INDIANAPOLIS - A powerful blend of experience and youth will lead Team USA into the 2007 Pan American Games next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Thirteen reigning U.S. champions will join NCAA champions and 2000 and 2004 Olympians to lead the team of 48 men and 46 women during track competition July 22-29 in the Jo&o Havelange Sports Complex.

American Record-holder and 2003 Pan Am gold medalist Kim Kreiner (file photo) (javelin) returns to defend her title as the veteran leader on a women's team that also features 2007 U.S. javelin champion Dana Pounds.

Current U.S. champions abound, with 2007 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Alysia Johnson in the 800 meters, Teresa Vaill in the 20 km race walk, Hyleas Fountain in the heptathlon, Shani Marks in the triple jump, Kristin Heaston in the shot put, Suzy Powell in the discus and Brittany Riley in the hammer throw.

The women's sprint crew will be lead by 2000 Olympian Miki Barber in the 100m and 2006 NACAC 4x100m gold medalist Shareese Woods in the 200m. 2007 U.S. third-place finisher Mary Wineberg and 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist and 2005 NCAA champion Monique Henderson will compete in the 400m.

The 400m hurdles should be a strong event for the United States, with two-time NCAA champion and two-time U.S. runner-up Sheena Johnson teaming with 2007 NCAA champion and 2006 World Junior silver medalist Nicole Leach. The women's 100m hurdles will see Damu Cherry and Jenny Adams, ranked #3 and #9 in the world for 2006 by Track & Field News.

In the distance events, 2003 Pan Am silver medalist Mary Jane Harrelson returns in the 1,500m and will be joined by 2006 U.S. runner-up Lindsay Gallo. 2006 U.S. champion Lisa Galaviz will compete in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Connie Price-Smith will serve as the head coach for the U.S. women's squad, with Julie McKinney as head manager.

Team USA's men also are packed with talent, as 2007 U.S. champions Khadevis Robinson (800m), Joshua McAdams (3,000m steeplechase), Kevin Eastler (50km RW), Michael Robertson (discus) and A.G. Kruger (hammer throw) lead the way.

Veterans set to excel are 2004 World Indoor shot put champion Christian Cantwell, who was ranked #2 in the world last year by T&FN and 2003 Pan Am silver medalist Jamie Nieto in the high jump. 2004 Olympians Kenta Bell (triple jump) and Derek Miles (pole vault) also will compete.

2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Jorge Torres (10,000m) will lead the distance contingent that includes 2000 Olympian Bolota Asmerom in the 5,000m and former Oregon standout Jason Hartmann in the 10,000m.

Three-time 2003 Junior Pan Am's gold medalist Kenneth Ferguson is set to compete in the 400m hurdles alongside Georgia alum LaRon Bennett. The men's 110m hurdles will see Anwar Moore and David Payne, who currently are tied with the fifth-fastest time in the world so far this year.

Youth is served in the sprints, with 2005 Pan Am Junior champion J-Mee Samuels and recent South Carolina grad Leroy Dixon in the 100m. 2007 NCAA runner-up Rubin Williams and 2006 U.S. runner-up and 2004 NCAA DII champion Jordan Vaden will compete in the 200m. The 400m will see 2007 NCAA runner-up Lionel Larry and St. Augustine's Jamaal Torrance.

In the walks, 1999 Pan Am bronze medalist Phillip Dunn is looking for gold in the 50km RW and will be challenged by American record-holder in the 30km RW, Kevin Eastler. Other notable entrants for Team USA include 2006 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor champion, 2005 Rhodes Scholar and 2003 Pan Am Junior champion Garrett Johnson in the shot put; 2004 NCAA champion Ryan Harlan in the decathlon; and 2006 U.S. Outdoor champion Brian Johnson in the long jump.

Stanley Redwine will serve as the head coach of the men's squad, with Tonie Campbell as the head manager.

Team USA Roster - 2007 Pan American Games
(As of June 29 - Subject to change)

WOMEN

100m
Mechelle Lewis (Fort Washington, MD)
Mikele Barber (Montclair, NJ)

200m
Shareese Woods (Fort Lee, VA)
Latonia Wilson (Amite, LA)

400m Mary Wineberg (Cincinnati, OH)
Monique Henderson (San Diego, CA)

800m
Alysia Johnson (Canyon County, CA)
Morgan Uceny (Plymouth, IN)

1,500m
Mary Jane Harrelson (Knoxville, TN)
Lindsay Gallo (Freehold, NJ)

3,000m Steeplechase
Lisa Galaviz (Gilbert, AZ)
Desiraye Osburn (Kechi, KS)

5,000m
Catherine Ferrell (Eugene, OR)
Mandi Zemba (Menominee, MI)

10,000m
Alicia Craig (Gilette, WY)
Emily McCabe (Queensbury, NY)

20K Race Walk
Teresa Vaill (Pine Plains, NY)
Jolene Moore (Northbrook, IL.)

