Posted: March 9, 2006

Athletics: Team USA hits the track Friday in Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia -- The 2006 World Indoor Track & Field Championships begin Friday in Moscow at the Olimpiyskiy Sport Palace Complex featuring two men's finals that provide Team USA with excellent opportunities to win medals.

Current world leader and U.S. champion Leonard Scott will team up with 2006 Visa Championship Series winner Terrence Trammell to give the U.S. a potent 1-2 punch in the men's 60 meters. Scott posted the fastest time in the world this year of 6.52 seconds in winning the men's indoor crown in Boston last month. Trammel showed tremendous form in finishing as the runner-up to Scott in 6.53 seconds.

Friday's other final is in the men's shot put featuring defending world indoor champion Christian Cantwell and 2006 USA Indoor champ Reese Hoffa, who won the silver medal at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Budapest. Hoffa, who owns the two best throws in the world this year, enters the competition as the favorite.

Other Americans participating in qualifying action on Friday include Adam Shunk and Tora Harris in the men's high jump, Carrie Tollefson and Sara Hall in the women's 3,000 meters will move to the final due to the cancellation of the opening round on Friday. 2006 Visa Championship Series women's winner Lisa Barber and reigning world outdoor 100m champion Lauryn Williams will compete in qualifying in the 60 meters.

The women's pole vault will also get under way tomorrow featuring reigning U.S. Indoor champion Kellie Suttle and runner-up Jillian Schwartz. In 800m qualifying, U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson will take to the track along with 2003 World Indoor champion and 2006 U.S. runner-up David Krummenacker. The women's 800m will feature reigning U.S. champion Alice Schmidt and runner-up Frances Santin.

2006 U.S. champion Milton Campbell, who is undefeated this season and owns the second fastest time in the world this year of 45.81 seconds, will compete in opening round 400m action, along with young phenom and 2006 USA Indoor runner-up LaShawn Merritt. Also look for 2005 USA women's heptathlon champion Hyleas Fountain, who will compete in first day action in the women's pentathlon.

Hartwig named flag bearer

U.S. men's pole vault record holder Jeff Hartwig, who has been enjoying a resurgent 2006 indoor season, has been named the flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of the 2006 World Track & Field Championships.

Hartwig, who at age 38 posted wins at the Millrose Games and Tyson Invitational in February, owns the top clearance in the world this year of 5.85 meters/19 feet, 2.25 inches.

Team USA athletes visit Russian children

Team USA athletes visited with two groups of Russian children on Friday in outings organized by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and USA Track & Field.

2006 USA Indoor Championships women's 60 hurdles runner-up Damu Cherry and 2003 World Indoor men's 400m champion Tyree Washington paid a visit to The American Corners Reading University, which is a literacy program that teaches Russian youngsters to speak English. Cherry and Washington spoke about what it's like to be a professional athlete, their personal lives, their training regiments and their goals for the future. The children, ages 10-12, participated by asking questions. The exchange was highly-spirited and the children were excited to learn more about American culture. The athletes signed autographs and took pictures with the group.

World's #1 ranked men's pole vaulter Brad Walker and women's 4x400m relay pool member Kia Davis enjoyed a visit with the Moscow University track and field team. Walker and Davis answered questions on training and demonstrated many of the training techniques they utilize in their practice sessions. The Russian athletes asked a series of questions ranging from different aspects of American society to how American student athletes are treated by their teachers and coaches.

"We had a wonderful time and we all learned a lot from each other," said Walker. "Those young athletes are motivated and show the willingness to work hard to achieve their dreams. I'm sure that in the near future we'll be seeing many of them compete in the highest levels of track and field."

The American and Russian athletes ended their cordial get-together by exchanging gifts and autographs with each other.

Catch the World Indoor Championships on television

The World Indoor Championships will be telecast in the U.S. on OLN from 3-5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, March 12, with rebroadcasts later in the month. OLN is a cable network that reaches 64 million households in the U.S.

The Championships will also be webcast via live Video on Demand, available in the U.S. at www.wcsn.com. The WCSN website will unveil a new look on March 6 and will offer a full Webcast schedule of European meets throughout the summer.

For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, visit USATF.org.

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