OLYMPIC DASH CHAMPIONS HEADLINE KANSAS RELAYS GOLDZONE II Kansas Relays has announced the main events for the Kansas Relays GOLDZONE II featuring several Olympic champions matching up for head-to-head competition.

The men's main event will showcase Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin, both Olympic champions in the 100-meter dash, facing off as anchors of their respective 4x100-meter relay teams. The women's featured race has World Champions Allyson Felix and Muna Lee and World silver medalist Rachelle Smith squaring off in the 100-meter dash. Felix was also the Olympic Silver Medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games.

"A great track meet draws a great crowd, and to draw a great crowd a meet must assure people that they will be entertained," said Tim Weaver, meet director. "The GOLDZONE is nothing more than a vehicle for entertainment -- an opportunity to tell a story. Last year's story was the presence of track and field's household names in Lawrence. This year is all about matchups -- not just in the two events we announced today, but carried throughout GOLDZONE II. Each of our featured events will have at least two champions competing for the Relays crown -- and the attention of our fans."

The theme of "champion vs. champion" will be seen throughout the course of the three-hour GOLDZONE II. Greene's team, HSI, will also feature World Champions John Capel and Leonard Scott. Joining Gatlin as part of Sprint Capitol will be Olympic Champion Shawn Crawford and Dwight Thomas, ranked No. 4 in the world in the 100-meter dash. The men's main event will also feature Hobson's Choice, a team from Kansas City directed by Greene's first coach, Al Hobson. It includes Mark Jelks, Mardy Scales and Rae Edwards -- all members of the US 4x100-meter relay pool at the 2005 World Championships. World Junior Champion Ashley Owens will join the other gold medalists in the Women's Invitational 100-meter dash.

Participants in the 12 other invitational events will be released over the next two weeks.