DAY 4

Demus, Lagat shine in cloudy weather at AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Lashinda Demus walked away with a $100,000 check, Bernard Lagat made history and six athletes ran world-leading marks Sunday to conclude the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

The final stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships is the selection event for the 2006 IAAF World Cup, with the champion in each event being named to the team.

Demus dashes to Visa Championship

Lashinda Demus had the biggest smile on track after winning her second straight national title in the women's 400 hurdles. Not only did Demus set a personal best with her world-leading time of 53.07, she also won the $100,000 first prize in the Visa Championship Series with her performance, worth 1,234 points on the IAAF scoring tables. She took victory in the Visa Championship from 2005 Visa Champion Sanya Richards, who had entered Sunday's competition in first with 1,227 points. Richards gave Demus a congratulatory hug before Demus - who ran a powerful final turn and was smooth over the final two hurdles - was asked if her smile was due to the victory or the money. Demus' happy answer: "B - the money!" Sheena Johnson finished second to Demus in the hurdles in 53.90, with Shauna Smith third in 54.76.

Demus joined men's Visa Champion Justin Gatlin in winning the women's and men's overall Visa Championship, respectively. For full standings, see below.

Lagat makes history

Bernard Lagat became the first man in history to win the 5,000 and 1,500 meter double at the USA Championships, but it didn't come easy. The two-time Olympic medalist for his former country of Kenya, Lagat on Sunday had to hold off a strong challenge from 2000 Olympic Trials champion Gabe Jennings and Leonel Manzano of the University of Texas. The trio crossed the finish line in short order, with Lagat, who won the 5,000 on Friday, clocked in 3:39.29, Jennings in 3:39.42, and Manzano in 3:39.49. Already the American record holder, Lagat was competing in his first American championship, and he made it memorable.

Dominique doubly good

Dominique Arnold had a stellar day, posting two world-leading times in the men's 110-meter hurdles en route to winning his first championships. He first posted the 2006 world leader with his semifinal win in 13.15, then went on to win the final in 13.10, ahead of two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell second in 13.14. Ryan Wilson was third in 13.22. Seven-time U.S. champion Allen Johnson was fifth in Arnold's semifinal and did not advance to the final.

Greer continues winning streak

Coming off of a series of injuries and surgeries, American record holder Breaux Greer won a record seventh consecutive national title in the men's javelin in typical, impressive style. As he has done in many competitions the last two years due to injury concerns, Greer took just one throw - and it was a big one. His mark of 85.40m/280-2 easily broke his meet record of 85.23m/279-7 from 2001 and put him well clear of a field that included Robert Minnitti in second (77.99m/255-10) and Brian Chaput in third (76.44m/250-9).

World leaders in the jumps

Walter Davis and Tora Harris each posted world-leading marks to win the men's triple jump and high jump, respectively.

The 2002 NCAA champion, Harris won his first USA outdoor title in the high jump while competing in his first outdoor meet of the year. Harris jumped a world-leading, personal-best clearance of 2.33m/7-7.75 to win, prevailing over Keith Moffatt in second (2.30m/7-6.5) and Andra Mason in third (2.24m/7-4.25).

Half-lap heroes

World Outdoor Championships silver medalists stepped up to become national champions in the men's and women's 200 meter races. Wallace Spearmon lived up to his #1 world ranking in the men's 200 meters, virtually flying down the track in the final 70 meters of the race to come from behind for the win in 19.90. More surprising than Spearmon's world-leading time, just .01 off his personal best, was Jordan Vaden's second-place time of 19.98, which cut .41 off the previous personal best of the 2004 NCAA Division II champion. Rodney Martin placed third in 20.14, all running with a +0.3 mps wind.

In the distaff race, Indiana University grad Rachelle Boone-Smith won comfortably in 22.31. NCAA champion Shalonda Solomon of South Carolina was second in 22.47, with LaTasha Jenkins third in 22.66. Defending world and U.S. champion Allyson Felix withdrew from the final, not fully recovered from a hamstring injury and a bout of strep throat.

Robinson runs to world leader

The men's 800 meters was an eye-opener for several athletes as veteran Khadevis Robinson successfully defended his national title with a personal-best and world-leading time of 1:44.13. Nearly as impressive was Nick Symmonds of Division III Willamette University, who made an impressive stretch run to finish second in 1:45.83, nipping Jebreh Harris, who was third in 1:45.91. The time smashed Symmonds' own Division III record of 1:47.34.

DAY 3

Richards moves into Visa Championship lead with win at AT&T USA Outdoor Champs

Sanya Richards accomplished a hat trick in the women's 400 meters Saturday at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held in front of 7,907 fans at Michael A. Carroll Stadium, while exciting finishes were the theme of the evening.

The final stop of the 2006 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships is the selection event for the 2006 IAAF World Cup, with the champion in each event being named to the team. The AT&T USA Outdoor Championships will be televised live on ESPN2 from 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, June 25.

