What they said: 2010 US Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 2

Sunday, February 28, 2010 (Albuquerque, N.M) — Quotes courtesy USA Track & Field.

Jillian Camarena, women’s shot put winner

I started with a miss on my hands. My third throw was the best and I tried to improve from there. My timing was off. Now I have to pull it all together for Doha. This win was special for me. It was for my grandmother who recently passed away.

Maria Michta, women’s 3,000m race walk winner

It was awesome. I went out having pr’d three weeks ago. I knew the altitude would be a factor and it was. It hit me at 2,000m. I just finished strong. I felt like I was dreaming the last 100m. It was just so exciting.

Jeremy Hicks, men’s long jump winner

Being called a national champion sounds pretty good. This was my third time here at this track and it was definitely my best performance. It was wonderful. I believed in myself and it finally paid off.

Nick Symmonds, men’s 800m winner

I was pretty worried for a minute there. When I saw I was a couple of seconds behind at 600m, I was like that’s a lot to make up. That last lap I was running scared.

That dead spot in the track is gone. It’s a great track and it was a great race.

Leo Manzano, men’s 1,500m winner

It was a good race. This is nationals and the best in the nation were here. I knew I had to give it a go and it worked out really well. I hadn’t trained at altitude yet so I was at a disadvantage. I just had to go out and compete.

Anna (Willard) Pierce

I was planning to go hard from 250m. I wanted to run 1:59 but I’m happy with my race today. I’m quicker this year, its really exciting. I think I can medal at Doha. Entering the 1500 here was just an insurance plan.

Terrence Trammell, men’s 60m hurdles winner

I think my start wasn’t what it should have been, I was trying not to jump. I was trying to be aggressive through the first hurdles and I really focus on four and five. I still have time to improve before Doha. I’m not injured, coming off a head cold. I expect the best in Doha.

Ginnie Powell, women’s 60m hurdles winner

I was really focused and strong and confident. I put it all out there on the track. Bobby (Kersee) told me to really sprint off the last hurdle and I did.

Brittney Reese, women’s long jump winner

I was trying for a win or at least a season’s best and I came out with both. I am very pleased with today. And I expect good things in Doha.

Lacy Janson, women’s pole vault winner

I have no complaints. I had two good attempts at 4.84m (American Record height). I couldn’t be more confident going into World Indoors.

Morgan Uceny, women’s 1,500m winner

It’s great. I just wanted to get out there. Running from the back and relaxing isn’t my style.

Ivory Williams, men’s 60m winner

I just came out here ready to run, stay relaxed and come out with the victory. And that’s what happened.

Carmelita Jeter, women’s 60m winner

I had to be patient because of the false starts. My confidence is up but there is still someone out there running faster than me.

Did Bernard Lagat send a message at US Indoor Nationals? Maybe

Albuquerque, N.M.– It’s probably unrealistic to think that a race held in Albuquerque, New Mexico will have any impact four months from now in a lush and beautiful Des Moines, Iowa. Too many variables, too many unknowns.

You get the feeling tonight a message was sent in Bernard “Kip” Lagat’s uncanny kick to with 150 meters to go in the 3000m, edging out Galen Rupp. No matter how subtle it may be - a U.S. Outdoor Championships message was sent.

In front of a 2,979 sell out crowd, Lagat won in 8:12.60, ahead of Rupp in 8:13.49 at the 2010 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.

Lagat and Rupp are the cream on top of the strawberry on the American distance scene. In tonights running, the presence of the younger Galen Rupp was evident, as he stayed with Kip for the majority of the race. But the bigger picture is that Kip performed much better and had a much bigger impact on the race.

On the flip side, it wasn’t too difficult to notice Rupp in just his first full season on the professional circuit has a major upside.

Considering that the two have previously met up this indoor season, the race became a two man run off and this will surely happen again in championship races. This race could have mean a lot. Or nothing. Who really knows at this point?

But we have to know that both athletes are happy with their respective performances.

Whether you consider this a piece of foreshadowing or just a stretch of the imagination, there is no denying that Kip Lagat came to run tonight.