Day 2 Evening Quotes, 2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships

For Immediate Release
Sunday, August 16, 2009

Tyson Gay (Clermont, Fla.), men’s 100m silver medalist AMERICAN RECORD

It felt pretty good. I’m really happy Usain Bolt broke the record. I know that may sound strange. I knew it was humanly possible for someone to run that fast. Unfortunately it wasn’t me. I’m very happy with the race. I did my best the best way I could. I’ve been you all this year that it’s possible to run this fast. I did my best. I still know I have a lot more left in the tank. My groin is barely hanging on. In the final I just tried to block everything down and give it my all because there wasn’t that much left. (On the 200) I’m going to talk to doctors and everything. It’s at a pain right now and we’ll see how it goes tonight.

Darvis Patton (Grand Prairie, Texas), Men’s 100 Meters 8th place finisher

I just cramped up and I cramped up real bad. I couldn’t get into with these guys. It’s the second time I have been in the fastest race in history. That’s all I have to live on now. Cramping up is part of the sport. It’s unfortunate that it had to happen in the finals of the World Championships. Hats off to these guys. Everybody ran well. Everybody is a great competitor.

Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas), Women’s Shot Put sixth place finisher

I think I did pretty good today. I’m happy with what I did. I think it went well. I’m learning more. What I learned in Beijing I brought with me here. I have to keep on building and get better.

Bettie Wade (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Women’s heptathlon

I had to pick myself up, and did a lot of thinking over the last 24 hours.

I enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to compete here. It was hard to compete today. My season is officially done. My body’s slowly tearing down, so I’m going to nurse some small injuries I’ve accumulated, and take some time off to let my body heal.

Diana Pickler (Sacshe, Texas), Women’s heptathlon

I came in so prepared. I went in here faster and stronger than I’ve ever been, and I felt mentally prepared. It just didn’t start out this way.

The first day was a struggle, and it was so frustrating, because I knew that I did everything to prepare right for this meet. It was hard to go out there and be disappointed with the way things went yesterday. I was nowhere close to where I should have been.

Today, I just tried to block everything out. I was really happy with setting a PR in the 800 after what I went through the competition. Setting a PR in the 800 is going to make me mentally stronger.

Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.), Women’s Heptathlon

I’m very happy about my performance. It’s my first major competition at the international scale. I couldn’t be happier with 10th place in the world right now. (On the fast start in the competition) That’s the way it goes with the heptathlon. You are going to have some bumps and some ups and downs. You have to take it in stride. It was a really good experience to compete at a world level. I’m going to put this in my pocket and keep training.

Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.), Women’s 100 meters

I think I had a great race. It was a season best. Everything seems to be coming together. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I’m really excited that things are turning around for me. There are some really fast times. There are many sub-11s. My competitors have done it many times. I think there have been eight people that have been under 11 seconds. I haven’t gotten there yet. But 11.06 is going in the right direction. I am going to give it my best tomorrow and hopefully get on the podium.

Muna Lee (College Station, Texas), Women’s 100 meters

I am working on the beginning part, like I said. I wish I could go a round without a false start. It will be a hot semifinal, probably the best field I have seen in a while.

Carmelita Jeter (Inglewood, Calif.), Women’s 100 meters

It was a good race. I got out of the blocks real well. I am going to go back to the hotel, get some rest and come back tomorrow. Tomorrow is when it really counts. I’m satisfied with crossing the finish line healthy. That’s the only thing that really matters.

Rae Edwards (Kansas City, Kansas), Men’s 100 meters, semifinals

I gave up too much at the start. It’s as simple as that. As I re-watched it, I gave up too much at the start. Then I let the whole field get away from me. I’m not down about because obviously that was my purpose to be here. God has a plan for everyone. That was his plan. I’m not down about it. I had fun. In all reality, I’m not disappointed at all because I know I wasn’t even expected to get this far. Just to make it this far shows how beautiful God is. I’m disappointed at all. I would love to be in the finals. But I’m not.

Debbie Dunn (Norfolk, Va.), Women’s 400 meters

(Set a personal best in getting one of the two at large spots to the finals.) I needed that. I’m so happy, so happy to run again. I’m so happy to come out here, representing the United States for the world championship. To get a PR and make it to the finals, that was the goal. Now, the next step is on Tuesday. We’ll see what happens there.

(On waiting for the last heat to be completed to see if she qualified for the finals) I was nervous because with one heat to go, you never know when someone may drop a 49.04, and I could end up not being in there. I was kind of happy, but I had to see the last race. But after the last race, I went, “Yes.” I’m happy with the time and making it to the finals. I felt like I was on the bubble when I didn’t make top two.

Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.), men’s triple jump

It didn’t go to well. I had a little bit of runway trouble in the first jump. The second one, I started getting it together. The third one was going good. I just broke down going into my step. I wasn’t able to get out of it. We’ll shut down the season, then get ready for USA Indoors.

Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.), men’s triple jump

I felt good. I just struggled with my runway a bit. I’m now going to get ready for indoors. I plan to do a couple of more meets. It was a great experience. Now I know what to expect the next time.

