March 21, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
Wake Forest Open Central
In addition to representatives from over 50 colleges and universities, this weekend's Wake Forest Open will feature numerous standout athletes from the world of track and field. Former world champions Leonard Byrd, Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, Dee Dee Trotter and Demetria Washington headline an unprecedented number of world-class athletes to compete in the annual Wake Forest meet held at Kentner Stadium beginning on Thursday, March 22.
Also competing will be several former United States and NCAA champions including Ron Bramlett, Hazel Clark, Treniere Clement, Lela Nelson and Anne Shadle.
The event will feature several in-state schools including Davidson, East Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Lenoir-Rhyne, North Carolina A&T, UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte and Winston-Salem State in addition to fellow ACC institutions Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Action gets under way on Thursday, March 22, with the Deacon Combined Events. The heptathlon begins at 11 a.m. while the decathlon commences at 11:30 a.m. The multi-events will finish up on Friday, March 23, with the culmination of the decathlon at 10:15 a.m. and the heptathlon at 10:30 a.m.
Field events at the Wake Forest Open start at 1 p.m. on Friday with the women's javelin. Running events begin at 1:45 p.m. with the preliminaries of the Steve Brown 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles. Competition restarts at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the Cliff Neal Hammer Throw and will end with the 1,600-meter relay at 6:30 p.m.
Below is a list of the featured athletes scheduled to participate, the event in which they will be competing as well as career highlights.
**Ron Bramlett -- 400m**
Career Highlights: Two-time NCAA 110m hurdles champion (2001-2002); fourth at 2001 World University Games; two-time SEC champ (2001-2002); fifth at 2002 and 2003 USA Outdoors
**Leonard Byrd -- 400m**
Career Highlights: 2001 World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist; 2001 USA Outdoor runner-up
**Hazel Clark -- 400m**
Career Highlights: Three-time USA Outdoor 800m Champion (2000, 2005 and 2006); Two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004); Two-time USA Indoor champion (2000 and 2005); 2000 Olympic Trials champion; 2001 USA Outdoor runner-up; three-time NCAA Indoor champion (1997, 1998, 1999); two-time NCAA Outdoor champion (1998, 1999)
**Treniere Clement -- 3,000m**
Career Highlights: 2006 USA Outdoor 1,500m Champion; 2006 USA Indoor 1,500m champion; 2005 USA Outdoor 1,500m champion; 2004 NCAA runner-up
**Bershawn Jackson -- 400**
Career Highlights: 2005 World Outdoor champion; 2005 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2003 U.S. Outdoor champion; 2005 USA Indoor 400m champion; 2002 U.S. junior champion; 2002 World Junior bronze medalist; 2002 World Junior 4x400 champion; 2006 USA Outdoor runner-up
**Ashley Kidd -- 100m/200m**
Career Highlights: Placed third in the NCAA indoor 400m
**Lela Nelson -- Heptathlon**
Career Highlights: 2006 USATF champion in the pentathlon; 2005 NCAA heptathlon champion
**Dee Dee Trotter -- 200m**
Career Highlights: 2006 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2005 USA Outdoor Championships silver medalist; 2005 USA Indoor champion; 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist; 2004 NCAA Outdoor champion; 2003 World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist; third at 2003 USA Outdoors; 2004 NCAA Outdoor 400m champion; 2003 NCAA runner-up; 2003 Pan Am and World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist
**Anne Shadle -- 1,500m**
Career Highlights: NCAA champion in 1,500m at Nebraska; 2005 NCAA indoor mile champion
**Jordan Vaden -- 400m**
Career Highlights: USA Track & Field Championships 200m (19.98) runner-up and 100m (10.20) fourth place finish in 2006
**Demetria Washington -- 200m**
Career Highlights: 2003 World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist; Runner-up at 2003 USA Outdoors; Double gold medalist at 2001 World University Games (400m and 4x400m); Two-time NCAA Indoor 400m Champ (2000, `01); 2002 NCAA Indoor 4x400m Relay Champion; 2002 NCAA Indoor 400m runner-up
- WakeForestSports.com -
