What they said: 2010 USA Outdoor Championships

David Smith - Junior Men’s High Jump winner

On what a USA championship means:”It means I’m blessed. Really, I just see it as a blessing - making sure that you put God first
and everything else will follow.”"My plan was to excel. You might come up short, but things happen for a reason. That’s how I see it.”

On how he felt technically today:”I’m not really sure to be honest because when I see myself jumping, I just jump. That’s how I see it. I jump and just reach for the sky. That’s all I really try and do.”

On beating a fellow Georgia high school state champion, runner-up Maalik Reynolds:

“Oh yeah, that’s my buddy. Maalik and I jump together in a lot of meets and I see it as just good competition - competition that gets the best out of you.”

Justin Hunter, Junior Men’s Long Jump winner

On the winning jump: “I thought I was jumping bad on all my other jumps. For my last jump, I moved my mark up some because I felt like I was jogging to the jump. After changing it up, I felt like I pushed harder going to the jump on my last attempt.”

On his first jumps: “All of my jumps to start were pretty much the same. I was slow on my approach, which kept me the same on the distances.”

On how he won: “If I hadn’t changed my mark, I might not have made it.”

On the field and weather: “This is my first time here, its one of the best places I’ve seen so far. It’s just hot.”

Emily Sisson -Junior Women’s 3,000m winner

On what made the difference to win after being second last year:

“I think the big difference coming in this year was I’ve been working with a lot of good physical therapists and message therapists and I just was able to stay healthy for a long period of time. That made a huge difference. I really think them for making that happen”

On winning among a talented field, including six-time junior national champ Jordan Hasey of Oregon:

“I knew coming in it was a really deep field with Jordan and Aisling (Cuffe) and Emily Jones. So I knew it was going to be really tough. My whole strategy was just to sit off and wait on the shoulder of them and kick at the end and try and be in the top two.”

On what it was like dueling Hasey down the home straightaway to the finish line:

“It’s crazy because I’ve been racing Jordan for so long - since we’ve been in middle school. And every time she’s been so far ahead of me. And just being with her that last 100 meters was really cool. It was a really fun race.”

Jordan Hasay -Junior Women’s 3,000m runner-up

On her goal for the race:

“Obviously, I just wanted to make the [U.S. national] team. I wanted to win too, but unfortunately it didn’t happen today. I felt actually really good through the mile and then coach told me to ‘Go for it,’ and I went and I thought I’d gapped them [the closest competition]. And Emily came back up on me and ran a great last lap and I just didn’t have it then.”

On her plan to run the 1,500 too [where she's the defending champ], regardless of the 3,000 outcome:

“Yeah definitely. I’ll talk to coach but I think I’ll run both, unless, maybe, I’m tired. We’ll see. I haven’t run a 3K in a while so I was pretty happy with that time.”

On the final lap and her awareness of Sisson:

“Yeah, I was looking at the video board and saw that I had a little gap and coach told me to go for it a little more and I said ‘OK, I’m pretty tired, but I guess I’ll make a big effort a little more.’ And then Emily passed me on the last lap. But it was a really close race and we’re going to have a really great team for worlds.”

Dakota Peachee, Junior Men’s 3000m Steeplechase winner

On race strategy: “I really didn’t want to go out and lead the first 2K. I just wanted to sit until the last couple of laps and then go. With it being the end of the season, I wasn’t sure what I had, but it turned out really well.”

On making it to the World Juniors: “I am so stoked, it’s an honor.”

On the end of the race: “I started to go with Michael Jordan about 800 meters to go and I just decided to go with him. We picked up the pace then and the last four hundred meters I decided to really pick it up and try out jump the pack. A couple of guys caught me. We made it to the water pit and they kind of stumbled, but last minute made the pass on that corner and made it through to the finish.”

On the weather: “Better than it is in North Carolina, it’s really hot, but everyone deals with the same thing, so it’s not so bad.”

Caleb Ross, Junior Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles winner

On the race: “The prelim race wasn’t a good race. It was a little sloppy, so today I just want to come in and stay tall over the hurdles. My effort finally showed in the race.”

On the finish: “When I hit the eighth or ninth hurdle, I could see them closing. I just tried to push through as fast as I could.”