Kenta Bell (Decatur, Ga.), men’s triple jump

I didn’t do as well as I wanted to. But it has been a long, rough season. I’m thankful to be here at this point. I had some injuries at the USAs. But to be on the team and be here is a blessing.

Jessica Beard (College Station, Texas), Women’s 400 meters

It was a decent race, but it wasn’t my best. I just went out and did the best that I could do, and I just have to be happy with what I gave tonight.

I’m looking forward to the relay and keeping my mind focused on the task at hand. Hopefully I can contribute to that.

Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Florida), Men’s 400 meter hurdles

My plan was to stay focused and take care of business, and run a strong last 150. I was really pleased that I did that, and got my 13 strides down. I’m feeling really confident going into the finals.

Bershawn Jackson (Champaign, Illinois), Men’s 400 meter hurdles

My goal was to come home with a strong kick, because that’s what it’s gonna take to win a gold medal here. So many guys are running fast and this event’s so competitive. With so many guys who are bigger and taller than me, I’ve got to make up for it in the second half.

Overall, I feel good, and I did what I needed to do.

About USA Track & Field

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For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org

Women forge ahead in Berlin

For Immediate Release
Sunday, August 16, 2009

BERLIN - Team USA’s women led the charge in the morning session as all 100m and 800m women advanced to the next round, and Michelle Carter and Rachel Yurkovich qualified for their respective finals Sunday morning at the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

All women advance in 100m and 800m

All three American women easily advanced to the next round of the women’s 100m. 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Los Angeles) won heat 3 in 11.22 after looking around and visibly easing up at the 80m mark. It was the fastest time of the first round.

2005 world champion and ‘07 silver medalist Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) won heat 7 in 11.36 and two-time Olympian Muna Lee (College Station, Texas) was second in heat 9 in 11.42.

They take the top three plus the next six fastest to the semifinal of the women’s 800m. In heat 1 of the first round, Geena Gall (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was sitting in fourth/fifth and it appeared she would not move on. With 120m to go, reigning world champion Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) stumbled and fell to the ground vaulting Gall into second place in 2:02.63 and moving her into the semifinal.

Heat 3 saw four-time Olympian Hazel Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.) leading for the first 300m, but in fourth place at the halfway point. Clark fought her way back to finish third in 2:02.67 and grab a spot in the next round. Maggie Vessey (Soquel, Calif.) easily moved on to the next round, finishing as the runner-up in heat 5 in 2:04.07.

Carter to compete in tonight’s shot final

2008 Olympic finalist Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas) qualified for the final in the women’s shot put on her last throw with an effort of 18.44 meters/60 feet 6 inches. 2008 Olympian Jillian Camarena (Tuscon, Ariz.) finished 23rd in qualifying with a best effort of 16.92m/55-6.25 and, after two fouls, three-time USA Outdoor champion Kristin Heaston (Opelika, Ala.) finished 28th with a mark of 14.98m/49-1.75.

Yurkovich first American woman in javelin final since 1983

Two-time NCAA champion Rachel Yurkovich finished 11th in qualifying in the women’s javelin with a best mark of 59.57m/195-5 and has qualified for Tuesday’s final. Yurkovic is the first American woman to qualify for the women’s javelin final at a World Championships since Karin Smith finsihed 10th in 1983 at the innaugural World Championships in Helsinki. Two-time USA Outdoor champion Kara Patterson (West Lafayette, Ind.) finished 29th in qualifying with 52.71m/172-11.2 and will not move on.

With just two events remaining in the women’s heptathlon, 2009 USA Outdoor champion Diana Pickler (Sasche, Texas) is currently in 10th place with 4,513 points. Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.) is just behind Pickler in 11th with 4,470 points and Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich.) is in 24th with 3,780 points.

In the first round of the men’s steeplechase, 2007 Pan Am Games champion Josh McAdams (Cordova, Tenn.) was 13th in heat 2 in 9:02.19. Running with the leader for the most of the first half of heat 3, Dan Huling (Geneva, Ill.) was unable to hold the pace and finished 12th in 8:46.79. Kyle Alcorn (Fresno, Calif.) was forced to step off the track after experiencing chest pains in heat 1 and did not finish his race. No Americans advanced to Tuesday’s final.

In the women’s 20 km racewalk, four-time USA Outdoor champion Teresa Vaill (Gainesville, Fla.) wasn’t feeling well at the 5km checkpoint and dropped out of the race between the 5 and 6km mark.

Taylor out, in, out again

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) finished fourth in heat 4 of the opening round of the men’s 400m hurdles competition Saturday evening in 49.64 seconds. His performance did not warrant advancement to the semifinals.

Following the race the meet referee ruled that Brendan Cole of Australia, who ran in Taylor’s heat, was disqualified for trail leg violations (IAAF Rule 168.7) over hurdles 1, 2 & 7, which moved Taylor up one spot and in to the semifinals.

Members of the Australian delegation filed a protest, which Team USA officials learned about late last evening. The referee reversed his original decision on video evidence and Team USA officials appealed that decision. The Jury of Appeals met this morning and denied the U.S. appeal to have Cole disqualified. Taylor will not compete in this evening’s semifinals.

For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org.