Posted: September 9, 2006

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 64

Champions galore to compete at World Athletics Final An amazing array of great track and field athletes who have won 42 World Championships in Athletics titles and 24 Olympic Games gold medals will compete this weekend at the 4th IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. A total of $3 million dollars in prize money is at stake for athletes competing in the 36 events on the schedule. Headlining the U.S. men's contingent is world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner, who recently won nearly $250,000 in completing a perfect six-for-six record in the 2006 IAAF Golden League series. Wariner hopes to continue his winning ways in Stuttgart. "It's been a long season with the way the Golden League jackpot was set up, and that was my main motivation," the 22-year-old Texan said. "So my motivation now is to stay undefeated with my last two races." Following the competition in Stuttgart, Wariner will end his season with a race September 23 in Shanghai. Other top U.S. men to watch for in Stuttgart include 2004 Olympic Games 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford in the 100 meters, four-time world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson in the 110m hurdles and 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson in the 400m hurdles. In field event action, keep an eye on reigning world and Olympic champion Dwight Phillips in the long jump and 2005 world champion Walter Davis in the triple jump. Sanya Richards, who has dominated the world in the women's 400 meters this season, enters the World Athletics Final after finishing the Golden League undefeated. Richards bested a talented field by more than a second with her time of 49.81 seconds in Berlin last week for her sixth consecutive Golden League victory. For her efforts, Richards, who owns the three fastest times in the world this year, received a $249,999 share of the Golden League jackpot. Other U.S. women vying for top honors include 2003 world champion Torri Edwards in the 100 meters, 2005 world champion and Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix in the 200 meters and 2005 world champion Michelle Perry in the 100m hurdles. In field event action, top Americans include three-time Olympian Amy Acuff in the high jump, American record holder and 2004 Olympian Erin Gilreath in the hammer throw and 2004 Olympian and 2006 USA Outdoor champion Rose Richmond in the long jump. For more information on the 2006 World Athletics Final, including the complete results this weekend, visit IAAF.org.

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest