Posted: June 1, 2005

Athletics: Perry moves into contention for Visa Championship

Michelle Perry moved into second place in the Race for the Women's Visa Championship after her win in the 100-meter hurdles Monday at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open, the third stop of the USA Track & Field's 2005 Outdoor Visa Championship Series. John Godina and Allyson Felix retained their positions atop the standings.

A 2004 Olympian in the heptathlon, Perry posted a personal-best time of 12.65 seconds at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open. Factoring in the 1.4 meters-per-second headwind using IAAF tables, her performance was worth 1,205 points according to the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics. (Positive and negative wind readings result in adjustments to point totals, per IAAF standards.) Felix's 200-meter time of 22.14 seconds, run May 22 at the adidas Track Classic, is still the best women's performance overall with 1,211 points. Sanya Richards currently is in third with her 50.00 in the women's 400 meters at the adidas Track Classic (1,201 points).

The men's standings remain unchanged, with Godina's world-leading throw of 22.20m/72-10 in the shot put at the adidas Track Classic giving him 1,254 first-place points. Rounding out the men's top three are 400-meter hurdler Bershawn Jackson (47.62 seconds, 1,241 points); and 110m hurdler Terrence Trammell (13.11 seconds, 1,217 points).

During USA Track & Field's 2005 Outdoor 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 single performances in the 2005 Visa Championship Series will be named Visa Champion and receive a $25,000 bonus to assist them on their journey to achieve their athletic goals. In addition, each Visa Champion will be awarded an invitation to their choice of a premiere Visa-sponsored event.

For complete standings and results, visit www.usatf.org.

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 Outdoor 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 Outdoor 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 four meets of the Visa Championship Series must come in events that also are contested at the USA Outdoor 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 Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Fans can win, too!

Fans can be part of the Race for the Championship, and be eligible to win prizes, by logging onto www.usatf.org/win to pick who they think will win the titles of male and female Visa Champions. For more information on the Visa Championship Series "Watch. Click. Win." Online Sweepstakes, visit http://www.usatf.org/win

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

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