100H
Damu Cherry (Winter Garden, FL)
Jenny Adams (Tromball, TX)

400H
Sheena Johnson (Stafford, VA)
Nicole Leach (West Philadelphia, PA)

Marathon
Emily Mortensen (Alamosa, CO)
Christine Lundy (Bangor, ME)

4x100m
Marshevet Hooker (San Antonio, TX)
Alexis Weatherspoon (Sherman Oaks, CA)

4x400m
Monique Hennegan (Stockbridge, GA)
Moushaumi Robinson (Columbus, OH)

High Jump
Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, CA)
Inika McPherson (Port Arthur, TX)

Pole Vault
Lacy Janson (Sarasota, FL)
Chelsea Johnson (Atascadero, CA)

Long Jump
Brianna Glenn (Culver City, CA)
Shameka Marshall (Milpmh, NJ)

Triple Jump
Shani Marks (Apple Valley, MN)
Yvette Lewis (Newport News, VA)

Shot Put
Kristin Heaston (Walnut Creek, CA)
Jillian Camarena (Woodland, CA)

Discus
Suzy Powell (Modesto, CA)
Summer Pierson (Glendale, CA)

Hammer
Brittany Riley (Flossmoor, IL)
Kristal Yush (Groton, CT)

Javelin
Dana Pounds (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Kim Kreiner (Mogadore, OH)

Heptathlon
Hyleas Fountain (Enola, PA)
Virginia Johnson (State College, PA)

MEN

100m
James Samuels (Winston-Salem, NC)
Leroy Dixon (South Bend, IN)

200m
Rubin Williams (San Jose, CA)
Jordan Vaden (Chatham, VA)

400m
Lionel Larry (Compton, CA)
Jamaal Torrence (Orlando, FL)

800m
Khadevis Robinson (Dallas, TX)
Duane Solomon (Lompoc, CA)

1,500m
Andrew McClary (Shelton, WA)
Said Ahmed (Jamaica Plain, MA)

3,000m Steeplechase
Joshua McAdams (Broadview Heights, OH)
Thomas Brooks (Glenview, IL)

5,000m
Edward Moran (Dayton, NJ)
Bolota Asmerom (San Francisco, CA)

10,000m
Jorge Torres (Wheeling, IL)
Jason Hartmann (Boulder, CO)

20K Race Walk
John Nunn (Evansville, IL)
Matthew Boyles (Tupper Plains, OH)

50K Race Walk
Kevin Eastler (Farmington, MA)
Phillip Dunn (Portland, OR)

110H
David Payne (Neptune, NJ)
Anwar Moore (Charlotte, NC)

400H
Kenneth Ferguson (Detroit, MI)
LaRon Bennett (Athens, GA)

Marathon
Christopher Lundstrom (Northfield, MN)
Jacob Frey (Oakton, VA)

4x100m
Darvis Patton (Dallas, TX)
Monzavous Rae Edwards (Kansas City, KS)

4x400m
David Neville (Bloomington, IN)
Gregory Nixon (Mesa, AZ)

High Jump
Jamie Nieto (Sacramento, CA)
Adam Shunk (Muncie, IN)

Pole Vault
Derek Miles (Sioux City, IA)
Jeremy Scott (Norfolk, NE)

Long Jump
Brian Johnson (Baton Rouge, LA)
Bashir Ramzy (Dallas, TX)

Triple Jump
Lawrence Willis (Iota, LA)
Kenta Bell (Kilgore, TX)

Shot Put
Christian Cantwell (Eldon, MO)
Garrett Johnson (Tampa, FL)

Discus
Michael Robertson (Beebe, AZ)
Adam Kuehl (Trinton Falls, NJ)

Hammer
A.G. Kruger (Sheldon, IA)
Kibwe Johnson (Ashland, OH)

Javelin
Mike Hazle (Temple, TX)
Justin St. Claire (Tacoma, WA)

Decathlon
Ryan Harlan (Houston, TX)
Chris Boyles (Carlisle, PA)

For complete Team USA roster and staff listings, and more information on the 2007 Pan American Games, including results and complete coverage of this year's event, please visit the USATF website at www.usatf.org