Posted: June 9, 2005

Athletics: Race for the Championship heats up as Gatlin ties Godina

Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin has moved into a tie for the lead in the Race for the Visa Championship, thanks to his winning performance last weekend at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, the fourth stop of the Visa Championship Series. Co-leader John Godina, the indoor Visa Champion, will look to break that tie when he competes Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix, the fifth stop of the Visa Championship Series.

Gatlin's wind-aided time of 9.84 seconds at "Pre" earned him 1,254 points, tying him with Godina's world-leading shot put of 22.20m/72-10 from the adidas Track Classic on May 22. Godina has predicted big things for himself, if not at this Saturday's meet, then at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, presented by Visa.

"Apparently he didn't get the memo that the shot putters are in charge here," Godina said of his rivalry with Gatlin. "I'm going to throw about 74 feet, so he'll have to drop about a 9.60 to beat me."

400-meter hurdler Bershawn Jackson, who has posted two Visa Championship Series victories this season, rounds out the top three in the men's standings. His time of 47.62 seconds from the adidas Track Classic earned him 1,241 points.

Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix's world-leading, 200-meter time of 22.14 seconds from the adidas Track Classic is still the best women's performance overall with 1,211 points. Michelle Perry is second with a time of 12.65 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open (1,205 points), and Sanya Richards currently is in third with her 50.00 in the women's 400 meters at the adidas Track Classic (1,201 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 each 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. Positive and negative wind readings result in adjustments to point totals, per IAAF standards. 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. 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 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 www.usatf.org.

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