The Trials in a nutshell

What: U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field

When: July 9-18, 2004. Eight days of competition over a 10-day span (July 13-14 are off days with no competition)

Where: A.G. Spanos Sports Complex, Sacramento State

About the event: The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials will determine the makeup of the men’s and women’s U.S. teams for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece (Aug. 20-29). The top three finishers in each event qualify for the Olympic Games, provided the athletes have met the Olympic “A” qualifying standards in their events.

Return engagement: The 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento drew more than 187,000 fans over eight days, shattering previous attendance records. Sacramento is the first city to host successive Trials in a quarter-century.

Big names: The United States traditionally fields the strongest teams in Olympic track and field, and this year will be no exception. Among the top names to watch in Sacramento are Marion Jones, winner of five Olympic medals in 2000; Stacy Dragila, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s pole vault; Gail Devers, the world’s fastest female hurdler and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter dash; Allen Johnson, a three-time world champion in the high hurdles; Tim Montgomery and Maurice Greene, the fastest two 100-meter sprinters in history; and Tom Pappas, the world decathlon champion.

History in the making: The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials are one of the greatest shows in sport. Over the years, 55 world records have been set at the U.S. Trials. Among the legends who set world records in the U.S. Trials are Michael Johnson, Bobby Morrow, Bog Seagren, Rafer Johnson, Bob Mathias, Florence Griffith Joyner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Most recently, Stacy Dragila broke the world record in the women’s pole vault at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento.

Tickets: Affordable eight-day ticket packages are available by calling (916) 566-6560 or at www.sacsports.com.

READ A DAY-BY-DAY DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPETITION!