News and Notes, Volume 8, Number 41 – US Track & Field – NEWS – Golden League moves on to Paris

Jeremy Wariner, Sanya Richards, Terrence Trammell, Kerron Clement, Angelo Taylor and Joanna Hayes are just a few of the athletes to watch Friday in the tenth edition of the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis – the fourth of this year's six fixtures which make up the IAAF Golden League 2008.

*Reigning Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jeremy Wariner will once again be challenged by 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion LaSahwn Merritt in the men's 400 meters.

*In the men's 110m hurdles, newly minted world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba will face six of the eight finalists from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials including two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist David Payne, Anwar Moore, Antwon Hicks and Aries Merritt.

*In the men's 100 meters, reigning Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford will take on two-time World Outdoor 200m medalist Wallace Spearmon and 2008 U.S. Indoor champion Michael Rodgers.

*Three-time USA Outdoor champion Alan Webb will be looking for redemption in the men's 1,500m following his fifth-place finish at the Olympic Trials. At this meet last year, Webb ran the fastest time in the world for 2007, winning in 3:30.54.

*The men's 400m hurdles features the U.S. Olympic Team trio of 2000 Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor, 2005 World Outdoor champion Bershawn Jackson and 2007 World Outdoor champion Kerron Clement.

*Reigning Olympic gold medalist Dwight Phillips will challenge current Olympic Team members Miguel Pate and Brian Johnson in the men's long jump.

*Muna Lee, the only woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in both the 100 and 200, is entered in the women's 200m and will face 2007 World Outdoor 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter and Sanya Richards, world-ranked #1 at 400m.

*Five of the seven women who ran in the finals of the women's 100m hurdles at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials are entered in Paris including reigning Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, two-time USA Outdoor champion Ginnie Powell, 2008 World Indoor silver medalist Candice Davis, 2007 World Outdoor team member Nichole Denby and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials third-place finisher Dawn Harper.

*2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion Shannon Rowbury is entered in the women's 1,500m and two-time Olympian Jen Rhines will run in the 5,000m.

*The women's high jump features America's squad for Beijing: six-time USA Outdoor champion Amy Acuff, 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard and 2005 NCAA champion Sharon Day.

To watch the webcast of Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis LIVE at 2:00 p.m. ET Friday, July 18, go to www.usatf.org. For more information and complete results from the IAAF Golden League 2008, go to www.iaaf.org.

National Track & Field Hall of Famer's Smith and Carlos receive Arthur Ashe Courage Award

Tommie Smith and John Carlos have been awarded the 2008 Arthur Ashe Courage Award for their protests for racial equality at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award, given to those athletes who contributions transcend sport, will be presented to Smith and Carlos at the 2008 ESPYs airing on Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Smith and Carlos made headlines at the 1968 games when, after receiving their gold and bronze medals, they each raised black-gloved fists on the victory stand during the U.S. National Anthem. Smith and Carlos said the action represented the struggle in the U.S. for racial equality and universal human rights.

The award comes just weeks before the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Smith told ESPN "I stand proud to receive this award just as I stood proud on that victory stand 40 years ago. I stood for human and civil rights then, issues that today are just as important."

Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
Vicky.Oddi@usatf.org