Talented Team USATF roster set for 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships

On Monday morning, I did an update for BBC 5 Live’s Ed Harry on the USATF Indoors. He asked me if the US team was better than Portland 2016. I took a long second or two, and said, ” I think that this team could be better! “

Make us proud, as always, Team USA!

Christian Coleman, photo by PhotoRun.net

Sharika Nelvis, Keni Harrison lead 60m hurdle team, photo by PhotoRun.net

Javianne Oliver, 60 meters, WL in 7.02, photo by PhotoRun.net

Talented Team USATF roster set for 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships INDIANAPOLIS — Twenty global medalists, including defending World Indoor champions Brittney Reese, Vashti Cunningham and Marquis Dendy, highlight Team USATF’s roster for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships. 49 athletes from 25 states will represent the red, white and blue at the Arena Birmingham, March 2-4 in Birmingham, England. In total, Team USATF athletes on the roster for Birmingham have won a combined 53 medals at Olympic, World Indoor and World Outdoor competitions. Christian Coleman is fresh off a pending WR in the men’s 60m, winning his first USATF Indoor title in 6.34 last weekend at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 2017 World Outdoor 100m silver medalist will look for his first gold at a major international championship. Team USATF’s second-most recent record-setter, Sharika Nelvis, leads the women’s 60m hurdles after setting an American record while winning the 2017 USATF title in 7.70. With three World Indoor, four World Outdoor and one Olympic gold medal, Brittney Reese looks to defend her 2016 long jump gold as the most decorated athlete on the team. Other stalwarts stars on the roster include 2016 Olympic, 2016 World Indoor and 2017 World Outdoor pole vault silver medalist Sandi Morris; 100m hurdles world record holder Keni Harrison in the 60H, 110m hurdles world record holder and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Aries Merritt in the 60H, 2017 World Championships gold medalist, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2016 World Indoor silver medalist Sam Kendricks in the pole vault; seven-time global medalist and 2012 World Indoor champion Will Claye in the triple jump; 2016 World Indoor silver medalist and 2017 World Outdoor bronze medalist Ajee’ Wilson in the 800; and 2017 and World Outdoor silver medalist Jarrion Lawson in the long jump. Cunningham will defend her 2016 World Indoor title in the high jump, while Dendy will defend in the long jump. First-time Team USATF members include USATF Indoor champions Katie Nageotte in women’s pole vault, men’s 800m Donavan Brazier and men’s pole vaulter Scott Houston. Click here for Team USATF coaching staff at IAAF World Indoor Championships. Fans can watch the IAAF World Indoor Championships on NBCSN, along with coverage on NBC Sports Gold. NBCSN TV Schedule (All Times ET) Friday, March 2: 8:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3: 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 4: 4:00-6:00 p.m. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtags #wicbham2018 and #TeamUSATF. Team USATF Roster First Last Event City State Age College / University Javianne Oliver 60m Monroe GA 23 University of Kentucky Destiny Carter 60m Raleigh NC 25 University of Kentucky Courtney Okolo 400m Carrollton TX 23 University of Texas Shakima Wimbley 400m Fort Lauderdale FL 22 University of Miami Ajee’ Wilson 800m Neptune NJ 23 Temple University Raevyn Rogers 800m Houston TX 21 University of Oregon Shelby Houlihan 1500m Sioux City IA 25 Arizona State University Colleen Quigley 1500m St. Louis MO 25 Florida State University Shelby Houlihan 3000m Sioux City IA 25 Arizona State University Katherine Mackey 3000m Fort Collins CO 30 University of Washington Sharika Nelvis 60m Hurdles Memphis TN 27 Arkansas State University Kendra Harrison 60m Hurdles Clayton NC 25 Clemson University / University of Kentucky Vashti Cunningham High Jump Las Vegas NV 20 Bishop Gorman High School Katie Nageotte Pole Vault Olmsted Falls OH 26 Ashland University Sandi Morris Pole Vault Greenville SC 25 University of Arkansas Brittney Reese Long Jump Gulfport MS 31 University of Mississippi Quanesha Burks Long Jump Hartselle GA 22 University of Alabama Daniella Hill Shot Put West Lafayette IN 23 Purdue University Jeneva Stevens Shot Put Carbondale IL 28 Southern Illinois University Kendell Williams Pentathlon Kennesaw GA 22 University of Georgia Erica Bougard Pentathlon Byhalia MS 24 Mississippi State University Phyllis Francis 4x400m Queens NY 25 University of Oregon Georganne Moline 4x400m Tucson AZ 27 University of Arizona Quanera Hayes 4x400m Hope Mills NC 25 Livingstone College Joanna Atkins 4x400m Stone Mountain GA 29 Auburn University First Last Event City State Age College / University Christian Coleman 60m Atlanta GA 21 University of Tennessee Ronnie Baker 60m Louisville KY 24 Texas Christian University Michael Cherry 400m Chesapeake VA 24 Louisiana State University Aldrich Bailey Jr 400 m Arlington TX 24 University of Texas Donavan Brazier 800m Grand Rapids MI 20 Texas A&M Drew Windle 800m New Albany OH 25 Ashland University Benjamin Blankenship 1500m Stillwater MN 29 University of Minnesota Craig Engels 1500m Pfafftown NC 23 University of Mississippi Paul Chelimo Sr 3000m Beaverton OR 27 UNCG Shadrack Kipchirchir 3000m Beaverton OR 28 Oklahoma State University Jarret Eaton 60m Hurdles Abington PA 28 Syracuse University Aries Merritt 60m Hurdles Marietta GA 32 University of Tennessee Scott Houston Pole Vault Oak Ridge NC 27 University of North Carolina Sam Kendricks Pole Vault Oxford MS 25 University of Mississippi Jarrion Lawson Long Jump Texarkana TX 23 University of Arkansas Marquis Dendy Long Jump Middleton DE 25 University of Florida Will Claye Triple Jump Phoenix AZ 26 University of Florida Chris Carter Triple Jump Austin TX 28 University of Houston Ryan Whiting Shot Put Harrisburg PA 31 Arizona State University Darrell Hill Shot Put Darby PA 24 Penn State Zachery Ziemek Heptathlon Itasca IL 24 University of Wisconsin – Madison Vernon Norwood 4x400m Morgan City LA 25 Louisiana State University Paul Dedewo 4x400m Bronx NY 26 The City College of New York Fred Kerley 4x400m Taylor TX 22 Texas A&M Marqueze Washington 4x400m West Monroe LA 24 University of Arkansas