Richards repeats in 400

The 21-year-old Richards won her second straight national title in the 400, broke her own meet record, and took the lead for the $100,000 Visa Championship first prize on Saturday. The 2005 Visa champion, Richards broke from the blocks quickly and never relinquished her lead. She finished in 49.27 seconds to shave .01 second off her own meet record from last year. Her time was worth 1,227 points on the IAAF scoring tables, giving her the lead for the 2006 Visa Championship and its accompanying $100,000 first prize. Trailing Richards were Dee Dee Trotter in second (50.40) and Monique Henderson in third (50.71), replicating the 1-2-3 finish of 2005.

Dynamic duels in men's 400 hurdles, 400 dash

The men's 400 hurdles featured a thrilling finish as two of the world's best talents did battle. 2005 Visa Champion Kerron Clement got out quickly in lane 4, but 2005 World Outdoor gold medalist Bershawn Jackson had the lead coming into the final straight. In a footrace to the finish, Clement's strength won out in a world-leading time of 47.39. Jackson was second in 47.48, the second-fastest time in the world, and World Outdoor silver medalist James Carter was third in 48.44. Clement's time moved him into second in the race for the Visa Championship with 1,253 points.

The men's 400 sprint was an even closer race. LaShawn Merritt and World Outdoor silver medalist Andrew Rock entered the race as the favorites, and they didn't disappoint. The two were in a virtual dead heat in the final 100 meters of the one-lap race, but the more experienced Rock held his form and won his first national title in 44.45 seconds, moving to fourth in the Visa Championship Standings with 1,216 points. Merritt was second in a personal-best 44.50, with Indiana University's David Neville third in a personal-best 44.75.

Howard hits new heights

Chaunte Howard was a surprise silver medalist in the women's high jump at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships, but her performance Saturday proved she is consistently among the world's best. The 22-year-old set a meet record, personal best and 2006 U.S. leader with her clearance of 2.01m/6 feet, 7 inches, and moved into second in the Visa Championship standings with 1,204 points. Three-time Olympian Amy Acuff was second at 1.92/6-3.5, with Destinee Hooker third at 1.86m/6-1.25.

In the women's 100-meter hurdles, Ginnie Powell followed up her second consecutive NCAA title with her first U.S. title as a professional athlete, moving to third in the Visa Championship standings with 1201 points. The powerful, 5-foot-9 Powell got out very well and held on to win in 12.63 seconds (-.4mps), just ahead of hard-closing Damu Cherry (12.64). Michelle Perry was third at 12.67. In the afternoon's semifinal round, Cherry had posted the fastest time with 12.58 in heat 1, and Powell won heat 2 with 12.72.

Pappas back on top

At age 29, 2003 World Outdoor champion Tom Pappas won his fourth U.S. title, completing his first decathlon since the 2004 Olympic Trials. Pappas scored 8,319 points to win over Ryan Harlan (7,872) and Jake Arnold (7,827). It marked a fine return for the former #1 world-ranked decathlete who has battled injuries for two years.

GiGi Johnson won her first national heptathlon title after finishing second in 2005. On Friday she ran 13.04 in the 100m hurdles, high jumped 1.72m/5-7.75, threw the shot 13.62m/44-8.25 and ran the 200 in 23.81 seconds. On Saturday she long jumped 6.20m/20-4.25, threw the javelin 40.53m/133-0 and ran the 800 in 2:19.56 to score 6,183 points, just 9 points off her personal best. Defending champion Hyleas Fountain was second with 6,148 points and Fiona Asigbee was third with 6,030.

More winners

Russ Buller scored an emotional victory in the men's pole vault. Dedicating his performance to his deceased brother, Jordan, Buller won his first USA title with a first-attempt clearance of 5.80m/19-0.25. Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson was second at the same height, clearing on his second attempt, and Tommy Skipper was third at 5.60m/18-4.5.

Aretha Thurmond easily won her second career title in the women's discus with a throw of 62.50m/205-1, followed by Suzy Powell in second (58.68m/192-6) and 2005 champion Becky Breisch (57.97m/190-02). 2005 U.S. indoor champion Rose Richmond had an upset win in the women's long jump, leaping 6.93m/22-9 with a 2.2mps tailwind to defeat world champion Tianna Madison, who had only one legal jump (6.77m/22-2.5). Two-time U.S. champion Grace Upshaw was third with 6.65m/21-10.

Around the rounds

In qualifying rounds, World Outdoor silver medalist Lashinda Demus laid down a world-leading time of 53.50 in the women's 400-meter hurdles semifinals. Tiffany Ross-Williams won the second semi in 54.94.

World and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner posted the fastest time in the first round of the men's 200 (20.28, -1.3mps) while Ball State alumna LaTasha Jenkins was the fastest woman with her time of 22.51 (-2.2mps). Marion Jones did not start due to lingering fatigue from Friday's three rounds of the 100. Dominique Arnold had the fastest time in the men's 110-meter hurdles (13.35).

Masters WR for Gault

In masters exhibition races, Willie Gault broke the listed world record in the men's 45-49-year-old 100-meter dash, winning in 10.72 seconds with a 1.0 mps tailwind. He surpassed the previous record of 10.96 held by Neville Hodge since 2001 and improved his own time of 10.79 (no wind reading) run May 15 at Occidental College. Kathleen Shook won the women's 400 meters in 1:02.38.