News & Notes, Volume 8, Number 50 – Zurich Golden League Preview – US Track & Field – NEWS

Many of Team USA's Olympic medalists and brightest stars will compete in front of an expected sell-out crowd of 26,000 fans Friday at the fifth IAAF Golden League Meet of the season, the 2008 Weltklasse in Zurich, Switzerland. This year's Golden League will conclude in Brussels on Friday, September 5.

Beijing 100m and 200m bronze medalist Walter Dix will get another shot at Jamaica's world record holder and Olympic champion Usain Bolt in the men's 100 meters on Friday. Bolt will face seven of the eight Olympic 100m finalists, including 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford, who won the silver in that event in Beijing.

2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt will take on 2007 World Outdoor gold medalist Jeremy Wariner in the men's 400 meters, with Beijing bronze medalist David Neville also expected to answer the gun. The women's one-lapper will feature Olympic bronze medalist and former Golden League jackpot winner Sanya Richards, who ended the last three seasons ranked #1 in the world at 400 meters. Richards will be challenged by fellow Team USA Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Mary Wineberg, and Beijing 400m silver medalist Shericka Williams of Jamaica.

Two-time World Outdoor Championships gold medalist and two-time Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix will be a heavy favorite in the women's 200 meters where she'll do battle with 2005 World Outdoor 100m champion Lauryn Williams and 2008 Olympic fifth-place finisher Marshevet Hooker.

In hurdles action, Olympic 100m hurdles gold medalist Dawn Harper will compete in Zurich for the first time in her career where she'll face a rematch with 2008 Olympic finalist, reigning Olympic Trials champion and 2008 World Indoor Championships gold medalist Lolo Jones. World record holder and 2008 Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba will face a strong challenge from U.S. Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver and fellow Americans Anwar Moore, Joel Brown and Aries Merritt.

The three Americans who swept the men's 400m hurdles medals at the 2008 Olympic Games will look for a similar performance in Zurich. 2000 Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor won his second Olympic title in Beijing, where he was closely followed by 2007 World Outdoor champion Kerron Clement (silver medal) and 2005 World Champs gold medalist Bershawn Jackson (bronze).

In field event action, Beijing silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski will do battle with 2008 Olympic champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia in the women's pole vault, 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist and reigning Olympic Trials champion Chaunte Howard will compete in the women's high jump and Olympic Trials champion Trevell Quinley will look for a win in the men's long jump.

For more information on the 2008 Weltklasse Zurich, including the complete results, visit: www.iaaf.org.

Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
Tom.Surber@usatf.org