Posted: June 25, 2007

Athletics: Pacific Association Athletes Win National Titles At USA Outdoor Championships

FOLSOM, Calif. - June 25, 2007 - Pacific Association/USA Track & Field athletes earned a number of national titles at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held June 20-24 at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. The final meet of the 2007 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships served as the Team USA selection competition for the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. The top three finishers in each event who have achieved the IAAF "A" standard will make the team. The final Team USA roster will be announced later in the summer. PA/USATF athletes fared well in the sometimes rainy and slick conditions, particularly in the field events. Suzy Powell (Modesto, Calif.), the American record holder in the women's discus, finally won a national title following six runner-up performances at nationals. The two-time Olympian's winning throw was 60.63 meters/198 feet 11 inches. Pacific Association Athlete's Committee Chair Stephanie Brown Trafton placed fifth (55.03m/180-6). Amy Acuff (Isleton, Calif.) won her sixth USA outdoor title in the Hershey women's high jump with a clearance of 1.89m/6-2.25. Acuff has the IAAF "A" standard required to compete in the World Championships. Grace Upshaw (Santa Monica, Calif.) moved from fifth to first on her final attempt in the women's long jump to win her third national title with a wind-aided mark of 6.74m/22-1. In addition, the following athletes with Pacific Association region roots and connections scored notable performances: Kristin Heaston (Ygnacio Valley HS/Concord and Cal-Berkeley graduate now living in Auburn, Ala.) topped the women's shot put field with a 18.74m/ 61-5.75 winning toss, a personal best. Heaston was the 2005 USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympic Trials runnerup. Jillian Camarena (Woodland HS and Stanford University graduate now pursuing a masters degree at BYU) was second with a 18.50m/60-8.5. Jessica Pressley (Laguna Creek HS/Elk Grove, now at Arizona State University) was fourth with a 17.57m/ 57-07.75. Jamie Nieto (Valley HS/Sacramento and Sacramento City College graduate), currently training at the U.S. Olympic training center in Chula Vista, Calif., tied for second in the men's high jump with a 2.24m/7-4.25 clearance, Nieto is a two-time national champ, winning in '03 and '04. Nieto does not have the "A" standard at the moment. American record holder Kim Kreiner (Fresno, Calif.) placed second in the women's javelin, throwing 58.17m/190-10. Cal-Berkeley's Aysia Johnson narrowly won the women's 800m, stopping the clock in 1:59.47. Johnson is the 2007 NCCA indoor and outdoor 800m champion, and 800m school record holder at Cal. Michael Robertson, a four-time All-American at Stanford University, won the men's discus competition in 64.04m/210-1. Jim Sorensen (San Leandro, Calif.) won the men's masters exhibition mile in 4:13,21. Carla Kehoe (Granite Bay, Calif.) placed fourth in the women's masters exhibition mile in 5:22.06. Despite damp conditions the final two days, an impressive total of 33,540 fans attended the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (held in conjunction with the Finish Line USA Junior Track & Field Championships). For more information and results, visit www.usatf.org. The Pacific Association is the largest member association of USA Track & Field (USATF). We serve northern California and northwestern Nevada. USATF is the National Governing Body for track and field, long distance running, and race walking in the United States. For more information about the Pacific Association, visit our Web site at www.pausatf.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest