Richardson, Oliver book Open hurdles duel

World 110-metres hurdles champion Jason Richardson and Jamaican standout Dwight Thomas will face David Oliver in a 50m hurdles showdown at the US Open athletics meet, organizers announced on Monday. The inaugural edition of the indoor meet, which replaces the Millrose Games in famed Madison Square Garden, is set for January 28. Jamaica's Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown are among the other top names set to compete. Richardson won the world crown at last year's championships in Daegu, South Korea, and had the second-best time in the world last year in the event, although fellow American Oliver holds the US 110 hurdles record. Thomas, a 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist in the 4x100 relay who was also a member of the 2009 world championship 4x100 relay, cramped in last year's 110 hurdles world final and did not finish.