INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Stacy Dragila, Maurice Greene (photo), Allen Johnson, Torri Edwards and Christian Cantwell are just a few of the many stars who will compete Monday, May 31 at the 2004 Payton Jordan U.S. Open at Stanford University's Cobb Track and Angell Field in Stanford, California.

The annual event, which began in 2000, this year has been renamed in honor of the former great Cardinal coach, Payton Jordan, who led the Stanford program for 23 years (1957-1979) and produced seven Olympians, six world record holders and six national champions. The second invitational event on USA Track & Field's 2004 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour, the Payton Jordan U.S. Open, an IAAF Grand Prix II event, will be televised on Tuesday, June 1 from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN2.

Since its inception, the U.S. Open has established itself as a premier stop on the international tour. More than 75 Olympians from dozens of countries have competed at the event, which annually draws standing-room-only crowds.

Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Outdoor 100m champion Maurice Greene will headline the field in the Verizon men's 100 meters. Already with the two fastest wind-legal marks in the world this year, Greene led from start to finish last week at the Home Depot Invitational in Carson, Calif., to win in a wind-aided time of 9.86 seconds. Greene's performance ties the fastest 2004 time under any conditions. He will be challenged by 2003 World Outdoor 200m champion and the #1 ranked 100 and 200-meter runner in the world John Capel. Also look for 2003 World and U.S. Indoor 60m champion Justin Gatlin, who ended the 2003 season ranked #4 in the world at 100 meters and 2003 World Athletics Finals 200m winner J.J. Johnson, who won that event in 20.29 seconds Sunday at the Banamex Grand Prix in Mexico City.

A strong field is also expected in the Nike men's 110m hurdles led by four-time World Outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson, who won last Sunday in Mexico City in the second fastest time in the world this year of 13.08 seconds. Johnson enters this season as the #1 ranked 110m hurdler in the world after winning his fourth career world outdoor title last summer in Paris. Although Johnson is considered a strong favorite to win on Memorial Day, don't count out 2000 Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell and Dominique Arnold, the runner-up to Johnson last Sunday in Mexico City.

Christian Cantwell reinforced his status as the top thrower in the world with his 11th consecutive victory in the shot put at last week's Home Depot Invitational. The Missouri grad achieved a remarkable feat by posting six throws over 70 feet, ranging from 21.45m/70-4.5, to his winning throw of 22.35m/73 feet, 4 inches - the best throw in the world this year and a new personal record for the 2004 world indoor gold medalist. Cantwell will face three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson at Palo Alto.

In women's action, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Stacy Dragila returns for the Visa women's pole vault at Stanford, where she has enjoyed great success during her career. The reigning U.S. women's indoor and outdoor champion and American record holder, Dragila twice raised the world record at Stanford in 2002. Her 2004 outdoor campaign is off to a strong start as she posted the leading outdoor mark in the world this year with her clearance of 4.70 meters/15 feet, 5 inches on May 1 in El Paso, Texas.

Dragila will be challenged by many of America's best including Kellie Suttle, Mary Sauer, Jillian Schwartz, Becky Holliday, Tracy O'Hara and Dana Ellis-Buller. Suttle was ranked #2 in the U.S. last season, while Sauer was ranked #3 and Schwartz #5. All three women have cleared 15 feet in their careers. O'Hara and Holliday are both former collegiate record-holders.

In other women's events, look for top-four U.S. throwers Aretha Hill, Kris Kuehl, Suzy Powell and Seilala Sua in the women's discus; 2003 U.S. 100m and 200m champion Torri Edwards will face world junior record holder Allyson Felix and 1999 World Outdoor champion Inger Miller in the 200 meters, and 2001 World Outdoor champion Anjanette Kirkland will take on Jenny Adams (ranked #6 in the world) in the 100m hurdles.

For more information on the 2004 Payton Jordan U.S. Open and USATF's Golden Spike Tour, visit www.usatf.org