Team USA in Top Shape

Team USA is fielding a sizable roster of 51 athletes for the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships which will be held in Valencia Spain from March 7 -9.. Among the 51 athletes, the roster includes four former World Indoor individual champions. These athletes will compete for a total of nearly $2.5 million in prize money, which includes $40,000 for individual champions and $50,000 bonus for beating current world records.


World Indoor gold medalists Reese Hoffa and Brad Walker are participating along with world champions Allen Johnson, Christian Cantwell and 2005 World Outdoor Champion decathlete Bryan Clay, a combination of both experienced and youthful athletes. Athletes Cantwell and Hoffa are aiming for a sweep in their shot event, hoping for a repeat in their 2004 competition. Only one other person has thrown farther than either of them and that was Adam Nelson. They both aim to beat his record in this upcoming competition.


More top contenders in the track area come in the form of Michael Rodgers, USA Indoor Champion who has the #3 time in the world this year at 6.54 seconds; Leroy Dixon, who was the 2007 World Outdoor 4x 100m gold medalist; Angela Williams, who was two-time World Indoor silver medalist, who owns #2-4 of the women's performances in the world 2008 edition; Lolo Jones, who was indoor Visa champion and ranked #2 performer in the world this season; and leading the women's sprint; and David Oliver who was the third-best global performer in men's hurdle.


Hard contenders in the field include John Moffitt, Olympic silver medalist in the long jump category; Jenn Stuczynski, the third-best performer in the world this year; and American record holder Nicole Teter, who will run the women's 800.