On the weather: “This is much more humid than Arkansas. It’s hot there, but not this humid.”

Karynn Dunn, Junior Women’s Long Jump winner

On her first jumps: “My first jump, I actually ended up with a new personal record for the season, with 6 meters even. That wasn’t that great, but it kept me in second until the finals. I consitantly jumped around 6 meters.”

On the finals: “People started moving up and started hitting the 6 meter mark, which I knew wasn’t going to get me to the team. I just listened to my coach and did everything I was supposed to do, which was a new personal record for the season.”

On making the junior team: “I’ve been trying to make it to the team for a while. I was so ecstatic when I made that 6.21 meter jump. Anything can happen and I knew it was my last year to make the team, I am just so excited that the 6.21 jump held.”

Takeia Pinckney - Junior Women’s 100m winner

On her fast start:

“In the prelims, I really didn’t get out as much. And when I got to the finals, I focused more on getting out, because I knew I was going to have it at the end. So I just had to get out and drive.”

On what it means to win a USA Junior championship:

“It feels good. I didn’t have the opportunity to do it when I was in high school, so it feels real good.”

On what this does for her future career at LSU and running in the SEC:

“To be honest, it doesn’t do much. It’s no comparison at all. But it helps me - and I need help - with my mechanics and stuff.”

Donique’ Flemings - Junior Women’s 100m hurdles winner

“I’ve been practicing hard for this and to win the Junior title is great,” noted Flemings, who is from Ft. Worth, Texas (Saginaw HS). “What’s even better is matching my PR, which means I ran my best. Now I have to keep working to get better.”

“It was a little different with two races in the 100 hurdles today. I knew I had to run my race in the prelims and not worry about qualifying for the final. I knew running a clean race would get me to the final.”

“After winning the NCAA team title as a freshman, now I qualify for the World Juniors with a first-place finish at Juniors. There’s no better feeling than winning, especially in the 100 hurdles.

“Making the World Junior team means I have to keep working hard and keep practicing so I can get better and compete well in Canada.”

Nicholas Vena - Junior Men’s Shot Put winner

On the experience of winning two high school indoor national championships

“It’s great. Winning any national championship is great and gets you prepared. This is similar, but I feel like it’s a little bit bigger. It’s a great feeling winning these and going to the bigger meets, a little bit better prepared with what I’m going to be facing in these meets.”

On his performance today:

“Today was really good. I was very consistent with the 65 and 66-feet throws. But you know, it was the first time I ever competed with the 13-pound shot, so I’m real pleased with the series. I’ve been working the last two weeks with a 13 and it paid off.”
On making that adjustment to the bigger shot:

“It wasn’t that much. I’m a big guy and the 12-pound is a little smaller in your hand. The 13’s a little bigger, so it holds me back and I hit my positions a little better. So, it’s not a bad change. It helps me if anything.”

Alex Gochenour, Junior women’s Heptathlon winner

On taking the lead:

“I knew I had to beat her by 14 seconds. We had all been talking and she said her best was a 2:35, so I knew I had to get at least a 2:20 to get a definite win. I just went out and run as hard as I could and see what happens.”

“To be able to win an event in nationals over all these older girls is an awesome feeling.”

On closing the distance to win the race:

“It makes the win even better because I had to beat her by that fourteen seconds, which is huge. That’s a huge amount of time. To go out there and be able to do it was tough. I’ve closed a nine second gap to win before, but fourteen is a lot more than nine. It was an awesome feeling to be able to go out there and do that.”

On running with Fountain:

“It’s hard to just go out and lead that race by yourself, so it’s nice to have someone with me to push me. At about 1:25 left, she started to kick and I just went with her.”

Bridget Franek, Women 3000 Meter Steeplechase Heat 1 Winner

On the race: “I guess I would say my thought process was very similar going into the preliminaries at the NCCA meet. It is a lot different because of the weather, but basically I wanted to get through without any slip-ups or mishaps and exerting as little effort as possible.”

On her race strategy: “My strategy was to just sit in the middle and then take it when I felt that I could without spending too much energy.”

On preparation: “It’s definitely a tribute to my coach and time at Penn State. They prepared me very well for this meet and this championship season in my season year. For that, I am really thankful and just glad to be feeling so good right now.”

