Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Gold medalists Jones and Reese lead Team USA's women in Doha

Gold medalists Jones and Reese lead Team USA's women in Doha

DOHA, Qatar - Team USA's women will be led by reigning World Indoor champion Lolo Jones and World Outdoor champions Brittney Reese and Allyson Felix (LA Baptist HS) at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, March 12-14, in the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar.



2008 World Indoor champion Lolo Jones looks to be the first woman ever to win back-to-back titles in the women's 60-meter hurdles. But it won't be easy. Jones will be facing 2010 U.S. Indoor champion Ginnie Powell (USC 2006) and current world leader and 2009 World Outdoor silver medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (CAN).



Reigning World Outdoor long jump champion Brittney Reese hopes to add a world indoor title to her growing collection of accolades. A two-time USA Indoor and Outdoor champion, Reese is the current world leader. 2009 World Outdoor finalist Brianna Glenn (La Mirada HS), who currently has the third-farthest leap so far this year, is also in the mix.



World-ranked #1 over 100m by Track & Field News, two-time World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Cal State Dominguez) will be chasing the elusive individual gold medal in the women's 60m. 2007 Pan Am 100m champion Miki Barber, twin sister to 2006 World Indoor champion Lisa Barber, will be aiming to bring the gold medal back to the family. The Americans main competition comes in the form of US Virgin Islander Laverne Jones-Ferrette, who has the current world leader of 6.97.



2010 USA Indoor champion and current world leader Debbie Dunn is the top entrant in the women's 400m. A 2009 World Outdoor finalist, Dunn ran the lead-off leg for Team USA's gold-medal winning 4x400m at that same meet. Also running in her first World Indoor Championships is two-time World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist DeeDee Trotter.



2010 USA Indoor 800m champion Anna (Willard) Pierce, who ended her 2009 campaign ranked #2 in the world, will be chasing her first international medal. She will be joined by 2007 USA Outdoor champion Alysia Johnson (Cal). They will face 2009 World Outdoor bronze medalist Jenny Meadows (GBR), who has won four of her five races this season.



2008 Olympian Erin Donohue and 2009 NCAA Indoor champion Sarah Bowman will race in the women's 1,500m. Two-time USA Indoor runner-up Sara Hall is entered in the women's 3,000m. Joining her at the start line will be Desiree Davila (Hilltop HS, Chula Vista), who will be stepping down in distance after finishing in 11th place in the marathon at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships.



2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard Lowe (J.W. North HS, Riverside) will compete in the women's high jump while 2009 World Outdoor silver medalist Chelsea Johnson (Atascadero HS) will be aiming for another medal in the women's pole vault. Also entered in the pole vault is 2010 USA Indoor champion and current U.S. leader Lacy Janson. World Indoor and Outdoor record holder Yelena Isibayeva (RUS) is the favorite entering the meet, but after her no-height at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, anything is possible.



Competing on her first World Indoor team and world-ranked #7 for 2009, Michelle Carter will try to out-throw the competition in the women's shot put. Joining her in the ring will be four-time USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena (Woodland HS, Stanford). 2010 USA Indoor champion Erica McLean will compete in the women's triple jump.



The women's 4x400m relay will be chasing gold. In the 13 year history of the World Indoor Championships, Team USA has brought home 3 silver and 5 bronze medals. But zero gold. If there was ever a year and a team to win it, this could be it. The relay pool consists of 400m individual entrants Dunn and Trotter, as well as 2008 Olympic 4x400m gold medalists Natasha Hastings and Allyson Felix, a three-time World Outdoor 200m champion and two-time World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist. 2008 World Indoor bronze medalist Shareese Woods and Jessica Cousins are also in the pool.



For more information on Team USA and the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, visit www.usatf.org.

No comments: