INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 8 Reuters - Five world champions, including Olympic gold medallists Maurice Greene and Stacy Dragila, headline the United States team for the August 23-31 IAAF world championships in Paris.
The team also includes 100 metre world record holder Tim Montgomery and 2001 world champions in three other events - 110m hurdler Allen Johnson, shot putter John Godina and women’s 100m hurdler Anjanette Kirkland.
All five received automatic entry to Paris as defending champions.
Greene has won the last three 100m world titles and Dragila is the two-time defending world champion and world outdoor record holder in the women’s pole vault.
US world indoor champions Tyree Washington (men’s 400m), David Krummenacker (men’s 800m), Dwight Phillips (men’s long jump), Gail Devers (women’s hurdles), Regina Jacobs (women’s 1,500m) and decathlete Tom Pappas, who won the indoor heptathlon, also will compete in Paris.
World 200m bronze medallist Kelli White, who won the 100 and 200m at last month’s US championships, will also be among the American favourites.
White, Washington, Johnson, Jacobs, shot putter Kevin Toth, high jumper Matt Hemmingway, long jumper Savante Stringfellow and women’s 200m runner Allyson Felix currently have the best performances in the world this year in their specialties.
The 17-year-old Felix, the world junior record holder, is the youngest member of the team, which was selected primarily on performances at the American championships.