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May 20, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Fred Baer, USA TRACK & FIELD Pacific Association Media Chair (650) 345-4114, [email protected]
USATF/PA Champs At CSM Sunday To Feature Olympic Contenders & $15K Grand Prix; CSM’s Young Will Throw Too:
US RECORD BREAKERS KREINER & POWELL-ROOS, WORLD LEADER BROWN-TRAFTON
Kim Kreiner, who set an American record in the women’s javelin throw two years ago in the first major meet at College of San Mateo’s modernized track and field facility, plans to return to that site for Sunday’s USA Track and Field/Pacific Association Championship.
The last major NorCal meet of the Olympic year begins at 9 a.m. with the men’s and women’s 10,000 meters. A rolling schedule of races begins at 11:15 a.m. with the women’s 1,500 meters, running until approximately 3 p.m.
Also featured in the throws at CSM’s will be current women’s world discus leader Stephanie Brown Trafton (217-1) and American record holder and U.S. champion Suzy Powell-Roos in a classic pre-Olympic Trials duel. Modesto native Powell-Roos, who set the AR of 222-0 last year, ranks second on the 2008 U.S. list at 208-11. Trafton, the three-time Big West champion for Cal Poly (SLO), was the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials runner-up.
Kreiner, training in Fresno, threw the javelin 203-10 at CSM and has since improved that mark to 210-7 (last year in Fortaleza). The mark at CSM still ranks as the second longest ever by an American on U.S. soil.
She will throw shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday, following completion of the men’s javelin. The women’s discus throw follows the 12 noon men’s discus.
CSM freshman Kelly Young, the top field event performer in the recent Northern California Community College championships, also plans to participate in Sunday’s throwing events.
The excellent field facilities and new Mondo track will provide athletes with a key opportunity to meet standards for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., June 27-July 6.
A men’s high hurdles dual is expected featuring Arend Watkins of San Jose, who ranked No. 2 in the world earlier this year at 13.41, and current PA men’s Grand Prix leader Tim Bogdanof (13.58), a former Cal star.
$15,000 at Stake in PA Grand Prix: Post-collegiate athletes will be competing in the PA’s $15,000 Open Track & Field Grand Prix, with double points being awarded at the championships.
Galt resident Trafton is the current women’s leader, ahead of middle distance stars Maggie Vessey (2:03.56) and Shannon Rowbury, discus thrower Cecilia Barnes, and high jumper Amy Acuff of Isleton. (Trafton, Powell-Roos, and Barnes rank 1-2-5 nationally.)
San Francisco’s Rowbury Leads World with America’s Fastest 1,500 in Six Years:
San Francisco native and resident Shannon Rowbury ran the fastest 1,500 meters by an American woman in six years, 4:01.61, at Sunday’s adidas Track Classic in Carson to lead the world in 2008 and achieve the Olympic “A” standard. Her mark is No. 5 on the all-time USA list. She plans be present on Sunday, following altitude training this week in Colorado Springs, just to watch friends compete in the PA meet.
PA Athletes Pace USA – from the current USA “top 5” lists:
As noted, several Pacific Association athletes are making their mark near the top of the USA lists in this Olympic year. More leaders include Lauren Fleshman in the 5,000 (15:12.55), with Arianna Lambie No. 3 at 15:22.51. Both are Stanford grads. Stanford’s Erica McLain is tops in the triple jump at 46-7 1/4 (indoors).
In the women’s 800, Cal’s Alysia Johnson (2:00.57) is No. 2 and former West Valley (Cottonwood) prep Nicole Teter (2:01.73 indoors) No. 3 -- with Rowbury (2:02.76) and Vessey close behind.
Women’s high jump: Amy Acuff (6-4 3/4 indoors) and Sharon Day (6-4 3/4 outdoors) share No. 3.
Women’s long jump: Cal grad and 2004 Olympian Grace Upshaw of Los Altos Hills (21-11) is No. 3.
Women’s shot put: Stanford grad Jill Camarena (59-5 indoors) of Woodland is No. 3
Women’s 20K walk: Susan Armenta (1:39.02) is No. 3.
Men’s 10K: Stanford grad Ian Dobson (28:16.47) is No. 4.
Men’s high jump: Modesto native Jesse Williams (7-7 1⁄4 indoor) is No. 3 and Jamie Nieto (7-5 1/4 indoors) from Sacramento CC and Valley High is No. 6
Men’s pole vault: Derek Miles (19-0 1/4 indoors) out of Bella Vista high is No. 2. Sharing No. 5 at 18-8 1/4 (indoors) are Stanford grad Toby Stevenson and high school record breaker Tommy Skipper, who is training in Stockton.
Men’s hammer throw: San Jose’s Kevin McMahon (246-4) is No. 2, Michael Mai (245-6) is No. 3, Cal and Amador Valley grad Travis Nutter (242-2) is No. 5.
Top performance in the area so far this season: Shalane Flanagan’s American Record in the 10,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford, May 4.
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