NEW YORK, NY - Gail Devers, in her first race back after taking
a year off from the sport, will compete in the 60-meter hurdles at the 99th
Millrose Games, organizers announced today.Set for Feb. 3 in Madison Square Garden, the 99th annual Millrose
Games is the most historic indoor track event in the world and the
longest continuing sporting event held in Madison Square Garden. It is
the second stop in USATF's Visa Championship Series.
Since she emerged on the national scene 20 years ago while
competing for UCLA, Devers has been one of the best-known faces in
all of track-and-field. Now 39, Devers is a two-time Olympic gold
medalist (1992, 1996) at 100 meters and three-time World Champion at
the 100-meter hurdles (1993, 1995, 1999). As recently as 2004, Devers
became the first athlete in history to win the USA Indoor championship
in both the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles. Devers is a 3-time
Millrose champion in the hurdles, setting the meet record in 2003 (7.78).
She also is a 2-time winner in the 60m dash.
Devers will face American Joanna Hayes, the 2004 Olympic gold
medalist and 2004 Jesse Owens Award winner who is 10 years her
junior. In winning Athens gold in 12.37, Hayes set an Olympic record.
Meanwhile, in the men's 500-meter run, World Champion 400-meter
hurdler Bershawn Jackson will go up against LaShawn Merritt, the third-
fastest indoor 400-meter runner in history and a 2005 World
Championships 4x400-meter relay gold medalist.
Information on the event can be found at www.Millrose-Games.com. The
Millrose Games will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Feb. 5 from 6:30-8:30
p.m.