the 2005 Beijing International Women's Ekiden visit USATF.org.

USA Race Walk Grand Prix mid-season update

The 2005 USA Race Walking Grand Prix Series has reached its mid-season break, with six of the 13 events completed. Most of the top scorers will be using this time to prepare for the Pan American Cup of Race Walking, May 7-8 in Lima, Peru. The Grand Prix will begin its second half at the USA 10 km Race Walking Championships June 4 in Niagara Falls, NY.

After six events, Tim Seaman (40 points) has a solid lead over Curt Clausen (29 points) in the men's competition. Seaman has won four races and Clausen has taken the other two. Zachary Pollinger (24 points) holds a slim advantage over Dave McGovern (20 points for third place.

In the women's scoring, Dorit Attias (26 points) has a one point lead over Deborah Huberty with Amber Antonia and Joanne Dow (19 points apiece) tied for third place.