FAYETTEVILLE - In front 4,397 screaming fans, American record Shalonda Solomon Friday night highlighted the 2009 Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
200m winner Bianca Knight
The third stop of USA Track & Field's 2009 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the Tyson Invitational will be televised on February 15 from 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 200m champion Shalonda Solomon set an American record in the women's 300m, leading wire-to-wire, to finish in 36.45. The previous accepted American record of 36.67 was set in 2007 by Francena McCorory. Monica Hargrove was the runner-up in 36.85. For her efforts, Solomon was given the Team USA Athlete of the Meet award presented by Visa.
2008 NCAA Indoor champion and Collegiate record-holder Bianca Knight easily won the Tyson Foods women's 200m in a world-leading 22.88. Jamaica's Nickeshsa Anderson was the runner-up in 23.60 and 2008 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Natasha Hastings was third in 23.70.
2008 Olympic silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski won the Nutrilite women's pole vault with a clearance of 4.63 meters/15 feet, 2.25 inches. She then had three good attempts at 4.83m/15-10, which would have been an American record, but was unable to clear the bar. 2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila was the runner-up at 4.53m/14-10.25.
In the Visa women's 60m, 2006 World Indoor champion Lisa Barber was first out of the blocks. Two-time Olympian Muna Lee surged halfway through to take the lead but was nipped at the tape by 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter, who won in 7.20. 2008 NCAA Indoor 200m champion Bianca Knight took the runner-up position in 7.26 with Gloria Asumnu third in the same time. Barber was fourth and Lee fifth, both in 7.28.
Winners in other events included Alex Becker of Canada in the women's 3,000m (9:23.78) and 2008 Olympic trials steeplechase champion Anna Willard in the women's mile (4:30.69). Penn State won the women's 4x400m relay (3:36.77).
For complete results and quotes, visit www.usatf.org or www.visachampionshipseries.com.
ATHLETE QUOTES
Women's Pole Vault Winner Jenn Stuczynski "I'm always happy to come away with a victory regardless if I didn't necessarily get the mark I was hoping. I was hoping to build off last week's record mark and set another one here in Arkansas, but it just didn't happen."
"I have been on the road a lot the past few weeks, so I haven't been able to practice. When I went for the 15-10 mark, I thought my first couple of attempts were good efforts, but my third one I needed a longer pole probably to get the mark."
Women's 300m Dash Winner Shalonda Solomon "Honestly, I didn't really know what to expect coming into this race. It was my first 300 to run indoors in my career so it was hard to gauge expectations. I have practiced and ran plenty outdoors so that was helpful."
"I was trying to look at the board so I could see what type of lead I had, but it was so blurry I just had to keep running my race."
"I'll go home and run one more indoor race, but then, I will start shifting my focus to outdoors.
Women's Mile Winner Anna Willard
"It was a hard effort. I just wanted to commit. When I made my move, I made my move."
"It was my indoor personal best. I wanted to be more like 4:25. I didn't feel comfortable making my move earlier on. I did make my move later based on how I was feeling."
"I think every time I get a chance to work on my speed, it obviously helps. I love the steeplechase. But I'm going to focus more on the 1500 this year." Women's 200m winner Bianca Knight
"It was a really fast time, but it wasn't as fast as I had hoped. I really wanted to go faster. I'm not totally pleased with it, but it's my first 200m race of the year, so I can't be too disappointed."
"I feel like I'm going in the right direction with my training. I'm faster in the 200 this year at this point in the season than I was last year. So, I know the training is going well and I'm glad to know that I'm improving."
Women's 60m Carmelita Jeter
"The gun went off and I didn't get out as well as I did last week in Boston, so I was a little disappointed with that. But I was pleased with my movement from 30 to 60 (meters)."
"John (Smith) and I are working on my first 30 meters, just taking it one meet at a time."
