Jason Richardson and Aries Merritt continue their pursuit of a spot on the 2012 U.S. team for the Olympics in London.
Richardson, out of the University of South Carolina, is the reigning world outdoor champion in the 110-meter hurdles, while Merritt is the world’s 110-meter hurdles indoor champ from the University of Tennessee. The “10 Best in the World” lists six Americans, including Richardson and Merritt. Richardson claimed his first-ever World Outdoor title at the World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
The showdown begins with two major events, starting on June 9 at the Adidas Track & Field Championships at New York’s Randall Island and the blistering track at Icahn Stadium. Later in June, Merritt and Richardson will compete for a spot at the U.S. Olympic trials. The competition to make the men’s and women’s teams will be fierce, starting June 21 and ending on July 1.
The legendary Hayward Field at Eugene, Ore., is where it will all happen for Richardson, Merritt and David Oliver, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.