Great hurdlers to compete at Millrose Games

from usatf.org - INDIANAPOLIS - Two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Terrence Trammell, reigning world 110m hurdles champion Ryan Brathwaite, Jamaican record holder Dwight Thomas and 2004 World Indoor champion Perdita Felicien will headline a world-class gathering of hurdlers January 29 at the 103rd Millrose Games at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The first event of the 2010 USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series, the Millrose Games will be televised live on ESPN2 from 8-10 p.m., Eastern Time.

Terrence Trammell returns to MSG after nearly pulling off a unique double at last year's Millrose Games. Trammell dominated the men's 60m hurdles by crossing the finish line first in 7.45 seconds, which was the second-fastest time in the world that year, and just .02 off Allen Johnson's Millrose Games record. Trammell, who won his third World Outdoor Championships 110m hurdles silver medal last year in Berlin, Germany, posted the fastest 60m hurdles time of 2009 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games with his time of 7.37 seconds en route to winning his second Visa Championship Series title.

Also at last year's Millrose Games, after enduring three false starts, 2008 U.S. indoor champion Michael Rodgers enjoyed a memorable Millrose Games debut in denying Trammell a double victory by winning the Visa men's 60m in a personal-best time of 6.51, which was the third-fastest time in the world that season. Trammell finished as the runner-up in 6.54.Trammell will face a stiff challenge from 2009 World Outdoor 110m hurdles champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados. Despite hitting the first hurdle in the World Champs final last year, Brathwaite kept it together and crossed the finish line first in 13.14 seconds, providing his nation with its first ever medal at a World Championships. Trammell finished as the runner-up, a mere one-hundredth of a second behind the victor.

Brathwaite, who also won outdoors last year in Brussels, Lucerne, Zagreb and at the World Athletics Final, finished the season ranked #2 in the world by Track & Field News. Trammell won 110m races last year at the New York Grand Prix, at the adidas Track Classic and in Shanghai before ending the campaign ranked #3 globally and #1 in the U.S. by T&FN.

Not to be overlooked in the men's race is Jamaica's Dwight Thomas, who was a finalist at last year's World Outdoor Championships, won at Zurich and Rieti, and finished third at the World Athletics Final before being ranked #6 in the world at season's end by T&FN.2004 World Indoor champion Perdita Felicien of Canada will headline the women's 60m hurdles following another successful season in 2009 where she was a finalist at the World Outdoor Championships, finished second at the London Grand Prix and placed fifth at the World Athletics Final. The 2007 World Outdoor Championships 100m hurdles silver medalist, Felicien ended the 2009 season ranked #6 in the world by T&FN.

Leading the American charge in the women's race will be two-time USA 100m hurdles champion Ginnie Powell, who finished second at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships, and placed sixth later that summer at the World Outdoor Championships. Powell ended the 2009 campaign ranked #9 in the world and #4 in the U.S. by T&FN.

For ticket information for the 103rd Millrose Games visit: http://ny.milesplit.us/articles/31594. USATF welcomes you to pay with your Visa.

For more information on the 2010 Millrose Games and the 2010 Visa Championship Series, visit: www.usatf.org.