EUGENE, OR - Stacy Dragila and Maria Mutola captivated the crowd of 3,097 Sunday at The Road to Eugene '08 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Crowd favorite Maria Mutola, a 14-time Prefontaine champion, ran a world-leading 1 minute 58.70 seconds to win the women's 800 meters. Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Nicole Teter ran her way to a second-place finish in 1:59.91 and 2006 U.S. Indoor champion Alice Schmidt finished third in 2:00.36. Teter and Schmidt now have the first and second fastest times by Americans so far this year.

2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila continued her comeback, winning the women's pole vault with a clearance of 4.50 meters/14 feet 9 inches. Said Dragila after her competition, "I've been banged up pretty bad and didn't get a jump session in this week. I felt good coming out today though. All in all, I'm super happy. Right now I just need to feel confident on the runway. The biggest thing right now is staying healthy." 2006 NCAA Outdoor champion Lacy Janson was second in 4.40m/14-5.25, and April Steiner was third at the same height.

2004 Olympian Giovanni Lanaro of Mexico won the men's pole vault with a clearance of 5.70m/18-8.25. 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack, on his way back from surgery for a torn labrum in April 2006, took second at the same height. 2006 World Indoor champion Brad Walker was third with 5.60m/18-4.5.

In his first race of the season, American record-holder Dominique Arnold won the men's 110m hurdles in 13.26 seconds. Antwon Hicks took second in 13.44 and Linnie Yarbrough was third in 13.56. On the women's side, 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Lolo Jones won the women's 100m hurdles in 12.88, followed closely by 2004 Olympic Trials 400m hurdles champion Sheena Johnson, who finished in 12.90. Jenny Adams was third in 12.93.

2007 U.S. Indoor runner-up Carmelita Jeter won the women's 100m in 11.29, followed by 2005 World 4x100m gold medalist Muna Lee, who was the runner-up in 11.37. Michelle Lewis was third in 11.42. In the men's 100m, two-time World Championships 4x100m gold medalist J.J. Johnson scored the win, crossing the line in 10.20, with Monzavous Edwards the runner-up in 10.24.

Dylan Armstrong of Canada won the men's shot put with a heave of 20.17m/66-2.25. Three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina took second with his throw of 19.50m/63-11.75.

Gary Reed of Canada won the men's 800m in 1:46.64 and Alex Kipchirchir of Kenya was second in 1:47.09. 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Nick Symmonds was third in 1:47.37 and 2004 Olympian and three-time U.S. Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson was fourth in 1:47.60.

2007 U.S. Indoor 3,000m champion Matt Tegenkamp led for the majority of the men's 1,500m race, only to be edged out at the finish by Candian Ryan McKenzie who took the win in 3:39.93, with Tegenkamp finishing second in 3:40.34. Steve Scherer was third in 3:41.05.

Other winning performances were turned in by Tonette Dyer, who won the women's 400m in 51.91, two-time NCAA champion Jesse Williams, who won the men's high jump in a jump-off with his clearance of 2.24m/7-4.25 and Fernanda Blakely, who won the men's 300m in 32.50. Jovanee Jarrett won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.53m/21-5.25 and 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Amber Campbell won the women's hammer throw with her heave of 67.81m/222-5.

The Road to Eugene '08 is a cooperative effort between the Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, USA Track & Field, and the USATF Athletes Advisory Committee. The meet is a benefit for the Professional Athletics Association (PAA), a newly formed union of professional track and field athletes.

Athlete Quotes

Lolo Jones - women's 100m hurdles winner
"I recovered well (after hitting a hurdle). I was just trying not to fall. Sheena pushed me in the race (to go faster). It was a good race."

Dominique Arnold - men's 110m hurdles winner
"It was my first race this season. It was ok. Last year it was like this (cold) but with rain so I'm happy it wasn't raining. I wanted to run a little faster, but it was ok. I'm just taking my time."

Gary Reed - men's 800m winner
"It was a really big field and this was my first race. I got boxed in. I'm happy to get the win. I wasn't too concerned about my time, I just wanted to race well."

Carmelita Jeter - women' 100m winner
"My start was a little shaky. I thought we were going to get called back but we didn't. But once I got into my race I was good. I was focused on me. My goal right now is to make the World Championships team. This is my first year breaking out and really running well."

J.J. Johnson - men's 100m winner
"I've been working on my start a lot, I'm still learning. I had hip surgery last April, but I'm feeling pretty good now. I'm going to New York next week and then back here for Prefontaine. I really wanted to go 10.1 today, but I'm happy with the win."

Jesse Williams - men's high jump winner
"It took a jump off for me to win. I had a really good one at the end. A win is a win. It was my first meet as a resident here so it was nice to get the win. I've only been here for about 4 days now. I've always liked it up here."

Nicole Teter - women's 800m runner-up
It was exciting. I knew she (Maria Mutola) set a good pace. I relaxed through the first quarter and tried to open up on the back stretch. I'm very happy with my race."

Stacy Dragila - women's pole vault winner
"I've been banged up pretty bad and didn't get a jump session in this week. I felt good coming out today though. All in all, I'm super happy. Right now I just need to feel confident on the runway. The biggest thing right now is staying healthy. The more times I can get on this track before the Trials, the better. And the crowd in Eugene is always awesome, so that helps."

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