For Immediate Release
Monday, April 20, 2009
   
Contact:
Vicky Oddi
USA Track & Field
Communications Coordinator
317-713-4670; [email protected]

USATF Pick-N-Win Fantasy Game outdoor contest ready to start
INDIANAPOLIS - With the 2009 Outdoor Visa Championship Series starting in just five days, fans can take part in the action once again, competing for prizes worth thousands of dollars! The Visa Championship Series kicks off with Relays Weekend in Philadelphia with USA vs the World at the Penn Relays and in Des Moines, Iowa for the 100th Drake Relays on April 25. This marks the first time that the Pick-N-Win Fantasy Game has incorporated the relays, giving fans an additional chance to win a weekly prize.
 
How it works
 
Fans create their ultimate track and field team each week by going to www.visachampionshipseries.com and selecting the athletes or relay teams they think are going to compete well at that week's meet.
 
Each Visa Championship Series meet is "virtually" scored, with 10 points going to the first-place athlete in each event, 8 points to the second-place athlete, 6 points to the third-place athlete and so on down to sixth place. The athletes and relay teams chosen by the fans score points for their team.
 
During the indoor season, after the conclusion of the 2009 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Houston's Richard Ross bested over 2,000 Pick-N-Win players by scoring the most points during the Indoor Visa Championship Series with 567. He won the grand prize consisting of a $2,000 Visa Gift Card and USATF/Nike spike bag with apparel. Todd Novotny of Menomonee Falls, Wisc., won the overall second-place prize, a $250 Visa Gift Card and USATF/Nike spike with apparel. Jossi Fritz-Mauer of Philadelphia, Pa. won the third-place prize, a $100 Visa Gift Card and USATF/Nike spike bag with apparel.
 
Weekly winners, who each received a USATF/Nike spike bag with apparel were Thomas Bernhard of Freemont, Calif., who had 134 points after the Millrose Games and Gary Fletcher of San Antonio, Texas, who had 116 points from the Tyson Invitational. There was a three-way tie after the Reebok Boston Indoor Games when Steve Breitkreutz of North Edwards, Calif., Brandon Baker of Westerville, Ohio and Ryan Westman of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., each scored 146 points. All three earned a USATF/Nike spike bag with apparel.
 
Every weekly winner and cumulative points leader  was showcased in the ESPN2 broadcast of the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 1. The video clip is viewable at www.visachampionshipseries.com. 
 
Outdoor prizes
 
The Pick-N-Win Fantasy Game will start over for the Outdoor Visa Championship Series with more prizes at stake!
 
Grand Prize: One Grand Prize winner will be awarded a $2,000 Visa Gift Card and a Nike spike bag with apparel.
 
Second Place Prize: One Second Place Prize winner will be awarded a $250.00 Visa Gift Card and a Nike spike bag with apparel.
 
Third Place Prize: One Third Place Prize winner will be awarded a $100.00 Visa Gift Card and a Nike gift spike bag with apparel.
 
Throughout the outdoor season, weekly prizes will be awarded to the top teams. Each weekly prize will consist of a USATF/Nike spike bag with apparel. For complete rules and to sign up for the Visa Championship Series "Pick-N-Win" Fantasy Game, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com. 
 
Fans and Pick-N-Win players can also check the Visa Championship Series website to join the USATF Facebook and Twitter pages featuring Pick-N-Win message boards and the latest track and field information.
 
USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays will broadcast live April 25 on ESPN2 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET. The 100th Drake Relays will air the following day (April 26) on ESPN2 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET. To see the full broadcast schedule or to buy tickets to any Visa Championship Series events, go to www.visachampionshipseries.com. 
 
 

About USA Track & Field
 
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
 
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
 
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