News & Notes, Volume 8, Number 56 – Harper, Taylor, Oliver, Tosta & Cantwell win in Shanghai – US Track & Field – NEWS

2008 Olympic Games medalists Dawn Harper, David Oliver, Angelo Taylor, Sheena Tosta and Christian Cantwell were all victorious in their respective events Saturday at the fourth annual Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai, China.

    This edition of the Shanghai meeting has been designated as the start of the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Tour, a qualifying event for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final 2009, with athletes competing at the meet able to get a head start on qualifying for next year's final, to be held September 12-13, 2009, in Thessaloniki, Greece.

    The women's 100m hurdles featured Beijing Olympics gold medalist Dawn Harper, who set a stadium record with her win in 12.56 seconds, which was only 0.02 seconds slower than her winning time in Beijing. Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton was the runner-up in 12.66, with Beijing heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain finishing third in 12.96 seconds.

    In the men's 110m hurdles, 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist David Oliver hit the first hurdle before cruising to the win in 13.25 seconds, and in the men's 400 meters, Beijing 400m hurdles gold medalist Angelo Taylor had little difficulty in crossing the finish line first in 44.94 seconds.

    Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta cruised to the win in the women's 400m hurdles, stopping the clock in 54.51 seconds, with Beijing Olympic finalist Tiffany Ross-Williams the runner-up in 54.70.

    The men's shot put featured a rematch between Olympic gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland, and U.S. silver medalist Christian Cantwell, who won the event with a toss of 20.84 meters/68 feet 4.50 inches. Majewski was the runner-up with a best effort of 20.36m/66-9.75, and Olympic Trials fourth-place finisher Dan Taylor finished third with a toss of 19.63m/64-5.

    U.S. runner-up performances were turned in by 2005 World Outdoor women's 100m champion Lauryn Williams (11.26 seconds), 2008 Olympic team member Rodney Martin in the men's 200 meters (20.42) and 2008 Olympic Trials men's high jump winner Jesse Williams (2.28m/7-5.75).

    For more information on the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, including the complete results, visit: www.iaaf.org.

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