Posted: May 23, 2006

Athletics: Spearmon, Perry lead Race for Visa Championship

After the first stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, Wallace Spearmon and Michelle Perry lead the Race for the Championship and the $100,000 first prize that goes with it.

At the adidas Track Classic on May 21, Spearmon's time of 20.06 in the 200 meters (1.6 mps wind) gave him 1,211 points to lead the men's standings over 1,500-meter runner Bernard Lagat in second (3:32.94 for 1,203 points) and 100m runner Marcus Brunson in third (10.01, 1.5 mps wind, 1,202 points). Rounding out the men's top five were Andrew Rock (1,192 points) and Derrick Williams (1,175 points).

Perry's winning time of 12.61 (2.3 mps wind) was good for 1,188 points and the lead in the women's standings. 2005 Visa Champion Sanya Richards ran 22.42 (2.3 mps) in the 200 meters for 1,183 points, and 2006 Indoor Visa Champion Lisa Barber was in third after her time of 11.06 in the 100m scored 1,180 points. Also in the top five for the women were Dee Dee Trotter (1,161) and Christin Wurth-Thomas (1,135).

The stakes

A total of $320,000 will go to the top male and female athletes of the Visa Championship Series. The first-place male and female each will receive $100,000 each, while second place will receive $30,000, third pockets $15,000, fourth $10,000 and fifth $5,000. Visa Champions will be crowned at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 21-25 in Indianapolis.

The top-placing American in each event at every Visa Championship Series meet scores points. Although an athlete can score points at any Visa Championship Series event, they must win their event at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to be eligible for prize money.

The vastly increased prize pool provides even more motivation for American athletes to be at their best on the Visa Championship Series, which helps provide financial and other support for athletes as they pursue their Olympic dreams. It also adds to the excitement of the race to be crowned Visa Champion, with both athletes and fans following along each week to determine who the top performers will be.

The next stop of the Visa Championship Series is the Nike Prefontaine Classic on Sunday, May 28. The meet will be broadcast from 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2.

Fans get involved

The 2006 Visa Championship Series features an exciting fan promotion that allows followers of The World's #1 Track & Field Team to get in on the action like never before.

This year track and field fans will have the chance to win $250 in weekly prize money and an opportunity to win a $5,000 grand prize in the Visa Championship Series Consumer Promotion.

Each week, fans can log onto www.visachampionshipseries.com to pick the athletes - male and female - they think will be leading the Visa Championship Series after each meet. Correct predictions will be eligible to win a weekly prize of a $250 Visa gift card and a Nike/USATF gift bag.

To be eligible for the second weekly prize, fans must log in and pick their Visa Championship Series leaders no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 27. Fans must log in and register their picks each week.

The two lucky fans who correctly predict the overall Visa Champions will each win a $5,000 grand prize, along with a Nike/USATF gift bag.

For more information and complete rules and results, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com.

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