The Visa Women's 100 meters also features a stellar field headlined by two-time
World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter, who owns the third-fastest
time in the world this year of 10.94. Another American to watch for is 2010 USA
Outdoor Champs runner-up LaShaunte'a Moore.
Jamaican stars in this event include Olympic and World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser,
Olympic 200m gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown and Beijing Olympic silver medalist
Sherone Simpson. Also look for Trinidad star Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who owns the fastest
time in the world this year of 10.84.
Suhr favored in women's pole vault
2008 Olympic Games silver medalist Jenn Suhr captured her fifth consecutive USA
Outdoor women's Pole Vault crown last weekend with a world-leading clearance this
of 4.89m/16-0.5.
The #2 performer all-time in her event, Suhr will be challenged by 2009 World Outdoor
Championships silver medalist Chelsea Johnson, Fabiana Murer of Brazil, who owns
the second and third highest clearances this outdoor season, and 2006 NCAA Outdoor
champion Lacy Janson, who finished fourth at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships.
Outstanding field featured in women's 800m
One of the most anticipated events of this year's Pre Classic is the women's 800
meters headlined by American Anna Pierce, who ended the 2009 season ranked #2 in
the world in this event by Track & Field News.
Pierce, who won the 1,500m last weekend at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and
is the reigning World Athletics Finals champ, will be challenged by Beijing Olympic
gold medalist Pamela Jelimo of Kenya and her countrywoman Janeth Jepkosgei, who
won the silver medal in Beijing and gold at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships.
Also keep an eye on 2009 Pre Classic champion Maggie Vessey, who began the 2010
campaign ranked #6 in the world by T&FN.
The women's 400m hurdles features an interesting battle between two-time World Outdoor
Championships silver medalist Lashinda Demus, who will square off against Beijing
Olympic Games silver medalist and 2004 Olympic Games fourth-place finisher Sheena
Tosta. Demus posted the fastest time in the world this year with her win in Rome
on June 10 in 52.82. 2009 Berlin World Champs bronze medalist Josanne Lucas of
Trinidad also is in the field.
Record holders featured in women's throws
2008 Olympian Kara Patterson, who set the American record in winning the javelin
last weekend at the USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, will headline an impressive
list of performers in the women's javelin and hammer throw.
Patterson, who upped the U.S. javelin record to 72.28m/237-2, which is the seventh-best
throw in the world this year, will do battle with world record holder Barbora Spotakova
of the Czech Republic and Russia's Mariya Abakumova, who won the bronze medal at
the 2009 World Championships. A two-time NCAA champion while at the University
of Oregon, Rachel Yurkovich will be the rooting favorite of the Hayward faithful
after ending the 2009 season ranked #1 in the U.S. by T&FN.
2009 World Outdoor Championships finalist, 2010 USA champion and this year's USATF
Women's Indoor Visa Championship Series winner Amber Campbell will face world record
holder Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland in the hammer throw. Former world record holder
Tatyana Lysenko of Russia is in the field in addition to Betty Heidler of Germany,
who was the silver medalist at the 2009 World Championships and is a two-time winner
at Pre.
Reigning USA champ leads women's steeplechase field
Lisa Aguilera, who has been ranked in the top five in the U.S. in seven of the last
eight years, won her second career U.S. women's steeplechase title and first since
2006 last weekend in Des Moines when she crossed the finish line in 9:53.59.
Aguilera will face 2010 Nationals runner-up and 2008 Olympic Trials fourth-place
finisher Nicole Bush, and former Penn State University standout Bridget Franek,
who owns the fastest time by an American this season of 9:38.86 set in Eugene in
winning the 2010 NCAA title. Reigning world champion Marta Dominguez of Spain, 2009
World Champs runner-up Yuliya Zarudneve of Russia and Berlin third-place finisher
Milcah Chemos of Kenya will provide a stiff challenge to the Americans.
