View source for 1997 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

{{Infobox Athletics Championships
| Name = 1997 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
| Colour = #A9F5A9
| Logo =
| Size = <!-- do not add "px" -->
| Host city = [[Indianapolis]], Indiana
| Dates = June 12–15
| Stadium = [[IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium]]
| Stadium image =
| Level = Senior
| Type = Outdoor
| Athletes participating =
| Events = 40 (men: 20; women: 20)
| Records set =
| Previous =  [[1995 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|1995 Championships]]<br>[[1996 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|1996 US Olympic Trials]]
| Next =[[1998 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|1998 Championships]]
}}
The '''1997 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships''' was organised by [[USA Track & Field]] and held from June 20 to 24 at the [[IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium]] in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana. The four-day competition served as the [[national championships]] in [[track and field]] for the United States and also the trials for the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics]] in [[Athens]], Greece.

It was the third time that the stadium in Indianapolis had held the combined gender national track and field event.  The USA Junior Championships were held in conjunction with the event.

Athletes that finished in the top three of their event and held the IAAF [[qualifying standards in athletics|qualifying standard]] were eligible to represent the [[United States at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics|United States at the 1997 World Championships]]. The United States was able to send three athletes per event to the competition, provided they all met the A qualification standard. In addition, this was the first year to also allow the reigning world champions an automatic qualification separate from the national selection.  That new rule was essentially created to allow [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] to qualify even though at the time of these championships he was unable to compete (and thus qualify) due to the injury he received in the [[Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race]] just two weeks earlier.  Johnson did recover in time for the World Championships and did successfully [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres|defend his world championship]].  The World Championships national selection for the [[marathon]] and [[50 kilometres walk]] were incorporated into the discrete national championship meets for those events. Selection for the [[relay race (athletics)|relay race]]s were made by committee.

Five Americans went on to win an individual gold medal at the 1997 World Championships;  Johnson, [[Maurice Greene (sprinter)|Maurice Greene]], [[Allen Johnson]], [[John Godina]] and [[Marion Jones]].  In addition USA won the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|Women's 4 × 100 metres relay]], and took silver in the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 metres relay]].  The [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay|Men's 4 × 400 metres relay]] crossed the finish line in first, but was disqualified in 2009 following the admission of long term [[performance-enhancing drugs|doping]] by [[Antonio Pettigrew]].

==Results==
'''Key:'''
{{legend2|#F3F781|text= <big>≠</big>|Not selected for World Championships in Athletics due to failure to reach IAAF [[Qualifying standards in athletics|qualifying standard]] within the specified time limit.|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

===Men track events===
{| {{MedalistTable|columns=2|type=Event}}
|-
| [[100 meters]] <br/><small>Wind +0.2</small>
|[[Maurice Greene (sprinter)|Maurice Greene]] || 9.90 '''[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships#Records|CR]]'''
|[[Tim Montgomery]] || 9.92
|[[Michael Marsh (sprinter)|Michael Marsh]] || 10.03
|-
| [[200 meters]] <br/><small>Wind +1.0</small>
|[[Jon Drummond]] || 20.23
|[[Kevin Little]] || 20.27
|[[Gentry Bradley]] || 20.49
|-
| [[400 meters]]
|[[Antonio Pettigrew]] || 44.65
|[[Tyree Washington]] || 44.79
|[[Jerome Young]] || 44.83
|-
| [[800 meters]]
|[[Mark Everett (runner)|Mark Everett]] || 1.44.37
|[[Brandon Rock]] || 1.44.79
|[[Rich Kenah]] || 1.44.87
|-
| [[1500 meters]]
|[[Seneca Lassiter]] || 3.45.85
|[[Karl Paranya]] || 3.46.78
|[[Jason Pyrah]] || 3.46.94
|-
| [[5000 meters]]
|[[Bob Kennedy (athlete)|Bob Kennedy]] || 13.30.86
|[[Alan Culpepper]] || 13.48.90
|[[Brian Baker (runner)|Brian Baker]] || 13.59.36
|-
| [[10,000 meters]]
|[[Mike Mykytok]] || 28.34.92
|[[Reuben Reina]] || 28.34.93
|[[Pete Julian]] || 28.35.65
|-
| [[110 m hurdles]] <br/><small>Wind +0.6</small>
|[[Allen Johnson]] || 13.25
|[[Reggie Torian]] || 13.28
|[[Terry Reese]] || 13.32
|-
| [[400 m hurdles]]
|[[Bryan Bronson]] || 47.79
|[[Derrick Adkins]] || 48.00
|[[Joey Woody]] || 48.18
|-
| [[3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|[[Mark Croghan]] || 8.20.86
|[[Tom Nohilly]] || 8.23.66
|[[Pascal Dobert]] || 8.24.23
|}

