Four of the world's top shot putters, Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, John Godina and Reese Hoffa, will have the stage to themselves during a special competition at the 2005 Millrose Games February 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The second event of USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the 2005 Millrose Games will be televised on NBC from 2-3:30 p.m., Eastern Time on Saturday, February 5.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., all running events will cease at the Millrose Games as the stage is set for the special shot put competition, where each competitor will have four throws. With all four athletes currently ranked within the top seven in the world by Track & Field News, this featured competition should provide plenty of fireworks.

Christian Cantwell is the defending Millrose champion and is the #1 ranked shot putter in the world following his remarkable 2004 campaign. Last year, he was undefeated in 13 events - including winning the world indoor gold medal - before placing fourth at the 2004 Olympic Trials. His emphatic victory at the 2004 adidas Oregon Track Classic came with a new personal best of 22.54 meters/73 feet, 11.50 inches, the farthest throw in the world that season. Cantwell posted the top four throws in the world outdoors and four of the top five throws in the world indoors in 2004.

The Olympic silver medalist in 2000 and 2004, Adam Nelson joins the fray at Millrose as well. The former New York resident, who also owns two medals from the World Outdoor Championships and one from the 2001 World Indoors, finished the 2004 campaign ranked #2 in the world, behind Cantwell. He is a two-time U.S. Olympic Trials champion and was third at Millrose in 2004.

As a three-time world outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist, John Godina will bring plenty of experience and know-how with him to the Garden. A two-time Jesse Owens Award winner as America's top male track and field athlete, Godina placed ninth at the 2004 Olympics and had two throws over 71 feet last year. During his remarkable career Godina has been ranked #1 in the world in the men's shot put on four occasions (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001). Although he's the "old man" in this competition at age 32, look for Godina to be a force in the shot put for years to come.

Reese Hoffa has steadily climbed the ranks in U.S. shot putting the last few years to the point where he is now one of the world's top performers. Hoffa had his best year in 2004 with his silver medal winning performance at the World Indoor Championships, and by finishing as the runner-up at the USA Indoor Championships and Olympic Trials. Hoffa set a new personal best as the runner-up at the 2004 Home Depot Invitational with his throw of 21.67m/71-1.25, the seventh best outdoor throw in the world that year.

For more information on the 2005 Millrose Games and USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org.