The2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships was organised byUSA Track & Field and held from June 19 to 22 at theCobb Track & Angell Field inPalo Alto, California. The four-day competition served as thenational championships intrack and field for the United States and also the trials for the2003 World Championships in Athletics.^[1]

It was the second consecutive time that the stadium in Palo Alto had held the combined gender national track and field event.^[2] The Cobb Track & Angell Field, connected toStanford University, was the host of the annualPayton Jordan U.S. Open – a high-profile mixed senior and college level meet.^[3][4][5] The USA Junior Championships were held in conjunction with the event and the events served as selection for the2003 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships.^[6] Senior performances also informed the team selection for theathletics sections of the2003 Pan American Games and2003 Summer Universiade.^[7]

Gail Devers had a fifth consecutive win in the women's 100 m hurdles, bringing her career total to nine national hurdles titles.Stacy Dragila also had her fifth straight win, bringing her total to seven titles.Marla Runyan won her third straight title in the 5000 m,^[8] whileDavid Krummenacker achieved the same feat in the men's 800 m. HurdlerAllen Johnson extended his unbeaten streak to four titles, bringing him to a career sum of six.Breaux Greer won his fourth title to remain unbeaten in the men's javelin since 2000.^[9]

There was extensivedoping at the competition, with national championsKelli White (100 m and 200 m),Regina Jacobs (1500 m),Eric Thomas (400 m hurdles),Kevin Toth (shot put), andMelissa Price (hammer) all subsequently having their national titles removed from the record. Then-world record holderTim Montgomery was also later disqualified, having finished as men's 100 m runner-up. The men's 400 m runner-upCalvin Harrison and women's 400 m hurdles third placerSandra Glover had their performances annulled due to doping as well.^[10]

Key:

≠ Not selected for World Championships in Athletics due to failure to reach IAAFqualifying standard within the specified time limit^[11]

† Denied national team selection as another athlete subsequently banned for doping was sent to the World Championships in Athletics instead.^[12]

• ^dq1Tim Montgomery was originally runner-up in the men's 100 m, but was disqualified due to doping.Jon Drummond andCoby Miller were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq2Calvin Harrison was originally runner-up in the men's 400 m, but was disqualified due to doping.Jerome Young andDerrick Brew were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq3Eric Thomas originally won the men's 400 m hurdles, but was disqualified due to doping.Bershawn Jackson was elevated to the national title.Joey Woody andJames Carter were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq4Kevin Toth originally won the men's shot put, but was disqualified due to doping.John Godina was elevated to the national title.Reese Hoffa andAdam Nelson were raised to second and third place.

• ^dq5Kelli White originally won the women's 100 m, but was disqualified due to doping.Torri Edwards was elevated to the national title.Gail Devers andInger Miller were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq6Kelli White originally won the women's 200 m, but was disqualified due to doping.Torri Edwards was elevated to the national title.Allyson Felix andLaTasha Jenkins were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq7Regina Jacobs originally won the women's 1500 m, but was disqualified due to doping.Suzy Favor Hamilton was elevated to the national title.Tiffany McWilliams andCollette Liss were raised to second and third place.
• ^dq8Sandra Glover originally placed third in the women's 400 m hurdles, but was disqualified due to doping.Brenda Taylor was raised to third place.
• ^dq9Melissa Price originally won the women's hammer throw, but was disqualified due to doping.Anna Mahon was elevated to the national title.Dawn Ellerbe andJukina Dickerson were raised to second and third place.
• ^note1 The women's steeplechase was a national championship event, but was not part of the selection for the World Championships as the women's event was not added to the competition program until the2005 edition.^[8][13]

Doping was widespread at the 2003 USA Championships. A year after the competition, hurdlerBrenda Taylor revealed she was offeredbanned substancemodafinil and claimed that she thought she was "the only person that didn't take it".^[14] This followed the revelation that several athletes had tested positive for that drug at the championships and received bans from the sport, includingKelli White,Chryste Gaines,Sandra Glover andEric Thomas andJohn McEwen. The governing bodyUSA Track & Field was criticised for not acting more quickly in reporting the failed tests. Despite the failed drug test, the American body failed to report this to theInternational Association of Athletics Federations until after she had won gold medals in both the 100 m and 200 m at the World Championships.^[15]

Others to later have their national championship results be disqualified for doping were:Regina Jacobs,Damu Cherry,Melissa Price,Tim Montgomery,Calvin Harrison,Alvin Harrison andKevin Toth.^[10] Many of these athlete bans were related to theBALCO scandal and the use ofTetrahydrogestrinone (THG).^[16]

A total of five American athletes were eligible for automatic byes into the2003 World Championships in Athletics as a result of their being the defending champions from the2001 World Championships in Athletics. All the athletes used their byes.^[12][17]

• Maurice Greene (sprinter): men's 100 meters
• John Godina: men's shot put
• Allen Johnson: men's 110 m hurdles
• Anjanette Kirkland: women's 100 m hurdles
• Stacy Dragila: women's pole vault

Men's shot put fourth placerChristian Cantwell would have been given the fourth national team spot due to Godina's bye, but was omitted asKevin Toth, whose performance was later disqualified for doping, was chosen instead.^[10]

Sam Burley, sixth in the men's 800 m, was given the third national team place as the highest finisher with the "A" qualifying standard.Chris Phillips, fourth in the men's 110 m hurdles, was selected as a result of Allen Johnson's bye.Tora Harris was given the third men's high jump spot for his fifth-place finish as he was the only other athlete with the "A" standard. Low finishers in the men's discus were selected by merit of having the standard –Nick Petrucci had come fifth whileCasey Malone was ninth nationally.^[12]

None of the top three finishers in the women's 5000 m had the "A" qualifying standard soLauren Fleshman, fourth in Palo Alto, was the United States' sole World Championships representative in the event. Women's discus third placerSeilala Sua did not reach the standard so fourth placeKris Kuehl was selected instead.^[12]

Results

• Full Results - Open. USATF. Retrieved on 2015-07-02.

Day reports

• Lee, Kirby (2003-06-20).An 'easy' 10.04 for Montgomery on Day One of the 2003 US Nationals". IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-07-02.
• White shows scorching speed; Williams bests Montgomery - US Champs, Day Two. IAAF (2003-06-21). Retrieved on 2015-07-02.
• Jacobs and Washington on track for repeat in Paris - USA Champs Day Three. IAAF (2003-06-22). Retrieved on 2015-07-02.
• White completes double and Pappas sets 8784pts PB - final day of US Nationals. IAAF (2003-06-23). Retrieved on 2015-07-02.

• USA Track & Field website

• USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
• 2003 in the sport of athletics
• 2003 in American sports
• Organized events in Palo Alto, California
• Track and field competitions in California
• 2003 in sports in California

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