Oliver, Felix run world leaders in Doha – US Track & Field – News and Notes, Volume 8, Number 29

2008 U.S. Indoor champion David Oliver and 2007 World Outdoor triple gold medalist Allyson Felix each ran world leaders in winning the men's 110-meter hurdles and the women's 100m and 400m, respectively, tonight at the 2008 Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar.

After running a personal best 13.08 in April, Oliver tonight became the eighth fastest man ever over the 110-meter hurdles, winning in a world-leading 12.95 seconds. It is the earliest sub-thirteen clocking ever. Said Oliver after his race, "I am happy that I was again able to better my personal best in Doha like last year. My goal (this year) is the final at the Olympics in Beijing." 2005 U.S. Indoor champion Joel Brown was second in 13.38.

In her first event of the night, Felix shot out of the blocks in the women's 100m with the second fastest reaction time and surged ahead over the final 40 meters to win the race in a personal best, world leading 10.93. It was Felix's first time running a sub-11, as her previous personal best was 11.01. Just over an hour later, she was back in the blocks for the women's 400m. Once again, Felix went out strong and heading into the home stretch was leading by 10 meters. She crossed the finish line in a meet record and world-leading 49.83. Jamaica's Shericka Williams was second in 50.50 and 2007 World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist Natasha Hastings was third in 50.80.

Felix is the eighth woman of all-time to run sub 11 over 100m, sub 22 over 200m and sub 50 over 400m. Other all-time greats accomplishing this feat include Marita Koch (GDR), Gwen Torrence, Irina Provolva (RUS), Valerie Briscoe-Hooks, Marie-Jose Perec, Barbel Wockel (GDR) and Marion Jones.

The reigning World Outdoor champion, Reese Hoffa won the men's shot put with a meet record, world-leading heave of 21.48 meters/70 feet 5.75 inches. Three of Hoffa's four throws exceeded 21 meters. 2006 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor champion Garrett Johnson was third with a mark of 20.65m/67-9.

Also at the track, 2008 World Indoor champion Lolo Jones was the runner-up in the women's 100m hurdles in 12.65 and two-time U.S. Outdoor champion Ginnie Powell was third in 12.77. 2007 World Outdoor 400m silver medalist LaShawn Merritt won the men's 200m in 20.08 and hurdler Joel Brown was the runner-up in 20.84 and 2007 Pan Am Games silver medalist Mike Hazle was third in the men's javelin, setting a personal best 82.21m/269-8.

For more information and complete results, visit www.iaaf.org.

Cherry, Demus run hurdles world leaders in Martinique

Damu Cherry and Lashinda Demus each ran world leaders in winning the women's 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles, respectively, at the traditional Meeting du Conseil General de la Martinique held Thursday in Fort de France.

The 2005 World silver medallist, Lashinda Demus, who gave birth to twin boys in June 2007, became the first athlete to break 54 seconds in this Olympic year as she clocked 53.99 to win the women's 400m hurdles by more than 2 tenths. Christine Spence was the runner-up, improving her personal best to 54.21.

Damu Cherry won the women's 100m hurdles in a world-leading 12.47, improving on her previous world leader of 12.70. Kellie Wells (12.72) and Nicole Denby (12.77) were third and fourth.

2005 World Outdoor 4X100m relay gold medalist Muna Lee completed an impressive double taking the 100m in 11.10 (+1.9mps) and the 200m in a windy 21.91 (+2.8mps). 2003 World 100m champion Torri Edwards was the runner-up in the women's 100 in 11.17.

The men's Long Jump saw a great battle for the win. Brian Johnson's first leap of 8.48m/27-10 (+2.1mps) secured the victory with his best legal jump coming in the third round at 8.30m/27-2.75 (+1.6mps). Olympic champion Dwight Phillips came close to snatching the win from his compatriot in the last round jumping 8.47m/27-9.5 (+3.9mps); his best legal jump was 8.16m/26-9.25 (+1.1mps). Miguel Pate was third with 8.39m/27-6.5 (+3.1mps).

Gay and Bolt to battle in NY

World Outdoor triple gold medalist Tyson Gay and Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the current world leader in the men's 100m, will meet at 100m at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 21, organizers announced Thursday.

Gay, who in 2007 became only the second man in history to win World Championship gold medals at 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay, last year scorched the Icahn Stadium track in New York when he won in 9.76 seconds, which would have broken the World record at the time had it not been for a tailwind (2.2mps) barely over the legal limit.

Bolt, the 21-year-old Jamaican who took the 200m and 4x100m World Championship silver medals behind Gay in Osaka, is the 2002 World Junior champion at 200m and holds the World Junior Record of 19.93 seconds for the distance.

At the Jamaica International Invitational on May 3, Bolt blazed to a 100m victory in 9.76 seconds, the second-fastest time in history behind only countryman Asafa Powell's 9.74, which Powell set late last summer.

Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the Reebok Grand Prix is the third stop of USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series. For more information, visit www.reebokgrandprix.com or www.visachampionshipsseries.com.

Stars aplenty to compete at 67th California Relays

Lauryn Williams, Michelle Perry, Christian Cantwell and Stacy Dragila are just a few of the big names slated to compete Saturday at the 67th California Relays (formerly Modesto Relays) in Modesto, Calif.

Headlining the women's entrants are 2005 World 100m champion and 2004 Olympic Games silver medalist Lauryn Williams, two-time World 100m hurdles champion Michelle Perry, 2004 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Monique Henderson and American discus record holder and two-time Olympian Suzy Powell. The women's pole vault will feature 2000 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Stacy Dragila, who will do battle with 2008 World Indoor Championships silver medalist and American record holder Jenn Stuczynski.

Two-time World Indoor shot put champion and 2007 Indoor Visa Series Champion Christian Cantwell will headline the men's entries on Saturday in Modesto, where he'll face three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina.

Other men to keep an eye on include world-ranked #4 Anwar Moore in the 110m hurdles, two-time World Outdoor relay champion and 2004 Olympic Games 4x400m relay gold medalist Darold Williamson in the 200 meters and four-time USA Outdoor champion and 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson in the 800 meters. The men's pole vault will feature American record holder Jeff Hartwig squaring off against 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson.

For more information on the 2008 California Relays, visit: https://www.modestorelays.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
Vicky.Oddi@usatf.org