Lisa Aguilera, Women’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase Heat 2 Winner

On the weather: “It was very hot and humid out there, but it felt good.”

On leading the race: “I hadn’t planned on leading, however, I felt comfortable and it was good to stay out of the way of any falls, so I just stayed there.”

On the race: “It was a good tune-up. This year, we have two days of rest between prelims and the finals. It’s okay if we run a bit harder.”

Brittany Smith - Junior Women’s Shot Put winner

On having back to back events (shot put to hammer throw):

“I’m tired. I think in shot I’m more consistent. I think with the hammer, I’m not as consistent. Shot was my best chance of getting in so now I’m just more relaxed. I think if I didn’t do shot then I’d be more nervous. But I think now I’m more relaxed. I am tired though. It’s hot out there!”

On qualifying for the IAAF World Junior Championships July 19-25 in Moncton, Canada:

“I haven’t even thought about it yet. I’ve barely been able to go home. I actually just got here from being home. I got a couple of days off and I just went home and relaxed. I’ll train some, but I think he’ll give me a week off, and then I’ll just come back and go to school . I think I’ll just go home and go to school.

On having the longest season of her career:

“It’s been so long, a lot longer than expected. It’s okay though, you know? I think… My biggest thing is just going back to school and just throwing and, getting more reps in and working on the little stuff.”

Phoebe Wright - Women’s 800 Meter Run Heat 1 winner

On accomplishing her goal of the race:”I wanted to get out in the front and stay out of trouble - just kind of make it a smooth effort.”

On continuing her roll off the NCAA Division I championship in the 800:

“Yeah, I haven’t lost one yet. Hopefully it won’t start this week. The confidence helps, but now I get to tangle with the big dogs.”

On how she likes the track:

“I’ve always liked this track. I like that it’s a non-biased, good location with pretty good weather. I think it’s one of the best tracks to host a big event like this.”

Alysia Johnson — Women’s 800 Meter Run heat 2 winner

On how she feels after her first outdoor competition of the year:

“I feel good actually. I’m excited to get the round done because this is my first race outdoors. So it just kind of feels like today was my first race and I needed to get the cobwebs out.”

On how the race followed her strategy for it:

“Perfectly. Yeah, I just wanted to qualify easily and not go for PR now. I’m in shape to PR, but I was just excited to get the round done.”

On how she runs similar to Phoebe Wright in that both run out front and push the pace:

“You know what, I’m not really thinking about anybody else but myself. It doesn’t really matter whether someone’s way out in front or behind me just as long as I execute my race plan.”

Geena Gall — Women’s 800 Meter Run heat 3 winner

On how she felt about the race and the effort:

“It was pretty much how I felt I’d go out. I just stuck behind Nikeya [Green] for the whole race and I felt comfortable - I felt really good. I’ve been having some good training since New York a couple of weeks ago and I’m definitely ready for this week. And yeah, to qualify top 3, definitely means a lot and is good for my confidence coming in. This is my third 800 of the year, so it’s definitely an adjustment getting back to running these 8’s.”

On her strategy to hug the inside for most of the race:

“How they put us on the line with that waterfall start, I had to get out quick so I wouldn’t get boxed in. I didn’t want to get cutoff or trip and get into any of that mess. So I played it smart. I could have stayed right up there with her [Green], but I let her take most of the wind and take the lead. I don’t want to lead until I have to. I started kicking with 150 meters to go and closed well. It felt good.”

Tyler Mulder,men’s 800m heat 1 winner

The coach told me to sit and settle in the first 400 and let all the other guys beat each other up. A lot of guys have the same tactic. Everyone wants to get out in the 51 range. It’s like a faster pace. I just tended back, let everyone jostle and try to build into it. I wanted to put myself into position for the last 200 to 150 to get the automatic bid without having to sit here and watch the other heats and be nervous and worry. I did a lot of weaving and everything. I really don’t run that tactically. But it was good.

Karjuan Williams, men’s 800m heat 2 winner

As you know, it was a tactical race. You can’t go to sleep at any time. You have to make sure you are awake, active and ready to push. You have to work, weather you are in the back or the front. You have to be constant to keep going.

