INDIANAPOLIS - Many of the world's best athletes will compete in 18 events Sunday, May 27 at the Road to Eugene '08 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Three of the 18 events--the men's and women's 5,000-meter races and the men's 3,000m steeplechase-will be run Saturday night, May 26, following the conclusion of the NCAA West Regionals at Hayward.

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 second edition of this meet will feature many of America's top track and field athletes who will be competing for over $150,000 in prize money. The meet is a benefit for the Professional Athletics Association (PAA), a newly formed union of professional track and field athletes.

Sanya Richards, American record holder in the 400 meters outdoors, 2006 IAAF World Athlete of the Year and Jesse Owens Award winner, will open her season in the women's 400m Sunday. She will face 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalists Moushaumi Robinson and Monique Hennegan.

The star-studded field in the men's pole vault will be headlined by 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack and reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Brad Walker. Not to be overlooked are 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson and 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Russ Buller.

2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila will continue her comeback in the women's pole vault where she will face 2006 NCAA Indoor champion Chelsea Johnson, 2006 NCAA Outdoor champion Lacy Janson and 2003 NCAA Outdoor champion Becky Holliday.

Four-time NCAA 100m champion Angela Williams will take on 2005 World 200m silver medalist Rachelle Smith and 2005 World 4x100m gold medalist Muna Lee in the women's 100m. Also look for 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Hasani Roseby.

Reigning World champion Tianna Madison will face stiff competition from 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Rose Richmond and 2004 Olympian Grace Upshaw in the women's long jump.

The men's 800m will see youth take on the veterans as 2007 USA Indoor champion Nick Symmonds battles 2003 World Indoor champion and three-time U.S. Outdoor champion David Krummenacker and 2004 Olympian and three-time U.S. Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson.

The women's 800m will see three of the top four American women of 2006 go head to head for the win. 2006 U.S. indoor champion Alice Schmidt will be challenged by 2006 World Indoor team member Frances Santin and two-time NCAA 1,500m champion Tiffany McWilliams.

2004 Olympic silver medalist Matt Hemingway is headlining the men's high jump. There to challenge him will be 2004 Olympian and two-time U.S. champion Jamie Nieto and two-time NCAA champion Jesse Williams.

Two-time U.S. Outdoor champion Erin Gilreath will go up against 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Amber Campbell and 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Jessica Cosby in the women's hammer throw.

The distance races on Saturday night will feature 2000 Olympian Adam Goucher and 2005 U.S. cross country champion Dathan Ritzenhein in the men's 5,000m, and women's action will see 2006 U.S. Outdoor 5,000m champion Lauren Fleshman and two-time NCAA 5,000m runner-up Sara Hall in the women's 1,500m. 2006 U.S. Outdoor runner-up Kara Goucher will compete in the women's 5,000m.

Other competitors to keep an eye on include American record-holder Dominique Arnold in the men's 110m hurdles, 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Lolo Jones in the women's 100m hurdles, 2004 Olympic 400m silver medalist Otis Harris in the men's 300m and 2007 U.S. Indoor 3,000m champion Matt Tegenkamp in the men's 1,500m. Also watch for two-time Olympic silver medalist and reigning World champion Adam Nelson in the men's shot put, and reigning Olympic long jump gold medalist and two-time World champion Dwight Phillips in the men's 100m.

Tickets for the Road to Eugene '08 meet are available at the University of Oregon athletic ticket office, online at www.goducks.com, or by phoning 1-800-WEBFOOT.

For complete results, visit www.usatf.org.