INDIANAPOLIS- American record holder Chaunte Lowe will headline a
talented group of athletes in the women’s field events at the 2010 USA
Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 23-27 at Drake Stadium on
the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. This meet marks the
third event of the 2010 USATF Outdoor Visa Championship Series and will
feature the nations’ finest professional track and field athletes
competing for national honors. It will be televised on the following
dates (All time Eastern): June 25- 8:00-10:00 p.m. on ESPN June 26- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN June 26- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC June 27- 1:00-2:30 p.m. on ESPN June 27- 3:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC The hop, skip & jumps In
what should be a clear victory, American record holder Chaunte Lowe
will return to defend her National title in the women’s high jump. Lowe
cleared 2.04m/6-8.25 in setting an American record at Cottbus in May
and has since seen similar heights at Oslo and Rome. Should she
continue to clear these heights, she should take home the title. After
performing at less than their best at the recent adidas Grand Prix,
2008 Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr and 2009 World Outdoor silver
medalist Chelsea Johnson will look to bounce back in the women’s pole
vault. This will only be Suhr’s second meet this season and she will
have to work out the kinks if she wants the victory in Des Moines. Also
looking to challenge Suhr and Johnson is Indoor Nationals champion Lacy
Janson as she comes in with the highest American clearance of
4.66i/15-3.50 this year. Two-time
world champion Brittney Reese will return after a long break from
injury to challenge 2008 Olympian Funmi Jimoh in the women’s long jump.
Both Reese and Jimoh have posted competitive distances this year, but
all of which were early in the season. The outcome of this event will
all depend on Reese’s injury status. Also in the mix is
addidas Grand Prix champion Brianna Glenn and 2008 National Champion
Hyleas Fountain. Glenn’s winning mark in New York was a seasonal best
and she will have to repeat her performance if she wants a chance at
this year’s title. Hyleas Fountain on the other hand, hasn’t produced
any long distances in this season yet, but she is capable of doing so
and in turn could be in the running for the title. In
the women’s triple jump, national leader Erica McLain is entered with a
wind assisted 14.42m/47-3.75. Her only other mark distant length this
year was a jump in early May. For this reason, the event will be highly
competitive between McLain and challengers Toni Smith and Crystal
Manning; all three of which are consistently jumping within inches of
each other. The Throws Six-time
USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena-Williams and two-time USA Outdoor
champion Michelle Carter are the top entrants in the women’s shot put.
The two have battled it out this season with Williams usually finding
the victory. However, Carter tossed farther at Shanghai and in the heat
of the competition may out-toss Williams. Another competitor to watch
is three-time USA Outdoor champion Kirstin Heaston. For a victory, she
would have to throw a good distance farther then she has been this
season, but as a veteran thrower and competitor, she knows how to turn
on the heat. 2008
Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton, four-time USA Outdoor
champion Aretha Hill Thurmond, and 2005 USA Outdoor champion Becky
Breisch will battle for top honors in the women’s discus. Breisch has
thrown the farthest distance this season, but right on her heels,
Thurmond and Trafton will give her a run for her money. All three will
make for a competitive match. Also to watch is Gia Lewis-Smallwood who
popped the second farthest American distance this season. A
good head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field, 2008 Olympian
Amber Campbell and Britney Henry will throw the weight around in the
women’s hammer throw. As a veteran of strong competition and high
pressure, Campbell will look to claim the victory; but not a stranger
to far distances, Henry may sneak up to take the title. In
the women’s javelin throw, it will be a close competition between top
throwers 2008 Olympic Trials champion Kara Patterson, 2009 World
Championships finalist Rachel Yurkovich. Also in the mix is two-time
national champion and American record holder Kim Kreiner. All three are
within reaching distance of each other but Patterson holds the nation’s
leading mark. Kreiner hasn’t thrown since last season, so anything is
possible in her season opener. Tickets for the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships may be purchased by dialing 515-271-3647 or by visiting: www.godrakebulldogs.com For more information on the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and the USATF Visa Championship Series, visit: www.visachampionshipseries.com. | 
by Larry Eder
