Posted: June 2, 2006

Athletics: USATF News and Notes, Volume 7, number 42

Lauryn Williams, Marion Jones join Reebok Grand Prix

Lauryn Williams, the reigning World Champion, and Marion Jones, 2000 Olympic gold medalist, have been added to the lineup for the Reebok Grand Prix this Saturday, June 3, meet organizers announced Friday. They will join a strong 100-meter field that already included Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, the Athens triple-medalist who owns the fastest time in the world this year.

The third leg of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the Reebok Grand Prix will be broadcast from 6-8 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday on ESPN2. Tickets are available at www.ReebokGrandPrix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.

Williams, 22, is also the 2004 Olympic silver medalist at 100 meters and the 2006 World Indoor silver medalist at 60 meters, as well as owning 4x100-meter relay gold from Athens. Jones, 30, won five medals at the 2000 Olympics, three gold (100m, 200m and 4x400m) and two bronze (long jump, 4x100m), to become the first female track-and-field athlete to win five medals at a single Olympics. Also a two-time World Champion at 100m, she has won a total of 10 World Championships medals. On May 13, she ran 11.06 to win the 100 meters at Xalapa, the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.

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

Richards, Wariner win at Bislett Games

2005 World silver medalist Sanya Richards handily defeated the competition in winning the women's 400 meters at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway on Friday.

Richards dominated the field in the 400 meters, winning in a world-leading 49.82 seconds. Her winning time was 1.11 seconds faster than runner-up Shericka Willaims of Jamaica. Competing in the women's 400m B race, two-time Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Monique Hennagan finished second in a season best 52.20.

Olympic and World champion Jeremy Wariner won the men's 400 meters in 44.31 seconds, the second fastest time in the world this year. 2005 World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist LaShawn Merritt took third place in 45.44 with 2005 NCAA champion Darold Williamson fifth in 45.81.

Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford crossed the finish line in 10.02 seconds to finish runner-up to Jamaican Asafa Powell (9.98) in the men's 100 meters. 2001 University Games gold medalist Marcus Brunson was third in 10.06.

Reigning Olympic gold medalist Dwight Phillips finished second in the men's long jump with his wind aided leap of 8.21 meters/26 feet 11.25 inches. 2005 USA Outdoor champion Miguel Pate was third with 8.20m/26-11 and 2006 USA Indoor champion Brian Johnson was sixth with 7.96m/26-1.5.

In the women's 100 meters, Stephanie Durst sprinted to the finish in 11.31 seconds for third place with 2006 World Indoor 60m champion Lisa Barber fourth in 11.32. 2005 World Outdoor 200m silver medalist Rachelle Smith was sixth in 11.42 and two-time Olympian LaTasha Colander was seventh in 11.43.

After a win in Ostrava, Lolo Jones ran her way to second place in the women's 100 meter hurdles in 12.82 seconds with 2005 USA Indoor 60mH champion Danielle Carruthers placing third in 12.85. In the qualifying heats, Jones ran 12.65w.

2002 USA Outdoor champion Brianna Glenn leaped her way into third place in the women's long jump with 6.28 meters/20 feet 7.25 inches. In the women's high jump, 2005 World silver medalist Chaunte Howard placed seventh with 1.89m/6-2.25.

For more information and full results on the ExxonMobil Bislett Games and the IAAF Golden League, visit IAAF.org.

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