Millrose Games to feature a "Big three" showdown in men's shot put
Posted Wednesday, 14 January, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - A powerful, five-man field in the Visa men's shot put will provide infield excitement at the 102nd Millrose Games. Three of the world's top five throwers - Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson - will highlight the Millrose field when they compete at Madison Square Garden on Friday, January 30.
The Millrose Games in New York is the first event of USA Track & Field's 2009 Indoor Visa Championship Series. The event will be televised live on ESPN2 from 7-8:30 p.m., and on January 31 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on NBC (all times Eastern).
In each of the last four years, one of the "big three" has walked away with a win and a record at Millrose. First it was Hoffa in 2005 where he emerged as a somewhat surprise winner, popping off an indoor personal-best, MSG-record throw of 21.62 meters/70 feet 11.25 inches in the fourth and final round. In 2006, Hoffa did it again with a winning, MSG-record toss of 21.65m/71-0.5 that earned him the Fred Schmertz trophy as the top performer of the meet. In 2007, it was Cantwell, putting a 21.88m/71-9, and in 2008 Nelson stole the show with his 22.07m/72-5.
The 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist and World Indoor champion, Cantwell ended the season ranked #2 in the world by Track & Field News. 2007 World Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa is the #3 world-ranked shot putter while Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and four-time World Outdoor medalist, ended his 2008 campaign ranked #5 in the world.
The men's shot put field also includes Dan Taylor, who was ranked #10 in the world last year and Dorian Scott of Jamaica who was ranked #9.
Also in field event lineups, 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials pole vault champion Derek Miles, who was fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games, has been added to a field that includes gold medalist Steven Hooker of Australia.
Tickets for the 2009 Millrose Games are now available at Ticketmaster (call 212-307-7171, visit www.Ticketmaster.com or at Ticketmaster outlets); at the Madison Square Garden box office or on-line at www.Millrose-Games.com. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.
For more information on the 2009 USATF Visa Championship Series, visit www.usatf.org.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
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