Victories by old favorites who returned to top form, along with surprising triumphs by first-time winners, highlighted the 2008 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held in Boston on Feb. 23-24.

The meet also served as the qualifying event for Team USA's roster for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, which begin March 7 in Valencia, Spain. The top two finishers in each event qualified, provided they’ve met IAAF performance standards.

The most competitive event was the men’s shot put, where 2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell plus defending World Indoor and Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa edged 2005 World Outdoor champ Adam Nelson to qualify for Valencia. Cantwell’s top throw measured 70-feet, 7-inches (21.51 meters).

The men's 800 was the weekend’s closest race, as Khadevis Robinson (1:45.95) edged defending U.S. Indoor champion Nick Symmonds by .01.

World Indoor champion Brad Walker, who was hampered by an injury earlier in the season, looked strong while winning the men’s pole vault for the third time (18-8.25/5.70 meters).

Defending NCAA indoor mile champ Shannon Rowbury scored the meet’s major upset with a victory in the women’s 3000, finishing in 8:55.19 to defeat two-time Olympian Jen Rhines.

Several U.S. Indoor champions defended their titles successfully, including Lolo Jones in the women’s 60-meter hurdles (7.88 seconds), Matt Tegenkamp in the men’s 3000 (8:02.52), Trevell Quinley in the men's long jump (25-8/7.82), Amber Campbell in the women’s weight throw (76-2.75/23.23) and Aarik Wilson in the men's triple jump (55-5.75/16.91). Jillian Camarena won her fourth straight U.S. Indoor shot put championship (59-5/18.11). Amy Acuff, captured her fourth national indoor high jump title, and second in a row, with a leap of 6-3.5 feet (1.92 meters), while Jenn Stuczynski won her second consecutive women's pole vault (15-5/4.70) and third overall.

New U.S. Indoor men’s champions included Michael Rodgers in the 60-meter dash (6.54), David Neville in the 400 (46.34), David Oliver in the 60-meter hurdles (7.47), Kibwe Johnson in the weight throw (82-5/25.12) and Andra Manson the high jump (7-6.5/2.30). Additionally, Matthew Boyle officially ended Tim Seaman’s 10-year winning streak in the 5000 race walk, as Boyle won in 20:30.0.

On the women’s side, first-time U.S. Indoor champs included Shakeema Welsch in the triple jump (45-9/13.94), Shareese Woods in the 400 (52.03) and Christin Wurth-Thomas in the 1,500 (4:14.21).

Hyleas Fountain, a two-time U.S. Outdoor heptathlon champion, won her first U.S. Indoor women’s long jump title (20-11.25/6.38).

Among the veterans who returned to the spotlight was 34-year-old Nicole Teter. The American indoor record-holder won her third U.S. 800 championship in 2:02.65. Angela Williams won her second 60-meter U.S. Indoor title with a time of 7.11. Like Teter, Williams’ last championship came in 2003. Teresa Vaill earned her seventh career indoor title – but her first since 1991 – in the women's 3000 race walk with a time of 13:08.40. Rob Myers, the 2004 U.S. Indoor champ, won the 1500 in 3:40.89.

Allen Johnson 37, didn’t win, but the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 110 hurdles qualified for Valencia by placing second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.53.