Posted: February 8, 2006

Athletics: Men's 300 takes aim at world best at Tyson Invitational

A sizzling men's 300 meters, Powered by Tyson, promises to be a highlight of the 2006 Tyson Invitational on Friday, February 10 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center. With $25,000 being offered for a world best in any event, the 300 - with a field that includes one world record holder, a world champion, and an American record holder - looks to be the most likely event to hit the jackpot.

The third stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the 2006 Tyson Invitational will be broadcast at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 12 on ESPN2.

The Visa Championship Series is a prestigious series of nationally televised USA Track & Field (USATF) competitions featuring the very best track & field athletes from Team USA, the World's #1 Track Team. It features over $1.5 million in prize and promotional dollars, including a $50,000 jackpot and prize package going to the Indoor Visa Champions. Visa Champions will be the top male and female performers of the Visa Championship Series. Perhaps most important, it gives American athletes the opportunity to compete against the world's best, on home soil and in front of U.S. fans.

Men's 300 meters, Powered by Tyson

The signature event of the evening takes aim at the world best of 32.19, set by Robson da Silva (Brazil) in 1989, with $25,000 on the line if the mark is beaten. World Outdoor 200m silver medalist Wallace Spearmon, an Arkansas grad who broke the U.S. indoor 200m record on this track in winning the 2005 NCAA title, is an odds-on favorite, but the field is strong. Included is 400m world indoor record holder Kerron Clement and World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist LaShawn Merritt, who won the 400 at this meet last year. Omar Brown of Jamaica also competes.

Men's 60m

Another excellent field takes to the Randal Tyson Center's sprinting straightaway, led by 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford, who is coming off a win at the 99th Millrose Games. Local favorite Tyson Gay was NCAA 100m champion for the University of Arkansas. Two-time Olympic hurdles silver medalist Terrence Trammell was the 2002 U.S. champion in this event, and Jason Smoots is the #3 American from last year. Trinidad sends its best with 2005 World Athletics final champion Marc Burns and Aaron Armstrong. Also competing are 2003 NCAA 100m champion Mardy Scales and Aziz Zakari of Ghana.

Visa men's 400 meters

There are no weak spots in this field as four fast men compete. Tyree Washington is the 2003 World Indoor gold medalist; Alleyne Francique of Grenada is the 2004 World Indoor champion; Bershawn Jackson is the 2005 World Outdoor 400m hurdles gold medalist; and Chris Brown of Bahamas was fourth at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships.

Men's Mile

It's anybody's race in an even field headlined by two-time USA indoor champion Jason Lunn. Additional entrants include Tom Lancashire of Great Britain, 2003 USA steeplechase champ Steve Slattery, James Hatch, David Freeman, Nephi Tyler and Said Ahmed and Adam Perkins of the University of Arkansas. Stanford sends Russell Brown and Joaquin Chapa.

Men's 3,000 meters

A stacked field promises a quick race. European champ, 6-time NCAA titlist and Arkansas alum Alistair Cragg is a favorite, along with 2004 World Indoor bronze medalist Markos Geneti of Ethiopia, Olympic 1,500m finalist Kevin Sullivan of Canada, two-time USA steeplechase champion and 12-time NCAA All-America for Arkansas Daniel Lincoln, former University of Michigan standout Nate Brannen of Canada, 2005 USA outdoor 1,500m runner-up Chris Lukezic, two-time USA Outdoor 5,000m champion Adam Goucher, Gareth Turnbull of Ireland, Boaz Cheboyo of Kenya and Luke Watson and Bolota Asmerom of the United States. Lincoln and Goucher will target a 4:02 first mile, with an eye toward breaking Tim Broe's American record of 7:39.23, set in 2002.

Men's pole vault

World #1 ranked Brad Walker takes on a deep and full field that includes American indoor record holder Jeff Hartwig and 2001 World Indoor silver medalist Tye Harvey. Former USA junior champ and 2004 NCAA champion Tommy Skipper of the University of Oregon, former NCAA Division III champion Jeremy Scott, Giovanni Lanardo of Mexico and 2000 NCAA champ Russ Buller, Adam Keul, and Daniel Ryland of the United States are also in the field.

Women's 60 meters

It's a rematch between Veronica Campbell of Jamaica and Lisa Barber of the United States, who went 1-2 in the women's 60 at the 99th Millrose Games with identical times of 7.10 seconds. A former University of Arkansas athlete, Olympic 200m gold medalist Campbell is on her home track, but USA outdoor 100m champion Barber is showing great form and is the Visa Championship Series points leader for women. World champion 100m runner Lauryn Williams looks for her first indoor Visa Championship Series win, as does her training partner, 2000 Olympic relay gold medalist Debbie Ferguson. World Outdoor long jump gold medalist Tianna Madison adds a twist, as does Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter.

Women's 800 meters

Two-time Olympian Hazel Clark, 2005 USA Outdoor 1,500m winner Treniere Clement, 2005 World Outdoor Championships team member Kameisha Bennett, and two-time NCAA champion Alice Schmidt are the top Americans in a field that includes Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica, Marian Burnett of Guyana, Meskerem Legesse of Ethiopia, and Mishael Berger and Stacy Ann Livingston of the U.S.

Women's mile

A fine field of top Americans includes 2004 Olympic Trials 1,500m champion Carrie Tollefson, NCAA record holder Tiffany McWilliams, 2004 USA indoor champion Jen Toomey, 2005's fastest American outdoors, Lyndsey Gallo, Arkansas alumnae Christin Wurth and Sarah Schwald, two-time NCAA distance champ Kara Goucher, 2005 NCAA indoor champion Ann Shadle, 99th Millrose Games third-place finisher Malindi Elmore of Canada, Colleen Kelly of the U.S. and Mestawot Tadesse of Ethiopia.

Women's high jump

World Championships silver medalist Chaunte Howard goes for three Visa Championship Series wins in a row in the women's high jump. She's cleared at least 6-4 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games and the 99th Millrose Games, so another personal best is not out of the question. She takes on familiar foes in three-time Olympian Amy Acuff, two-time U.S. indoor champ Gwen Wentland of the United States, Lacy Wilson of Texas Tech and Karen Beutle of Jamaica.

Bobblehead give-away

Legendary Arkansas track and field coach John McDonnell, a 2005 inductee into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, will be going home with the first 1,000 fans in attendance with a paid admission at the Tyson Invitational on Friday night. Well, not the actual coach that has won 41 national championships, of course, but a bobblehead doll with Coach McDonnell's likeness will be given away to celebrate the career of the most successful collegiate coach in NCAA history.

For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.

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