The 2006 Visa Championship Series gets under way in grand fashion on Saturday, January 28, at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. American superstars Lauryn Williams, Adam Nelson, Sanya Richards and Bershawn Jackson headline a top international field that includes Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, who returns to the meet where in 2005 she set the world indoor record in the women's 5,000 meters.

The 2006 Reebok Boston Indoor Games will be broadcast from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, January 29 on ESPN2.

The Visa Championship Series is a prestigious series of nationally televised USA Track & Field competitions featuring the very best track & field athletes from Team USA, the World's #1 Track Team. It features over $1.5 million in prize and promotional dollars, including a $50,000 jackpot and prize package going to the Indoor Visa Champions. Visa Champions will be the top male and female performers of the Visa Championship Series. Perhaps most important, it gives American athletes the opportunity to compete against the world's best, on home soil and in front of U.S. fans

American trio in men's 60

Leonard Scott was the fastest American of the 2005 season, but he has plenty of company to deal with. Two-time world champion long jumper, Olympic gold medalist Dwight Phillips, has speed to burn and was the #2 American at 60 meters last year. Two-time Olympic hurdles silver medalist Terrence Trammell was the 2002 U.S. champion in this event, and Jason Smoots is the defending meet champion and #3 American from last year. Trinidad sends its best with 2005 World Athletics final champion Marc Burns and 2003 World Outdoor Championships 100m silver medalist Darrel Brown.

Meeting in the middle for 600 meters

An event unique to the indoor season, the 600 meters brings together some of the top athletes in their own specialties. Defending U.S. indoor 400m champion Bershawn Jackson will benefit from the strength that made him the 2005 world champion in the 400m hurdles. Another hurdler, 2003 world silver medalist Joey Woody, excels at 600 and 800 meters as well. Andrew Rock is the reigning World Championships 400- meter silver medalist, Alleyne Francique is the 400m world indoor champion over the distance for Grenada, and 2004 Olympic Trials 800m champion Jonathan Johnson brings his endurance to the 600.

1,000 Points of Light

2003 world indoor 800m champion David Krummenacker set the American record over 1,000 meters at this meet in 2002, and he returns to face a solid field that includes 2004 Olympian Derrick Peterson, NCAA 800m champion Kevin Hicks, 2003 NCAA champ Sam Burley and Justus Koech of Kenya.

Running a mile in their shoes

The men's mile was one of the most exciting events at the 2005 Reebok Boston Indoor Games, and 2006 should keep that tradition going. Defending champion Laban Rotich set a Kenyan record in 2005 with his winning time of 3:53.18, and he has a kick that withers most opponents. A brigade of top American middle-distance runners joins the fray, including 2005 USA outdoor runner-up and two-time U.S. junior champ Chris Lukezic, two-time U.S. indoor champion Jason Lunn and 2005 USA indoor champion Rob Myers. 2000 Olympic fifth-place finisher Kevin Sullivan of Canada also is among those who will give chase.

Two-mile promises excitement

The men's 2 mile could be the finest event of the men's racecard. Defending Reebok Boston Indoor Games and European champion Alistair Cragg of Ireland, as well as World Championships 5,000m bronze medalist Craig Mottram of Australia and a strong Ethiopian contingent will be heavily favored, but top American distance runners from several disciplines will threaten the front-runners as well. Top Ethiopians are world indoor bronze medalist Markos Geneti, four-time world cross country medalist Gebre Gebremariam, world #2 ranked 10,000m runner Abebe Dinkessa and 2005 World Championships 5,000 and 10,000-meter silver medalist Sileshi Sihene. Representing the United States will be the USA outdoor 5,000m runner-up and third- place finishers, Ian Dobson and Ryan Hall, and two-time U.S. steeplechase champion Daniel Lincoln.

More thrills expected in shot

Always a crowd favorite, the men's shot brings together the top four throwers in the world, all of whom happen to be American. Defending meet champion Adam Nelson broke free of his silver-medal past (2000 and 2004 Olympics; 2001 and 2003 World Champs) by winning the 2005 world title. He's brimming with confidence as he faces 2005 Indoor Visa Champion John Godina, the three-time world champion; 2004 world indoor gold medalist Christian Cantwell; and 2004 world indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa.

World's fastest woman set for 60

The best American short-course sprinters dominate the field, led by 2005 world 100m champion and Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams. Williams hasn't competed indoors since 2004 and will face top indoor specialists such as 2005 Indoor Visa Champion Angela Daigle- Bowen; two-time World Indoor silver medalist Angela Williams; 2004 NCAA 60m champion Muna Lee; and 2005 U.S. outdoor 100m champion Lisa Barber. Daigle-Bowen, Lee, Barber and Williams teamed up to win the 4x100m relay gold medal at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships. Also with relay success under her belt is Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas, a member of the 2000 Olympic "golden girl" relay that took the Olympic crown, who also is Williams' training partner.

One-lap wonder

2004 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist and Olympic 400m finalist DeeDee Trotter takes on Jamaican veteran Sheri-Ann Brooks in the indoor one-lapper, the 200 meters.

Richards returns in 400

The world's top 400m runner of 2005, World Championships silver medalist and Olympic and 2003 World relay gold medalist Sanya Richards, returns to the indoor oval for the first time since 2004. She was nearly unbeatable outdoors in 2005 and was the Outdoor Visa Champion. Her fellow Americans should be her top competition, including her Olympic relay teammate Monique Henderson.

Triple threat in women's mile

The top two finishers at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships 1,500m toe the line in Boston, with champion Treniere Clement and runner-up Jen Toomey, the two-time defending U.S. indoor 1,500m champion. Other potential American contenders include 2005's fastest American outdoors, Lindsey Gallo, and collegiate record holder Tiffany McWilliams. Reigning World Indoor silver medalist Carmen Douma- Hussar leads an international contingent that includes Meskerem Legesse and Mestawot Tadesse of Ethiopia, and Irishwoman Sinead Delahunty-Evans.

Defar and away

The 3,000-meter world record could be in jeopardy as Olympic 5,000m gold medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia prepares for a fast effort. Top Americans include Olympic Trials 1,500m champion Carrie Tollefson and USA outdoor 10,000m champ Katie McGregor.

World record-breaker returns in 5 km

The Dibaba sisters take center stage. Tirunesh broke the world record (14:32.93) at the 2005 Reebok Boston Indoor Games - when she was 19 years old - and is the world champion at 5,000 (2003 and 2005) and 10,000 meters. Older sister Ejegayehu, now 23, is the Olympic 10,000m silver medalist, World Outdoor bronze medalist and was runner-up to Tirunesh at this event in 2005 (14:58.25). The dominant NCAA Division III athlete of her four-year career at Wartburg College, Missy Buttry, eyes a personal best at the dawn of her professional career.

Howard leads leapin' ladies

Chaunte Howard, a 2004 Olympian, is coming off a career-launching season, winning the women's high jump2005 World Championships silver medal. A seasoned HJ field joins her, including five-time U.S. outdoor champion, three-time Olympian Amy Acuff and two-time U.S. indoor champion Gwen Wentland.