INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Lashinda Demus walked away with a
$100,000 check, Bernard Lagat made history and six athletes ran world-
leading marks Sunday to conclude the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field
Championships, held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.Through it all, 6,833 fans persevered through a three-hour rain delay
and wet weather all day long to bring the meet-long attendance total to a
strong 33,950 fans.
The final stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA
Outdoor Championships is the selection event for the 2006 IAAF World
Cup, with the champion in each event being named to the team.
Demus dashes to Visa Championship
Lashinda Demus had the biggest smile on track after winning her
second straight national title in the women's 400 hurdles. Not only did
Demus set a personal best with her world-leading time of 53.07, she
also won the $100,000 first prize in the Visa Championship Series with
her performance, worth 1,234 points on the IAAF scoring tables. She
took victory in the Visa Championship from 2005 Visa Champion Sanya
Richards, who had entered Sunday's competition in first with 1,227
points. Richards gave Demus a congratulatory hug before Demus - who
ran a powerful final turn and was smooth over the final two hurdles - was
asked if her smile was due to the victory or the money. Demus' happy
answer: "B - the money!" Sheena Johnson finished second to Demus in
the hurdles in 53.90, with Shauna Smith third in 54.76.
Demus joined men's Visa Champion Justin Gatlin in winning the
women's and men's overall Visa Championship, respectively. For full
standings, see below.
Lagat makes history
Bernard Lagat became the first man in history to win the 5,000 and
1,500 meter double at the USA Championships, but it didn't come easy.
The two-time Olympic medalist for his former country of Kenya, Lagat on
Sunday had to hold off a strong challenge from 2000 Olympic Trials
champion Gabe Jennings and Leonel Manzano of the University of
Texas. The trio crossed the finish line in short order, with Lagat, who
won the 5,000 on Friday, clocked in 3:39.29, Jennings in 3:39.42, and
Manzano in 3:39.49. Already the American record holder, Lagat was
competing in his first American championship, and he made it
memorable.
Dominique doubly good
Dominique Arnold had a stellar day, posting two world-leading times in
the men's 110-meter hurdles en route to winning his first
championships. He first posted the 2006 world leader with his semifinal
win in 13.15, then went on to win the final in 13.10, ahead of two-time
Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell second in 13.14. Ryan
Wilson was third in 13.22. Seven-time U.S. champion Allen Johnson
was fifth in Arnold's semifinal and did not advance to the final.
Greer continues winning streak
Coming off of a series of injuries and surgeries, American record holder
Breaux Greer won a record seventh consecutive national title in the
men's javelin in typical, impressive style. As he has done in many
competitions the last two years due to injury concerns, Greer took just
one throw - and it was a big one. His mark of 85.40m/280-2 easily broke
his meet record of 85.23m/279-7 from 2001 and put him well clear of a
field that included Robert Minnitti in second (77.99m/255-10) and Brian
Chaput in third (76.44m/250-9).
World leaders in the jumps
Walter Davis and Tora Harris each posted world-leading marks to win
the men's triple jump and high jump, respectively.
The 2005 World Outdoor and 2006 World Indoor gold medalist, Davis
went 17.71m/58-1.25 on his final attempt to post a world leader and
outdoor personal best in the triple jump with a -0.7mps headwind. Kenta
Bell was second with 16.90m/56-4.5, with Aarik Wilson third with
16.91m/55-5.75.
The 2002 NCAA champion, Harris won his first USA outdoor title in the
high jump while competing in his first outdoor meet of the year. Harris
jumped a world-leading, personal-best clearance of 2.33m/7-7.75 to
win, prevailing over Keith Moffatt in second (2.30m/7-6.5) and Andra
Mason in third (2.24m/7-4.25).
Half-lap heroes
World Outdoor Championships silver medalists stepped up to become
national champions in the men's and women's 200 meter races. Wallace
Spearmon lived up to his #1 world ranking in the men's 200 meters,
virtually flying down the track in the final 70 meters of the race to come
from behind for the win in 19.90. More surprising than Spearmon's
world-leading time, just .01 off his personal best, was Jordan Vaden's
second-place time of 19.98, which cut .41 off the previous personal best
of the 2004 NCAA Division II champion. Rodney Martin placed third in
20.14, all running with a +0.3 mps wind.
In the distaff race, Indiana University grad Rachelle Boone-Smith won
comfortably in 22.31. NCAA champion Shalonda Solomon of South
Carolina was second in 22.47, with LaTasha Jenkins third in 22.66.
Defending world and U.S. champion Allyson Felix withdrew from the
final, not fully recovered from a hamstring injury and a bout of strep
throat.
Robinson runs to world leader
The men's 800 meters was an eye-opener for several athletes as
veteran Khadevis Robinson successfully defended his national title with
a personal-best and world-leading time of 1:44.13. Nearly as impressive
was Nick Symmonds of Division III Willamette University, who made an
impressive stretch run to finish second in 1:45.83, nipping Jebreh Harris,
who was third in 1:45.91. The time smashed Symmonds' own Division III
record of 1:47.34.
The women's 800 featured a thrilling finish, with Hazel Clark barely
holding off Alice Schmidt to win her third U.S. title. Clark finished in
1:59.94, lunging across the line ahead of Schmidt in 2:00.00. Frances
Santin was third in 2:01.15.
Daniel Lincoln made a one-man show of the men's 3,000-meter
steeplechase, crushing the field in 8:22.78 to win his third consecutive
title and post the 2006 American leader. Steve Slattery was second in
8:25.54, followed by Daniel Huling in 8:27.41.
Kevin Eastler won his second U.S. 20 km race walk title, easily walking
to victory in 1:25:09.67. Olympian John Nunn was second for the second
straight year in 1:27:16.83, and five-time champion Tim Seaman was
third in 1:29:56.84. Jared Swehosky of Stayton High School in Oregon
won the junior men's 10 km race walk in 48:47.50, followed by Roberto
Vergara of South Texas in 49:09.95.
U.S. indoor champion Jillian Camarena won the women's shot put
(18.92m/62-1), with Laura Gerraughty second (18.24/59-10.25) and
Elizabeth Wanless third (18.11/59-5).
In Sunday's final two events, Ian Waltz won the men's discus (64.52m/
211-8), with Casey Malone second (62.23/204-2) and Jarred Rome third
(60.93m/199-11). Jenn Stuczynski won her first outdoor title in the
women's pole vault (4.55m/14-11), with Jillian Schwartz second (4.50m/
14-9) and Becky Holliday third (4.45m/14-7.25).
Demus, Gatlin top final Visa Championship Series standings
Lashinda Demus and Justin Gatlin finished atop the final Visa
Championship Series standings, each winning $100,000 as the Visa
Championship Series saw $320,000 in bonus monies awarded to a total
of 10 men and women.
To score points, athletes must win their event during Visa Championship
Series meets. To be eligible for the cash bonuses, athletes also must
win their events at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field
Championships.