Fayetteville, USA – World yearly leaders Jenn Stuczynski and Nick Willis (NZL) will be looking to continue their momentum on the 2009 Indoor circuit at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Center on Friday (13. Feb).

Stuczynski and Willis are coming off world-leading performances in the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on 8 Feb.

Stuczynski set an American record of 4.82m in the women’s Pole Vault to move into third on the all-time World women’s indoor list. Stuzcynski, who surpassed the previous record of 4.81m set in 2004 by Stacy Dragila, now holds the U.S. Indoor and Outdoor records.

At Tyson, Stuczynski will face a field that includes Dragila, April Steiner, Erica Bartolina and collegians Katie Stripling of Arkansas and Natalie Willer of Nebraska.

Willis clocked 3:53.54 for the world’s fastest time in the mile in Boston. Willis, who finished third in the 1500m in the 2008 Beijing Olympics to end a 36-year Olympic medal drought for New Zealand, will be challenged by American mile record holder Alan Webb and Chris Lukezic, who finished third in Boston.

The mile has been named in honour of former Arkansas coach John McDonnell, who retired in 2008 after winning 40 national titles in 36 years.

The Tyson Invitational is the third stop on the USA Track & Field Visa Championships that will culminate with the USATF Indoor Championships in Boston on 28 Feb.-Mar. 1.

Meet Record Holder Nelson Returns in the Shot Put
   
World champions Adam Nelson and Reese Hoffa will be the featured throwers in the Shot Put. Nelson, the 2005 World Outdoor champion, set a facility record of 22.40m to win the 2008 Tyson Invitational. Nelson is coming off a victory over 2007 World Outdoor champion Hoffa in the Millrose Games on 30 Jan. Dan Taylor, Dorian Scott (JAM) and Cory Martin round out the field.

Crawford, Trammell, Rodgers Duel in Men’s Sprints

The men’s 60m will pit Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic 200m champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist, with 2000 and 2004 Olympic 110m Hurdles medallist Terrence Trammell and reigning U.S. Indoor 60m champion Michael Rodgers.

Also in the field is 2008 Olympic 100m finalist Darvis Patton, 2007 NCAA Indoor 60m champion Travis Padgett and 2008 NCAA runner Trindon Holliday.

The women’s 60m features 2006 World Indoor champion Me’Lisa Barber, 2007 World Championships 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter, 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials 100m winner Muna Lee and Bianca Knight and Beijing Olympic 200m finalist Marshevet Hooker.

Both Knight and Rodgers will double in the 200m. Knight is well acquainted with the Fayetteville oval. She set a World Junior record of 22.40 in the 200m at the Randal Tyson Center as a freshman at the University of Texas in the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships before foregoing her collegiate eligibility to turn professional.

In the 200m, Knight will run against Nickesha Anderson and Natasha Hastings. Hastings, a member of the U.S. gold-medal winning 4 x 400m Relay in Beijing, will also run in the 60m.

The men’s 200m will feature Rodgers versus Lionel Larry, the 2007 and 2008 NCAA 400m runner-up from USC who is in his first full professional season, and Chris Berrian.

Xavier Carter will run in the 400m to start his comeback from a knee injury that slowed his 2007 and 2008 campaign. The X-Man will be part of a field that includes intermediate hurdler Michael Tinsley, Calvin Smith, Renny Quow and Michael Spence.

A seldom run women’s 300m will be contested highlighted by 2004 World Junior 200m champion Shalonda Solomon, 2008 NCAA 400m champion Shana Cox and 2006 World Indoor 4 x 400m silver medalist Monica Hargrove.

Rupp vs. Chelanga Rematch

The 5000m will be a rematch of the NCAA cross country championships last November between Galen Rupp of Oregon and Kenyan Sam Chelanga of Liberty. Rupp outkicked Chelanga to win the individual title and lead Oregon to the team title.

The start list in the women’s Mile includes four-time U.S. 1500m champion Treniere Clement, 2008 U.S. 1500m Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas, 800m specialist Alice Schmidt, steeplechaser Anna Willard and Kenyan Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, who set a collegiate 3000m record of 8:48.77 in Boston last week.

Defending U.S. Olympic Trials champion Nick Symmonds, seven-time U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson and 2003 World Indoor champion David Krummenacker are the featured athletes in the 800m.

Kirby Lee for the IAAF