Posted: February, 2006

Athletics: U.S. jumps prowess on display at AT&T USA Indoor Championships

BOSTON - A talented trio of reigning world champion horizontal jumpers are entered in the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, February 24-26 in Boston.

The AT&T USA Indoor Championships is the final event of USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series and serves as the selection event for Team USA roster spots for the 2006 World Indoor Championships next month in Moscow, Russia. ESPN will televise the AT&T USA Indoor Championships on February 26 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

Tianna Madison headlines the women's entries in the jumps at Boston following her remarkable 2005 season that saw her win the World Outdoor title. She burst on the national stage with 2005 NCAA indoor and outdoor championship long jump victories and a runner-up placing at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships in June. Madison then unleashed a personal best leap of 6.89 meters/22-7.25 in the fifth round at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki to win the gold medal. A two-time USA Junior champion, Madison ended the 2005 campaign ranked #2 in the world (#1 U.S.) by Track & Field News. Top challengers to Madison in Boston include 2005 USA Outdoor champion Grace Upshaw (ranked #4 in the world) and Brianna Glenn, who placed third at last year's USA Outdoor Championships.

A two-time NCAA Outdoor men's triple jump champion while at LSU, Walter Davis was another surprise gold medalist in Helsinki. Earlier in the year he won the USA Indoor title in Boston, then took the USA Outdoor TJ crown in Los Angeles in June. He soared to a timely seasonal best in winning the men's triple jump gold medal in August at the World Outdoor Championships. His winning hop, skip and jump in the third round of 17.57 meters/57 feet, 7.75 inches, helped propel him to the #4 ranking in the world, and the #1 ranking in the U.S. for the fourth time in his career.

2001 World Outdoor Championships men's long jump silver medalist Savante Stringfellow will be gunning for his third career USA Indoor title in Boston. The reigning World Indoor champion, Stringfellow will try his best to earn a roster spot for the trip to Moscow to defend his crown. He is expected to face a strong challenge from reigning USA Outdoor champion and world ranked #2, Miguel Pate, 2004 Olympic silver medalist John Moffitt, and 2005 USA Outdoor third-place finisher Brian Johnson (ranked #10 in world, #3 U.S.).

For more information on the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, including schedule, ticket information and status of entries, visit USATF.org.

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

Sponsors of the AT&T USA Indoor Track & field Championships are AT&T, Nike, Visa, Hershey's, 24 Hour Fitness, Gleukos, Gill Athletics and Sport Court. Local sponsors include the Boston Herald Coca-cola, Keyspan, Hilton Family of Hotel, MBTA and Hot 97.7FM.