06-27-2004

COLLEGE STATION - Brittany Daniels set a new American junior mark in the women's triple jump while LaShawn Merritt completed a double in the 200m and 400m to conclude the final day of competition at the 2004 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Anderson track and field on the campus of Texas A&M University. For their achievements, Daniels and Merritt were named the Verizon Women's and Men's Outstanding Athletes of the Meet.

The top two finishers with the World Juniors qualifying time or mark in each event will represent Team USA at the IAAF World Junior Championships, July 13-18, in Grosseto, Italy.

Daniels, a native of Tracy, Calif., leaped 13.71 meters/44 feet, 11.75 inches in winning the women's triple jump bettering the American junior record of 13.58m/44-6.75 set in 1985 by Wendy Brown of Southern California. Erica McLain of Texas was the runner-up with a leap of 13.30m/43-7.75.

East Carolina-bound LaShawn Merritt celebrated his 17^th birthday by winning the 200m in 20.72 seconds to become the only double-champion of the competition after he won the 400m (46.80) yesterday. "It was big winning the 200 and the 400. Today is my birthday and I wanted to do something for myself for my birthday," said Merritt who edged University of Houston's Carey LaCour, who finished second in the 200m (20.99).

Nebraska sophomore, Jenny Green who celebrated her 19^th birthday yesterday, cleared 4.00m/13-1.50 in winning the women's pole vault edging out Washington's Stevie Marshalek (3.80m12-5.50). "It means a lot to win," said Green. "This is a great birthday present to get to go overseas."

Alyson Felix ran 22.73 to win the women's 200m dash edging defending 200m champion Shalonda Solomon (23.03) runner-up and Shana Cox (23.31) finishing third. "I'm just trying to tune-up for the Olympic Trials," said Felix. "I've been working on the first part of my race and we were able work on that today. It's great to get in a race so close to the Trials."

The men's 110m hurdles provided an exciting finish as 17-year-old Kevin Craddock ran 13.83 seconds just edging the University of Tennessee's Aries Merritt (13.84).

Michelle Carter of University of Texas threw 16.33m/53-7.00 to win the women's shot put by over three feet over runner-up finisher Michaela Wallerstedt (15.33m/50-3.50) "It was a pretty good day today. I'm excited about making the world team," said Carter.

In the women's heptathlon, Penn State University-bound Gayle Hunter won with 5,328 points followed by 17-year-old Hillary Werth of Sprinfield, Ill., with 5127. "I could have jumped longer, but knew that I kind of secured the lead. My time in the 200m was a PR," said Hunter.

The top eight-finishers in each event at the 2004 USA Junior Outdoor Championships will be named Verizon All-Americans. For more information on USA Juniors and the Verizon Youth Series, including results and a complete list of the athletes entered in the event, visit the redesigned USATF website at www.usatf.org.