Two-time Olympic hurdles silver medallist Terrence Trammell was a winner Sunday as the US indoor athletics championships produced a "solid" World Championships team according to men's head coach Andrew Valmon.
"I don't want to get caught up in medal counts, that's not the way I do things," Valmon said. "But I will say we have a very solid team, a well-balanced team, a great group of established veterans and young talents."
The two day meeting at the Albuquerque Convention Center was the selection meeting for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha March 12-14.
Sunday's performances indicate the US team will be very potent in a slew of events - the sprints and sprint hurdles, the 400m, the high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put and 4x400 relay - but vulnerable in others.
Sprinter Ivory Williams, Trammell, 400m runners Debbie Dunn and Bershawn Jackson and long jumper Brittney Reese delivered the most telling triumphs.
Williams, Trammell, Dunn and Reese posted winning marks that are the best in the world this 2010 season, and Jackson wasn't far off.
Williams got a blazing start and was never headed in route to a 60M victory in 6.49 seconds, 1/100th faster than the previous world leader, Dwain Chambers of Great Britain, who'd run a 6.50 at Sheffield on February 13.
"I just came here ready to run, stay relaxed and come out with the victory, and that's just what happened," said Williams.
Trammell's start may not have been up to his own standard. Nevertheless he was quickest out of the starting blocks and never seriously challenged in the 60m hurdles final. He crossed the line in 7.41 seconds and left closest pursuers David Oliver (7.54) and Jeff Porter (7.62) in his slipstream.
The 7.41 supplanted his own 7.43 at Leipzig February 6 as best of the year.
"I just wanted to make sure not to jump (the starting gun)," said Trammell. "I still have time to improve before Doha."
Dunn showed her speed in the two-section women's 400m final.
After world outdoor 200m champion Allyson Felix sped to a 51.37 win in the first, and slower-seeded race, Dunn came back to win the top section in the meet-record time of 50.86. And Deedee Trotter came through for second in 51.23, apparently knocking Felix out of the 400m in Doha.
Tatyana Firova of Russia's status as world leader in the women's 400 lasted just two days. She'd run a 51.22 at Moscow Friday night.
Reese, the 2009 world outoor champion, long jumped to a 6.89 win, erasing Russian star Darya Klishina's 6.87 at Moscow February 7 as best of the year.
Jackson settled for second-fastest in 2010 with a 45.41 win over Jamal Torrence (45.76.)
Carmelita Jeter won the women's 60m in 7.02 - giving a serious scare to the world-leading 6.97 of LaVerne Jones-Ferrette. Miki Barber was second in 7.15, while twin sister Lisa Barber, a past indoor world champion, was knocked out of the final with a false start.
Pole vaulters Lacy Janson (4.65) and Chelsea Johnson (4.60) posted performances that indicated they'll be medal threats back of Russian world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva in Doha.
The women's 60m hurdles saw Ginnie Powell (7.87) nose out Lolo Jones (7.89).
Other notable men's winners included shot putter Christian Cantwell, with a heave of 21.13 that held off surprising challenger Ryan Whiting (21.03). Nick Symonds won the 800m, his 1:48.10 reeling in early front-runner Duane Solomon (1:48.41) in the final strides.
Copyright 2010 AFP American Edition