===Men field events===
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event|columns=2}}
|-
| [[High jump]]
|[[Charles Austin (high jumper)|Charles Austin]] || {{T&Fcalc|2.31}}
|[[Randy Jenkins]] || {{T&Fcalc|2.28}}
|[[Brian Brown (high jumper)|Brian Brown]] || {{T&Fcalc|2.28}}
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
|[[Lawrence Johnson (pole vaulter)|Lawrence Johnson]] || {{T&Fcalc|5.90}}
|[[Dean Starkey]] || {{T&Fcalc|5.85}}
|[[Pat Manson]] || {{T&Fcalc|5.80}}
|-
| [[Long jump]]
|[[Joe Greene (athlete)|Joe Greene]] || {{T&Fcalc|8.42}}
|[[Erick Walder]] || {{T&Fcalc|8.38}}
|[[Kevin Dilworth]] || {{T&Fcalc|8.29}}
|-
| [[Triple jump]]
|[[Kenny Harrison]] || {{T&Fcalc|16.97}}
|bgcolor=#F3F781|[[LaMark Carter]]<big>≠</big> || {{T&Fcalc|16.76}}
|[[Robert Howard (athlete)|Robert Howard]] || {{T&Fcalc|16.62}}
|-
| [[Shot put]]
|[[Randy Barnes]] || {{T&Fcalc|21.37}}
|[[John Godina]] || {{T&Fcalc|21.19}}
|[[C. J. Hunter]] || {{T&Fcalc|21.07}}
|-
| [[Discus throw]]
|[[John Godina]] || {{T&FcalcR|67.38}}
|[[Andy Bloom]] || {{T&FcalcR|65.30}}
|[[Adam Setliff]] || {{T&FcalcR|63.35}}
|-
| [[Hammer throw]]
|[[Kevin McMahon (athlete)|Kevin McMahon]] || {{T&FcalcR|77.42}}
|[[Jud Logan]] || {{T&FcalcR|75.39}}
|[[David Popejoy]] || {{T&FcalcR|73.33}}
|-
| [[Javelin throw]]
|[[Tom Pukstys]] || {{T&FcalcR|83.97}} '''[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships#Records|CR]]'''
|[[Ed Kaminski]] || {{T&FcalcR|79.91}}
|[[Breaux Greer]] || {{T&FcalcR|78.10}}
|-
| [[Decathlon]]
|[[Steve Fritz]] || 8604
|[[Chris Huffins]] || 8458
|[[Shawn Wilbourn]] || 8268
|}

===Women track events===

{| {{MedalistTable|columns=2|type=Event}}
|-
| [[100 meters]]<br/><small>Wind -1.1</small>
|[[Marion Jones]] || 10.97		
|[[Chryste Gaines]] || 11.19		
|[[Inger Miller]] || 11.21
|-
| [[200 meters]]<br/><small>Wind -0.1</small>
|[[Inger Miller]] || 22.62		
|[[Cheryl Taplin]] || 22.90		
|[[Zundra Feagin|Zundra Feagin-Alexander]] || 23.06
|-
| [[400 meters]]
|[[Jearl Miles Clark]] || 49.40 '''[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships#Records|CR]]'''	
|[[Kim Graham]] || 50.65		
|[[Maicel Malone]] || 50.74
|-
| [[800 meters]]
|[[Kathy Rounds]] || 2:00.45		
|[[Joetta Clark Diggs]] || 2:00.64		
|[[Jill McMullen]] || 2:00.81
|-
| [[1500 meters]]
|[[Regina Jacobs]] || 4:03.42		
|[[Suzy Favor Hamilton]] || 4:04.36		
|[[Sarah Thorsett]] || 4:07.34
|-
| [[5000 meters]]
|[[Libbie Hickman]] || 15:37.73		
|[[Amy Rudolph]] || 15:45.21		
|[[Melody Fairchild]] || 15:45.54
|-
| [[10,000 meters]]
|[[Lynn Jennings]] || 32:26.41		
|[[Annette Peters]] || 32:28.55		
|[[Deena Kastor]] || 32:53.18
|-
| [[100 m hurdles]]<br/><small>Wind +0.0</small>
|[[Melissa Morrison]] || 12.61		
|[[Anjanette Kirkland]] || 12.74		
|[[Dawn Bowles]] || 12.74
|-
| [[400 m hurdles]]
|[[Kim Batten]] || 52.97 '''[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships#Records|CR]]'''	
|[[Tonja Buford-Bailey]] || 54.05		
|[[Ryan Tolbert]] || 54.21
|-
| ''[[3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]'' <ref>Note: not an official championship event this year</ref>
|[[Melissa Teemant]] || 10:30.90		
|[[Elizabeth Jackson (athlete)|Elizabeth Jackson]] || 10:38.72		
|[[Gracie Padilla]] || 10:44.12
|-
| 10&nbsp;km walk
|[[Debbi Lawrence]] || 46:45.36		
|[[Sara Standley]] || 46:53.07		
|[[Victoria Herazo]] || 47:18.05
|}

