Here is the game-plan for today's live showing of the adidas Boston Indoor Games on ESPN2 from 6-7pm (Eastern).
The big news is that the men's 3000, with Haile Gebrselassie and Bernard "Kip" Lagat heading the field, will be shown from start to finish (barring an onslaught of false starts)
Here are the events scheduled to be shown: 6:05 Women's 400...Allyson Felix against last year's winner Tonique Williams
6:10 Men's 1000...David Krummenacker set the AR here 2 years ago. He's not making any time predictions, but he wouldn't mind seeing a pace of 53-54/1:48+. "If the record happens, I won't complain". 2003 NCAA 800 champ Sam Burley makes his pro indoor debut. Others include Derrick Peterson, Floyd Thompson, Alex Kipchirchir, Nicholas Wachira...should be a hot race.
6:20 Women's 60-meter hurdles...Gail Devers set the AR on this track at last year's U.S. Indoor Nationals. Anjanette Kirkland, making a comeback after giving birth last year, will be in lane one. She probably won't mind, since she won the 2001 World Outdoor title from lane 1. Others include Jenny Adams, Melissa Morrison, Linda Ferga, Miesha McKelvey.
6:30 Women's 800...Interesting matchup between American Record holder Nicole Teter, who says she's over the injuries that disrupted her 2003 season, and red-hot Jen Toomey, who has run 2:00.34 this season. 2-time NCAA Champ Alice Schmidt, reportedly in great shape, won here last year and could challenge for a repeat win. Others include Hazel Clark, Chantee Earl, and 2002 NCAA Indoor champ Marian Burnett.
6:40 Men's 60...John Capel, ranked #1 in the 100 and 200 last year, can't wait for the season to start. He'll be up against Jon Drummond, Shawn Crawford, Mickey Grimes, Nic Macrozonaris, Dwight Thomas, Bobby Williams.
6:48 Men's 3000...Gebrselassie last ran in the U.S. at the 1996 Olympics, and in Boston in the Junior race at the 1992 World X-Country Championships. Former American All-American Sean O'Brien is expected to take the field through the first 800-meters in 1:57, and David Lelei hopes to continue through 1600-meters in an insane 3:56 (considering that Daniel Komen split 3:59.7 in his world record race). Geb didn't make any time predictions in yesterday's press conference, but said, "I always try to do something special when I run". Lots of other talent in this race, including Bernard "Kip" Lagat, Kevin Sullivan, Nick Willis, local favorite Jonathon RIley, Markos Geneti, Luke Watson, Jason Lunn, Matt Lane, Martin Keino, Dan Lincoln.
Pole Vault...Stacy Dragila upped her AR to 15-5 1/2 at this meet last year, then briefly regained the WR when she jumped 15-8 1/4 here at the U.S. Indoor Nationals.
The men's 600, with Joey Woody, Trinity Gray and Fred , takes place before the live window, but will be taped for possible airing in case something special happens.
There are some excellent races that fall outside the live TV window, including the Men's Mile(Lassiter, Berryhill, Pyrah, Gruber, William Chirchir, Rotich, Aden); the women's 1500(local favorite Shalane Flanagan, Rudolph, Tollefson, Hauser, Douma, Harrelson); the men's DMR (Michigan, Georgetown, Tennessee, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Villanova); and the women's 5000(Tulu, Defar, Dibaba, Butler).