INDIANAPOLIS- American record holder Chaunte Lowe will headline a talented group of athletes in the women's field events at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 23-27 at Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
This meet marks the third event of the 2010 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series and will feature the nations' finest professional track and field athletes competing for national honors. It will be televised on the following dates (All time Eastern):
June 25- 8:00-10:00 p.m. on ESPN
June 26- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 26- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC
June 27- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN
June 27- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC
The hop, skip & jumps
In what should be a clear victory, American record holder Chaunte Lowe will return to defend her National title in the women's high jump. Lowe cleared 2.04m/6-8.25 in setting an American record at Cottbus in May and has since seen similar heights at Oslo and Rome. Should she continue to clear these heights, she should take home the title.
After performing at less than their best at the recent adidas Grand Prix, 2008 Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr and 2009 World Outdoor silver medalist Chelsea Johnson will look to bounce back in the women's pole vault. This will only be Suhr's second meet this season and she will have to work out the kinks if she wants the victory in Des Moines. Also looking to challenge Suhr and Johnson is Indoor Nationals champion Lacy Janson as she comes in with the highest American clearance of 4.66i/15-3.50 this year.
Two-time world champion Brittney Reese will return after a long break from injury to challenge 2008 Olympian Funmi Jimoh in the women's long jump. Both Reese and Jimoh have posted competitive distances this year, but all of which were early in the season. The outcome of this event will all depend on Reese's injury status. Also in the mix is addidas Grand Prix champion Brianna Glenn and 2008 National Champion Hyleas Fountain. Glenn's winning mark in New York was a seasonal best and she will have to repeat her performance if she wants a chance at this year's title. Hyleas Fountain on the other hand, hasn't produced any long distances in this season yet, but she is capable of doing so and in turn could be in the running for the title.
In the women's triple jump, national leader Erica McLain is entered with a wind assisted 14.42m/47-3.75. Her only other mark distant length this year was a jump in early May. For this reason, the event will be highly competitive between McLain and challengers Toni Smith and Crystal Manning; all three of which are consistently jumping within inches of each other.
The Throws
Six-time USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena-Williams and two-time USA Outdoor champion Michelle Carter are the top entrants in the women's shot put. The two have battled it out this season with Williams usually finding the victory. However, Carter tossed farther at Shanghai and in the heat of the competition may out-toss Williams. Another competitor to watch is three-time USA Outdoor champion Kirstin Heaston. For a victory, she would have to throw a good distance farther then she has been this season, but as a veteran thrower and competitor, she knows how to turn on the heat.
2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton, four-time USA Outdoor champion Aretha Hill Thurmond, and 2005 USA Outdoor champion Becky Breisch will battle for top honors in the women's discus. Breisch has thrown the farthest distance this season, but right on her heels, Thurmond and Trafton will give her a run for her money. All three will make for a competitive match. Also to watch is Gia Lewis-Smallwood who popped the second farthest American distance this season.
A good head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field, 2008 Olympian Amber Campbell and Britney Henry will throw the weight around in the women's hammer throw. As a veteran of strong competition and high pressure, Campbell will look to claim the victory; but not a stranger to far distances, Henry may sneak up to take the title.
In the women's javelin throw, it will be a close competition between top throwers 2008 Olympic Trials champion Kara Patterson, 2009 World Championships finalist Rachel Yurkovich. Also in the mix is two-time national champion and American record holder Kim Kreiner. All three are within reaching distance of each other but Patterson holds the nation's leading mark. Kreiner hasn't thrown since last season, so anything is possible in her season opener.
Tickets for the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships may be purchased by dialing 515-271-3647 or by visiting: www.godrakebulldogs.com
For more information on the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
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