===Women field events===
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event|columns=2}}
|-
| [[High jump]]
|[[Amy Acuff]] || 6-5 | {{T&Fcalc|1.96}}	
|[[Angela Spangler]] || {{T&Fcalc|1.93}}		
|[[Erin Aldrich]] || {{T&Fcalc|1.93}}
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
|[[Stacy Dragila]] || {{T&Fcalc|4.30}}		
|[[Melissa Price (pole vaulter)|Melissa Price]] ||{{T&Fcalc|4.00}}	
|[[Melissa Mueller]] || {{T&Fcalc|3.95}}
|-
| [[Long jump]]
|[[Marion Jones]] || 22-9 | {{T&Fcalc|6.93}}
|[[Jackie Joyner-Kersee]] || {{T&Fcalc|6.91}}w		
|[[Sharon Jewell]] || 22-2½ | {{T&Fcalc|6.77}}
|-
| [[Triple jump]]
|[[Niambi Dennis]] || 44-8¾ | {{T&Fcalc|13.63}}	
|[[Shonda Swift]] || {{T&Fcalc|13.61}}
|[[Cynthea Rhodes]] || 44-5¼ | {{T&Fcalc|13.54}}
|-
| [[Shot put]]
|[[Connie Price-Smith]] || 62-6½ | {{T&Fcalc|19.06}}	
|[[Valeyta Althouse]] || 61-0¾ | {{T&Fcalc|18.60}}
|[[Tressa Thompson]] || 58-2 | {{T&Fcalc|17.73}}
|-
| [[Discus throw]]
|[[Lacy Barnes-Mileham]] || 200-8 | {{T&Fcalc|61.16}}		
|[[Suzy Powell]] || 198-4 | {{T&Fcalc|60.46}}		
|[[Edie Boyer]] || 197-1 | {{T&Fcalc|60.08}}
|-
| [[Hammer throw]]
|[[Dawn Ellerbe]] || 206-7 | {{T&Fcalc|62.96}} '''[[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships#Records|CR]]'''	
|[[Renetta Sailer]] || 199-11 | {{T&Fcalc|60.94}}	
|[[Kiyomi Parish]] || 196-6 | {{T&Fcalc|59.90}}
|-
| [[Javelin throw]]
|[[Lynda Blutreich]] || 192-0 | {{T&Fcalc|58.52}}	
|[[Erica Wheeler (athlete)|Erica Wheeler]] || 187-9 | {{T&Fcalc|57.22}}	
|[[Nicole Carroll]] || 185-3 | {{T&Fcalc|56.46}}
|-
| [[Heptathlon]]
|[[Kelly Blair LaBounty]] || 6465		
|[[DeDee Nathan]] || 	6317		
|[[Kym Carter]] || 6289	
|}

==World Championships qualification==

===Automatic byes===
A total of eight American athletes received automatic byes into the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics]] as a result of their being the defending champions from the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics]].<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/wc.htm World Championships in Athletics]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-06-27.</ref> [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] qualified in two events and his injury situation largely created the bye rule in the first place.  Johnson chose not to defend the 200 metres title, but was able to successfully defend his 400 metres title, a feat equalled by [[Allen Johnson]] and [[John Godina]] in their respective events.  [[Dan O'Brien]] also did not defend his title.

*[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] Men's 200 metres
*[[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]] Men's 400 metres
*[[Allen Johnson]]: Men's 110 m hurdles
*[[Derrick Adkins]]: Men's 400 m hurdles
*[[Gwen Torrence]] Women's 100 metres
*[[Gail Devers]] Women's 100 m hurdles
*[[Kim Batten]] Women's 400 m hurdles
*[[John Godina]]: Men's shot put
*[[Dan O'Brien]]: Men's decathlon

===Non-top three selections===
[[Karl Paranya]] did not participate in the 1500m.  [[Pascal Dobert]] did not participate in the steeplechase.  [[Dan Middleman]] and 7th place [[Brad Barquist]] were the American representatives in the 10,000.  Since [[Allen Johnson]] and [[Bryan Bronson]] received a bye, 4th place [[Mark Crear]] and [[Octavius Terry]] were allowed to compete in their respective hurdle races.  [[LaMark Carter]] and no other American achieved the A standard in the triple jump.  [[Breaux Greer]] didn't achieve the A standard.  4th place, naturalized British Olympian [[Roald Bradstock]] did and took the third position at the World Championships.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
'''Results'''
*[http://trackfield.brinkster.net/USATournaments.asp?TourCode=N&Year=1997&Gender=M&TF=T&P=R&By=Y&Count=]
*[http://trackfield.brinkster.net/USATournaments.asp?TourCode=N&Year=1997&Gender=M&TF=F&P=R&By=Y&Count=]

{{1997 in athletics}}
{{USA Track and Field Championships}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}

[[Category:USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
[[Category:1997 in athletics (track and field)|USA Outdoors]]
[[Category:1997 in American sports|Track, Outdoor]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:1997 in sports in Indiana|USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]]
[[Category:Track and field in Indiana]]