Contact: Tom Surber Media Information Manager USA Track & Field (317) 261-0500 x317 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 9, 2002 U.S. long jumpers, shot putters sweep IAAF rankings INDIANAPOLIS – American men’s long jumpers and shot putters have swept the first three spots in their respective events to headline a strong American presence in the current 2002 International Association of Athletics Federations rankings. U.S. long jumpers Savante’ Stringfellow, Miguel Pate, and Dwight Phillips are ranked 1-2-3, respectively, in the world on the IAAF rankings that are posted on the IAAF Web site, www.iaaf.org. U.S. shot putters Adam Nelson, John Godina and Kevin Toth also are in a 1-3 sweep. Other Americans earning #1 rankings are Tim Montgomery (men’s 100m), Jeff Hartwig (men’s pole vault), Marion Jones (women’s 100m) and Gail Devers (women’s 100m hurdles). The last time three Americans ended a season ranked 1-2-3 globally in the long jump was in 1994 when Mike Powell, Kareem Streete-Thompson and Erick Walder earned that distinction from Track & Field News. The U.S. men last swept the top three shot put spots in the world following the 2000 season when Adam Nelson, Andy Bloom and John Godina were ranked 1-2-3, respectively by T&FN. The 2001 World Outdoor Championships long jump silver medalist, Stringfellow lived up to his “Superman” alter-ego in a big way this season by winning his second consecutive USA Outdoor title with a world-leading and personal best jump of 8.52 meters/27 feet, 11.50 inches. He also had the second-best outdoor jump in the world this year of 8.49m/27-10.25 to win in Osaka. Perhaps Stringfellow’s finest moment of the year came at the IAAF World Cup in Athletics, where he won the event over reigning world and Olympic Champion Ivan Pedroso of Cuba. Pate made an enormous splash on the world stage during the 2002 indoor season by winning his first U.S. national title in New York with a Championships record leap of 8.59m/28-2.25. Pate’s effort shattered the old meet record by all-time great Carl Lewis, who soared 8.49m/27-10.25 in 1981. Only Lewis, Pedroso and Pate have ever bettered 28 feet indoors. Pate also enjoyed a strong 2002 outdoor season with three of the top six marks in the world. His best was a leap of 8.45m/27-8.75 in his runner-up finish to Stringfellow at the USA Championships. Phillips cemented his third-place IAAF world ranking for the 2002 campaign with the sixth and seventh best jumps in the world this year. With a leap of 8.38m/27-6, Phillips won in Linz and set a new personal record. The runner-up at the 2002 USA Indoor Championships (7.99m/26-2.75), Phillips placed third at USA Outdoors with a best of 8.25m/27-0.75w. U.S. men’s shot putters were again dominant in 2002, with Adam Nelson leading the way with a new personal best and the longest throw in the world this year of 22.51m/73-10.25. He posted the mark in winning the adidas Oregon Track Classic in Portland. Nelson also had the world’s second-farthest throw of 22.22m/72-10.75 in winning his second career U.S. Outdoor title with a meet record. He also won his second consecutive U.S. Indoor title with a world-leading 21.57m/70-9.25. John Godina ended the 2002 season ranked #2 in the world by the IAAF after two solid runner-up finishes to Nelson at the USA Outdoors (21.91m/71-10.75), and at Portland (21.89m/71-10). Godina also threw well at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., with his third-place finish of 21.91m/71-10.75. Kevin Toth had the best season of his long career in 2002. His most notable performance was his win at the Nike Prefontaine Classic with a personal best of 22.19m/72-9.75, the third-best mark in the world this year. Montgomery’s world record in the 100m (9.78 seconds) at the IAAF Grand Prix Final was more than enough to put him at the top of the IAAF charts. Hartwig won the U.S. outdoor title as well as the IAAF Grand Prix Final and had the best vault in the world in 2002 (5.90m/19-4.25). Jones went undefeated this year, including two wins over world champion Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, and won a share of the IAAF’s Golden League jackpot to earn her #1 ranking; and Devers lost only twice on the season while posting the fastest time in the world in the 100m hurdles (12.40). For a complete listing of the 2002 IAAF World Rankings, visit www.iaaf.org. # # # PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE: If you would like to respond, please direct your e-mail to the "Contact" person listed at the top of the text of this message. To be removed from this mailing list or to notify us of a change in your e-mail address, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]