Bernard Lagat among headliners at adidas Track Classic...

Bernard Lagat (hip 9 on left/photo by Paul Merca) is among the headliners scheduled to compete in the adidas Track Classic Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Lagat, the former Washington State standout, makes his 2009 outdoor season debut in the men's 1500, which features the entire 2008 U.S. Olympic squad of Bernard Lagat, Lopez Lomong and Leonel Manzano. Lagat, the American record holder at 1500m, is the reigning World Champion at 1500m and 5000m - the first man ever to win that double.

Also in the men's 1500 field is former Auburn HS grad Chris Lukezic.

First year pro Norris Frederick, the Roosevelt HS and UW grad, is entered in the men's long jump where he'll face 2004 Olympic champ Dwight Phillips.

Training partners Ian Waltz, formerly of Washington State, and Jarred Rome from Marysville-Pilchuck HS square off in the men's discus.

Ginnie Powell, formerly from Rainier Beach HS, will run in the women's 100 meter hurdles, after competing in last week's grand prix meet in Doha, Qatar.

Among the marquee athletes headlining this year’s meet: three-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix; 2004 Olympic 400m Champion Jeremy Wariner; and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jamaica’s sprint queen.

Other athletes competing in this year’s event include Jenn Stuczynski, the second highest pole vaulter in history, and Ethiopia’s World Cross Country Champion, Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam.

The adidas Track Classic will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. PDT.

Produced by Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., the adidas Track Classic is the second stop on USA Track & Field’s Visa Championship Series.

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