World Track Championships

Last update: August 15, 2009 - 12:13 AM

When: today-Aug. 23

Where: Berlin

TV: Vs (see versus.com for schedule)

The stars: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who set world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the Olympics last summer, leads a strong sprint field. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is trying for his fourth consecutive men's 10,000 meter victory.

American champs: Tyson Gay won the 100 and 200 at the last world championships in Osaka, Japan, in 2007, and Bernard Lagat won the 1,500 and 5,000. Other defending American men's champions are Jeremy Wariner (400), Kerron Clement (400 hurdles), Brad Walker (pole vault) and Reese Hoffa (shot put). Michelle Perry (100 hurdles) and Allyson Felix (200) won women's titles in 2007.

Minnesotans: Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor is in the women's 10,000 meters today (12:30 p.m. CST). Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson is in the men's marathon Aug. 22, and former Duluthian Kara Goucher is in the women's marathon Aug. 23.

Website: berlin.iaaf.org

Recent Sports stories

College basketball roundup - August 15, 2009

College basketball roundup - • NO. 4 VILLANOVA 82, NO. 5 WEST VIRGINIA 75: Scottie Reynolds scored 19 of his 21 points in the final 13 minutes and the Wildcats (21-2, 10-1) held off the Mountaineers (19-4, 8-3) in Morgantown, W.Va., on Monday night. The Wildcats rebounded from a blowout loss at No. 7 Georgetown on Saturday to pull into a first-place tie with No. 2 Syracuse in the Big East. West Virginia led only in the game's opening minutes, couldn't overcome an 11-point halftime deficit and saw its six-game winning streak stopped. The Mountaineers will have to wait until Friday night at No. 25 Pittsburgh to try for their sixth consecutive 20-victory season. More