Team USA standouts Tyson Gay, Sanya Richards (photo), Jeremy Wariner, Michelle Perry, Allen Johnson and Lauryn Williams will lead an accomplished group of U.S. stars Friday at the 2007 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in China.

This third edition of the Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai has been designated as a qualifying event for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final 2008. Competing athletes at the meet will have the opportunity to get an early start on qualifying for next year's final, to be held September 13-14.

Current world and U.S. men's 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay will compete in the 100 meters in a field that includes fellow Americans JJ Johnson and Marcus Brunson. The men's 110m hurdles also should prove interesting as four-time world champion Allen Johnson and 2007 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist David Payne do battle with world record holder and reigning world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang, who will compete in front of an enthusiastic hometown audience.

World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner will put his season-long undefeated 400m campaign on the line when he faces Osaka World Championships bronze medalist Angelo Taylor, along with 2007 World Outdoor 400m hurdles champion Kerron Clement and Olympic and world 4x400m relay champion Darold Williamson.

The men's long jump will be headlined by Brian Johnson, who was the runner-up last weekend in Stuttgart, along with U.S. stalwarts Miguel Pate and John Moffitt. The men's high jump will feature 2005 USA Outdoor runner-up Jesse Williams and 2006 USA Outdoor champ Tora Harris.

In women's sprint action, the two most recent 100m world champions will face off as 2005 gold medalist Lauryn Williams takes on reigning world champion Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, who narrowly edged Williams in Osaka in a photo finish. Also keep an eye on co-winner of this year's IAAF Golden League jackpot Sanya Richards, who will make a rare appearance in the short sprint.

Reigning women's 100m hurdles world champion Michelle Perry continued her winning ways last weekend in Stuttgart and she'll be the heavy favorite this weekend as she faces fellow Americans Nichole Denby, Danielle Carruthers and Dawn Harper. The women's 400m hurdles will feature Osaka finalist Tiffany Ross-Williams, who posted the fastest time in the world this year of 53.28 seconds in winning the USA Outdoor title in Indianapolis.

For more information on the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, visit www.iaaf.org.