Posted: May 22, 2006

Athletics: Ramzi, Lagat make history at adidas Track Classic

CARSON, Calif. -- The men's 1,500 meters showcased two of the world's finest athletes Sunday at the second event of USA Track & Field's 2006 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the adidas Track Classic in Carson, California.

A two-time Olympic medalist and the U.S. 1,500m record holder, Bernard Lagat grabbed the lead at the bell signifying the beginning of the final lap from Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, the reigning world outdoor champion. A few seconds later, Ramzi returned to the lead and held on to it for the remainder of the race.

Ramzi's winning time of 3 minutes, 32.34 seconds, is the fastest time in the world this season, and the fastest time ever on American soil, bettering the 3:32.53 gold medal winning performance by Great Britain's Sebastian Coe at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Lagat's runner-up time of 3:32.94 is the fastest by an American this year and the fastest time ever by an American at a U.S. All-Comers meet, bettering the 3:33.1 by National Track & Field Hall of Famer Jim Ryun from 1966.

Spearmon posts 200m world leader, Brunson wins men's adidas 100 meters

2005

World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Wallace Spearmon posted the fastest time in the world this year with his victory in the adidas 200 meters in 20.06 seconds. Spearmon faced a strong challenge from reigning world and Olympic men's 400m champion Jeremy Wariner, who finished as the runner-up in a new personal best time of 20.19 seconds, which bettered his previous career best of 20.37 seconds earlier this season at Arlington, Texas. Jamaica's Omar Brown was the third place finisher in 20.33.

Reigning world indoor 60m champion Leonard Scott got off to a great start in the men's adidas 100 meters, but faded in the final 15 meters as 2001 World University Games 100m gold medalist Marcus Brunson came from behind to win in the second-fastest time by an American this year of 10.01 seconds. Tyson Gay, the fourth-place finisher in the 200 meters at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships, was the runner-up in 10.04 seconds, with Trinidad's Marc Burns third in 10.04. Scott finished fourth in 10.05.

Campbell, Richards win women's sprints

2004 Olympic gold medalist and the #1 ranked women's 100m competitor Veronica Campbell of Jamaica faced a tough challenge from reigning World Indoor Championships 60m gold medalist Lisa Barber in the adidas women's 100 meters.

Campbell grabbed the lead 30 meters into the race and crossed the line first in the fastest time in the world this year of 10.99 seconds. Barber finished as the runner-up in 11.06 seconds, which equals the second-fastest time in the world this year by an American. 2003 world champion Torri Edwards placed third in a seasonal best time of 11.17 seconds.

2005 World Outdoor Championships 400m silver medalist Sanya Richards, who entered this season ranked #1 in the world at that event, grabbed an early lead in the adidas women's 200 meters and held on to win in 22.42 seconds (+2.3 mps). Richards defeated a strong field that included runner-up and 2004 U.S. Indoor champion Crystal Cox (22.61) and 2004 NCAA champion LaShauntea Moore, who was third in 22.64.

Rock victorious in men's 400 meters

Reigning World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Andrew Rock took command down the main straightaway to win the men's 400 meters in the fifth-fastest time in the world this year of 44.83 seconds. Rock's winning performance was the third-fastest this season by an American. Jermaine Gonzalez of Jamaica was the runner-up in 45.00, with his countryman Michael Blackwood third in 45.22. 2004 Olympic Games silver medalist Otis Harris was fourth in 45.30.

2005 World Outdoor champion and the #1 ranked straightaway hurdler in the world Michelle Perry grabbed the lead from Jenny Adams at the eighth hurdle and held on to win the Visa women's 100m hurdles in a windy (+2.3 meters per second) time of 12.61 seconds. Adams, who owns the second-fastest time by an American this year of 12.68 seconds, was the runner-up in 12.66, with Canadian star and 2003 world champion Perdita Felicien finishing third in 12.72

Russell wins 3,000 meters with U.S. leader

The first event of the day was the women's 3,000 meters, where 2005 USA Outdoor Championships 10,000m runner-up Blake Russell grabbed the lead just past the halfway point of the race and held on to win in the fastest time by an American this season of 8 minutes 51.57 seconds. Russell's performance is the third-fastest women's 3,000 meters in the world this year. Two-time NCAA champion Kara Goucher was the runner-up in 8:55.05, with Sara Slattery finishing third in 8:58.09.

The men's 400m hurdles turned into a terrific three-man race to the wire with 2003 JUCO national champion Derrick Williams winning the race with a lean at the finish in a personal best time of 48.96 seconds. Michael Tinsley was the runner-up in 48.98 seconds, with LeRon Bennett third in 49.99.

Robinson sets men's 800m meet record

2004 Olympian and reigning U.S. Indoor and Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson took command in the second lap and won the American Track and Field men's 800 meters in the second fastest time by an American this year of 1 minute, 45.23 seconds. His performance bettered the previous meet record of 1:46.82 by Jebreh Harris in 1:46.82. Tim Ramirez was the runner-up in 1:46.89.

More winners

Australia's Sarah Jamieson continued her world domination of the women's 1,500 meters this season with her convincing win in 4 minutes, 5.54 seconds. The silver medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Jamieson currently owns the four-fastest times in the world this season in that event. Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair was the runner-up in 4:08.89, with Christin Wurth-Thomas placing third in 4:08.91.

The highly anticipated men's two-mile run was won by 2004 World Indoor Championships 3,000m bronze medalist Markos Geneti of Ethiopia, who won the race in 8 minutes, 19.61 seconds. Ireland's Alistair Cragg was the runner-up in 8:23.75, with 2005 USA Championships runner-up Ian Dobson third in 8:25.86. 2005 NCAA 5,000m champion Ryan Hall was fourth in 8:26.26, with 2005 U.S. 5,000m champion Abdi Abdirahman fifth in 8:29.26. U.S. men's two-mile record holder Alan Webb was sixth in 8:33.92.

2004 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter took command with 80 meters to go and held on to win the women's 400 meters in 51.19 seconds, the third-fastest time by an American this season. Jamaica's Shellene Williams was the runner-up in 51.38, with 2005 World Outdoor Championships finalist Monique Henderson third in 51.49.

In the only field event of the day, 2006 USA Indoor Championships third-place finisher Jenn Stuczynski, was the winner in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 4.41m/14 feet, 5.50 inches. China's Gao Shuying was the runner-up, also with a clearance of 4.41m/14-5.50. Stuczynski was the winner with fewer misses during the competition.

For more information on USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series, visit USATF.org.

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