PHILADELPHIA - Before they compete at the World Championships in Daegu, the best relay teams in the world will converge on Philadelphia to test their mettle at Franklin Field on Saturday, April 30, at the 12th edition of USA vs. the World at the 117th Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.
With more than 180 athletes flying in from around the globe, 16 countries will be on-hand to compete for six titles at the premier elite relay event in the world. Team USA will face stiff competition with teams from Brazil, Canada, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco and the United Kingdom.
This year's events include the Nike men's distance medley relay, women's sprint medley relay, Visa women's 4x100m, BMW Men's 4x100m, Nike women's 4x400m and Visa men's 4x400m.
Last year a record 54,000 fans filled Franklin Field joining in Saturday's carnival atmosphere at the Penn Relays. Tickets are still available for this year's event at www.ThePennRelays.com.
USA vs. the World serves as the first event of the 2011 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, and will be televised on Saturday, April 30, from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2.
It's Comeback Time
In 2010 some of the biggest names in track and field were forced to watch from the Franklin Field stands as they struggled with injury. After hours of rehab, cross-training and in one case surgery, it is time for Sanya Richards-Ross and Darvis "Doc" Patton to step back on the track and show the world they are ready to run.
With four 4x100m medals at the Olympics, World Outdoors and Pan American Games, Patton will lead Team USA's squad as the elder statesmen with six national teams under his belt. Patton has already landed some of the top marks in the U.S. this year, with wind-aided performances in the 100m (10.10) and 200m (20.61). He also sits atop the 4x100m list as part of the Team Speed Unlimited quartet that clocked a 38.41 at the Texas Relays.
The 2009 world champion at 400m, Richards-Ross competed at the 2010 edition of USA vs. the World, but then faced multiple injuries throughout the remainder of the season. While still in college, Richards-Ross won her first 4x400m World Championship medal in 2003, and since then, has added four more Olympic and World relay medals to her resume. Richards-Ross is clearly rounding into form after clocking 52.00 to win the 400m at the Michael Johnson Invitational and 23.06 to win the 200m at the TCU Invitational.
Mr. Visa is Back
Racking up nearly $4,000 per second, Mike Rodgers won the USA Indoor Championships presented by BMW in the 60m in 6.48 seconds to claim the men's Indoor Visa Championship Series title and $25,000 check. He will again be on hand at Penn. Rodgers currently has the fastest 100m time in the U.S. this year with a 10.07 win at the Mt. Sac Relays.
Felix on a Relay Roll
Allyson Felix won nearly every race and honor possible last year. She brought home the inaugural Diamond League titles in both the 200 and 400m, and was named the Jesse Owens Award winner as the top female athlete in the U.S. So far, Felix is on a roll with relay-only performances in 2011. She has carried the stick for winning 4x100 and 4x400m teams at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational and the Mt. Sac Relays.
More information on relay fields and line-ups will be released throughout the week. For more information on USA vs. the World, visit www.VisaChampionshipSeries.com.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track & field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.
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