Phenomenal women’s 100 meters on tap at adidas Track Classic
Posted Thursday, 8 May, 2008
CARSON, Calif. (May 7, 2008) – Seven women ranked among the top 10 in the world – including the last three World Champions – are expected to toe the starting line at the adidas Track Classic for what may be the best 100-meter dash of the year before the Olympic final, organizers announced today.
The adidas Track Classic will begin at 12:30 p.m. on May 18 at The Home Depot Center, on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, and will be broadcast live on ESPN from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. PDT (4 p.m.-6 p.m. EDT).
The race will be a rematch of the top four finishers from the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, won in a photo finish by Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown (ranked #1 in the world for 2007 by Track & Field News magazine) over silver medalist Lauryn Williams (#7) and bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (#3). Williams is the 2005 World Champion. Jeter, a surprise medalist, is likely to have a large cheering section: she not only ran for Bishop Montgomery High School in nearby Torrance, but also later competed right here for California State University, Dominguez Hills.
They will be challenged by Torri Edwards (#2), the 2003 World Champion who was fourth in Osaka and competed for Pomona High School and the University of Southern California; Lisa Barber (#5), the 2006 World Indoor Champion at 60 meters; Kerron Stewart (#9) of Jamaica, the current 2008 world leader and third-fastest woman in the world in 2006; Marshevet Hooker, the 2005 NCAA Champion who ran a huge personal best last weekend at the Jamaica International Invitational; Sanya Richards, the American Record-holder and 2005 World Championship silver medalist at 400 meters; and the previously announced Allyson Felix (#6), the 200-meter World Champion and gold medalist in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays who competed for Los Angeles Baptist High School
Felix will double here at 200 meters. Tyson Gay, the three-time 2007 World Champion at 100 meters and 200 meters who was previously announced, will also double. At 100m, he will go up against Derrick Atkins, the World Championship silver medalist from the Bahamas, while at 200m he will meet Xavier Carter, the third-fastest man in history behind Michael Johnson and Gay.
Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the adidas Track Classic is the second stop of USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series. Tickets, from $40 (finish line) down to $10, are now available by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales, call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS. Visit the event website at www.adidasTrackClassic.com for updates and more information.
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