June 1, 2004
STANFORD, Calif. - Maurice Greene, Nicole Teter, John Godina and former Stanford All-American Toby Stevenson electrified a standing room only crowd Monday at the 2004 Payton Jordan U.S. Open at Stanford's Cobb Track & Angell Field. The meet was the second invitational event on USA Track & Field's 2004 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour, and will be broadcast Tuesday, June 1 from 9-10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2.
A group of Stanford track & field athletes also performed with high marks during the day's activities. Ian Dobson easily broke the school record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:32.09. That time easily shattered the old record of 8:35.83 by Jesse Thomas in 2002. Freshman Joaquin Chapa ran a career-best 1:49.83 in the 800 meters while Stanford senior Adam Tenforde produced an Olympic Trials "B" standard time of 13:39.47 in the 5,000 meters.
The final event of the day was the Verizon men,s 100 meters, where 2000Olympic gold medalist and three-time world outdoor champion Maurice Greeneblistered the track by running history's second-fastest time under anyconditions with his windy 9.78 seconds performance (+3.7 meters per second).Only Obadele Thompson,s 9.69 (+5.7 mps) on April 13, 1996 in El Paso, Tex.,is faster than Greene, performance Monday at Stanford.
Greene, who owns the two fastest wind-legal times in the world this year,left no doubt from the beginning of the race as he jumped out to a greatstart and stayed in command the rest of the way. 2002 NCAA outdoor 100 meter and200 meter champion Justin Gatlin was the runner-up in 9.91 seconds, with 2003world outdoor 200 meter champion John Capel third in 10.07.
Another outstanding performance was turned in by 2002 U.S. Indoor andOutdoor 800 meter champion Nicole Teter, who grabbed the lead early and held onto win the Sunny D Intense Sport Women's 800 meters in the fastest time inthe world this year of 1 minute, 58.83 seconds. Marian Burnett of Guyana wasthe runner-up in the second-fastest time in the world this year of 1:59.47,with Diane Cummins third, in the third-fastest time in the world this yearof 1:59.67.
Another highlighted event Monday was the men's shot put, where three-timeworld outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina celebratedhis 32nd birthday with his best effort since 2002 with his winning throw of21.71 meters/71 feet, 2.75 inches. 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelsonwas the runner-up with a best of 20.91m/68-7.25 and Canada's Brad Snyder wasthird with a heave of 20.39m/66-10.75. 2004 world leader Christian Cantwellwas a late scratch.
2000 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world outdoor champion Stacy Dragilawon the Visa women's pole vault by equaling her world best mark from earlierthis season of 4.70 meters/15 feet, 5 inches. 2003 U.S. Outdoor runner-upJillian Schwartz was the runner-up with a clearance of 4.40m/14-5.25 andformer collegiate record holder Tracy O'Hara was third with a best of4.30m/14-1.25.
In the women,s 200 meters, Latasha Colander, Allyson Felix and Crystal Coxwere even coming off the turn before Colander grabbed the lead with 60meters to go to win in the second-fastest time in the world this year of22.37 seconds. Cox held on for second in 22.58, with world junior recordholder Felix finishing third in 22.71. 2003 world outdoor champion TorriEdwards was fourth in 22.71 and Inger Miller was fifth in 23.04.
In the men,s pole vault, former Stanford standout Toby Stevenson won a hotlycontested battle with American record holder Jeff Hartwig. Stevenson finallywon the event in a jump-off with a clearance of 5.85m/19-2.25, as Hartwigcleared 5.80m/19-0.25 in the extra session. Denmark's Piotr Buciarski wasthird with a best of 5.65m/18-6.50 and 2003 USA indoor champion Derek Mileswas fourth with a clearance of 5.55m/18-2.50.
"I wanted to jump higher than I did, but Jeff pushed me, so I felt I competedwell," said Stevenson. "I don't take winning for granted. My main goal is to get out there andjump well every time. My confidence is as high as it's ever been. Ifanyone is gong to beat me, they're going to have to jump damn high. If theydo, great. I'm right where I want to be.
Four-time world outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic medalist Allen Johnsonlooked sharp in winning the men's 110m hurdles in 13.12 seconds overrunner-up and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell (13.20). DwightThomas was third in 13.34 and Ron Bramlett was fourth in 13.36.
Two-time World Outdoor Championships 100m hurdles finalist Jenny Adams gotoff to a fast start and dominated a strong field in winning in thefourth-fastest time in the world this year of 12.67 seconds. 2003 WorldOutdoor Championships bronze medalist Miesha McKelvy was the runner-up in12.79 and 2001 world outdoor champion Anjanette Kirkland was third in 12.99.
In the men's Chevrolet 1,500 meters, Kenyan Laban Rotich won convincingly in3:36.32 over Charlie Gruber, who finished as the runner-up in the second-fastesttime by an American this outdoor season of 3:38.42,
The men,s 3,000m steeplechase was won by Ray Hughes in the second-fastesttime by an American this year of 8:29.20. Isaiah Festa was the runner-up in8:30.48, with Kenyan Solomon Kandie third in 8:31.49.
Two-time Pan American Games gold medalist and 2003 U.S. champion Aretha Hillwon the women's discus with the fourth-best throw by an American this yearof 63.79m/209-3. Hill also owns the top three American women's discus throwsthis season. 2001 USA discus and shot put champion Seilala Sua was therunner-up with a best of 60.99m/200-1 and Kris Kuehl was third with a throwof 57.94m/188-7.
The men's hammer was won by Croatia's Andras Haklits with a best effort of74.79 meters/245-4. Michael Mai was the runner-up with a throw of74.04m/244-1 and James Parker was third with a best of 73.93m/242-9.
2003 USA Outdoor champion and World Outdoor Championships finalist GraceUpshaw won the women's long jump with a best of 6.74m/22 feet, 1.50 inches(w). Jernae Wright was the runner-up with a leap of 6.67m/21-10.75 andJackie Edwards (former Stanford All-American) of the Bahamas was third with a jump of 6.59m/21-7.50.
A series of Olympic Development events also were contested at Stanford asNakiya Johnson set a new personal best in winning the women's 800 meters in2 minutes, 4.56 seconds. Carrie Messner won the 1,500 meters in 4:18.79.
In men's Olympic Development events, Timothy Dunne won the 800 meters in1:48.18 and Sean O'Brien won the 1,500 meters in 3:40.66
For complete results, visit www.usatf.org.