BOSTON - World-leading marks were plentiful, and two world records nearly fell as the 2006 Visa Championship Series kicked off Saturday night at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games.
Held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College, the Reebok Boston Indoor Games will be broadcast from 3-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 29 on ESPN2.
Men's world leaders in SP, 60, 1,000
Reigning World Indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa won a typically close men's shot put competition with a best toss of 21.07m/69-1.5, the best throw in the world in 2006. World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell was second with 21.03m/69-0, and World Outdoor gold medalist Adam Nelson was third with 20.99m/68-10.5.
2002 USA indoor champion and two-time Olympic hurdles silver medalist Terrence Trammell took the MBTA men's 60 meters in a world-leading 6.57 seconds, with defending meet champion Jason Smoots second in 6.62 and Marc Burns of Trinidad third in the same time.
David Krummenacker kept up his winning ways in the men's 1,00 meters. Hanging back in the pack through the early laps, the American record holder made a bold move, passing Ethiopia's Berhanu Alemu on the inside with 100 meters to go, winning in a world-leading 2:21.37. Alemu was second in 2:22.00.
Dibaba nearly does it again; Defar threatens 3,000 world mark
In one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the night, Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia threatened her own world record in the women's 5,000 meters. Running most of the race in a solo effort, Dibaba finished in 14:35.46 seconds, a time bested only by her world record 14:32.93, set in 2005 at this meet.
Meseret Defar came even closer to the women's 3,000-meter world record, running 8:30.94 to post the third-fastest time in history, behind only Berhane Adere's WR of 8:29.15 and Defar's own 8:30.05, also run at this meet in 2005
Barber impresses in Visa women's 60
After a breakthrough season in 2005, USA outdoor 100-meter champion Lisa Barber got her 2006 indoor season off to a fast start with a victory in the Visa women's 60 meters. Quick out of the blocks, Barber's powerful first 30 meters gave her a lead that a fast-closing Lauryn Williams, the world outdoor champion in the 100, couldn't quite close. Barber finished in a meet record 7.09 seconds, just .01 second off the 2006 world leader, with Williams second in 7.13. Both women posted personal bests in the race. Angela Daigle-Bowen, the 2005 Indoor Visa Champion, was third in 7.30.
Thriller in men's 600m
The endurance of Olympic Trials 800m champion Jonathan Johnson won out in the Reebok men's 600 meters, when Johnson overtook world champion 400m hurdler Bershawn Jackson in the final step of the race. Johnson won in 1:18.63, with Jackson, the 2005 USA indoor 400m champion, second in 1:18.65 and world outdoor 400m silver medalist Andrew Rock third in 1:19.40
Buster takes the 2
With perhaps the best field ever gathered on U.S. soil, the Reebok men's 2 mile turned into a tactical affair. Utterly disregarding pacemaker Geoffrey Rono, who can the first mile a half-lap ahead of the pack, race favorites cruised around the oval together, awaiting a move and trading leading duties.
With one lap to go, Sileshi Sihene of Ethiopia led the way, with Craig "Buster" Mottram of Australia on his shoulder. The rangy Australian then displayed the kick that brought him the 2005 World Outdoor bronze medal over 5,000 meters, moving past Sihene to win in 8:26.54 seconds. The World Outdoor silver medalist at 5,000 and 10,000 meters, Sihene was second in 8:27.03 with European champ Alistair Cragg of Ireland third in 8:27.39.
11 men go sub-4 in mile
Elkanah Angwenyi of Kenya won the Joe Concannon men's mile going away in 3:55.95, with two-time U.S. indoor champion Jason Lunn second in 3:56.77 and defending Reebok Boston Indoor Games champ Laban Rotich of Kenya third in 3:56.83. Eleven of 12 finishers in the race were under 4:00, including Americans Adam Goucher (5th, 3:57.60), Rob Myers (8th, 3:58.24), Chris Lukezic (10th, 3:58.53), and Ryan Kleimenhagen (11th, 3:59.00).
Howard still soars
World Outdoor silver medalist Chaunte Howard set an indoor personal best in the Metro-Boston women's high jump, clearing 1.95m/6-4.75 on her second attempt. Olympic fourth-place finisher Amy Acuff was second at 1.92m/6-3.5, and Karen Beautle of Jamaica third at 1.82m/5-11.5.
Richards opens with win
2005 Visa Outdoor Champion Sanya Richards led the Reebok women's 400 meters from start to finish, crossing the line in 52.10 seconds. Fellow Athens 4x400m relay gold medalist Monique Henderson was second in 52.63, and Tiandra Ponteen of St. Kitts & Nevis was third in 52.97.
Douma-Hussar takes women's mile
World Indoor silver medalist Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada won the Reebok women's mile in the final lap, finishing in 4:29.52. U.S. outdoor champion Treniere Clement was second in 4:29.93, with Tiffany McWilliams third in 4:30.03 and U.S. indoor champion Jen Toomey fourth in 4:30.39 as all three Americans set personal bests.
More winners
Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter came from behind in the final steps to win the women's 200 meters in 23.62 seconds.
In other action, Michael Coe won the American Track & Field boys' high school mile in 4:07.30, the fastest time by a prepster in 2006, while Nicole Blood won the girls' race in 4:51.30. Peter Hegelbach was the winner of the men's masters mile run in 4:27.58.
For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit
www.visachampionshipseries.com