Nick Symmonds, men’s 800m heat 3 winner

Usually, they put us (Oregon Track Club Elite member) all in the same heat and we have to kill each other to get through. I was really happy with the draw. I’m happy all of us made it through. We can take care of it in the semis. It felt good out there. I was really nervous about the heat and the humidity. But it felt so good, with perfect temperature/conditions to run fast.

I’m excited for finals. I tried to move up on the inside in the backstretch, because everyone was running on the outside of lane 1. I thought I might be able to ride this all the way to the front. I made up a few spots up, but then I kind of ran out of space. I thought I better wait and move to the outside. Fortunately, I only had to let a couple of guys pass before I could move out. But, I don’t think I am going to make that mistake in the finals. I was kind of playing around with tactics a bit. That my tactically soundest race. But I was kind of able to switch through the gears and see what I had in my legs.

Neamen Wise - Junior Mens Decathalon winner

On maintaining the lead after the 100m:

“I know my second day isn’t as good as my first day so I knew I might have to notch it up a bit. But I had a little confidence. I knew he had to beat me [to win] so all I had to do was stay on him.”

On having a personal best in point total:

“It’s the first time I’ve done the decathlon in a year because I tore my hamstring. So I was expecting a personal best.”

On the recovery of his hamstring injury:

“Two weeks ago I was at 75%. But [the injury] has helped me focus on my technique a lot more.”

Shannon Rowbury - Women’s 1,500 Meter Run heat 1 winner

On the goal of taking it easy and moving on, until the pace picked up in the final lap:”I knew that would happen [the competition in the final lap with Shalene Flanagan and Christin Wurth]. I was just figuring it with two laps or one lap to go, the girls would pick it up. So I just made sure that I was there and just stayed with it to finish the race and make sure that I was automatic [for the final].”

On how she feels this year compared to last year at this time as she attempts to repeat as champion:

“I feel good. It’s hotter out there so my feet are a little bit warm and it’s hotter in here [the media mix zone] than it is out there, so I’m looking forward to getting cooled down. But I feel really good.”

On the fact that so many runners in this field are running low 4:00’s:

“You know, I think it’s good. It keeps me working [to get a little bit better]. I mean I already work to get a little bit better, but when the competition in the U.S. is at such a high level, it helps me raise the bar even more. It prepares me for European competition, and that’s what I want.”

Erin Donahue - Women’s 1,500 Meter Run heat 2 winner

On the strategy of jumping to the lead and running from the front in a preliminary race:

“Well you know, the way they had us set up, they were taking the top three and next six fastest. So I was fortunate that I got into the second heat and had an opportunity to see what the first heat did. And I knew I just had to be in the top nine times - just be under 4:20 basically. And I was just getting bumped around a little bit in the first lap to lap-and-a-half, and I could feel the pace coming back a little bit. And I’m like, ‘You know what? I can go out and run the right pace, no problem, and it will be easier for me to do out front then in the back, and not get tripped up.’ So that’s what I did.”

On how she felt on the track with the weather conditions:

“This is the first time I’ve been to the track and run on it and it’s great. It’s a really nice stadium. The heat and humidity I’m pretty much used to. I’m from outside Philadelphia and this has been the weather the past month or so. I got really acclimated to it by the beginning of May. So I’m ready for this kind of heat and it didn’t really affect me that much.”

Debbie Dunn, Women’s 400 Meter Dash heat 1 winner

On the race: “Today was the first round. We have two more rounds to go. Today, I just wanted to get out there and run my heat to prepare for tomorrow.”

On her improvement over the years: “I’m trying to work my way up there. Training harder, practice, and being mentally focused is the goal. I’m a fighter, so we’ll see what happens.”

On competing this year: “It’s an off year, but I’m not going to sit out. I am going to keep training because next year and the year after are big years. I figured, why waste time when I could be here.”

Sanya Richards-Ross Winner, Women’s 400 Meter Dash Heat 2 winner

On the race: “I was okay. It was my first race of the year and I kind of wasn’t sure how to judge it. Coach will probably tell me I was a little slow through two and lazy on the curve. Shana Cox ran great in lane two, so I really had to come home strong. I feel strong, my training paid off. I just have to get the speed going and hopefully a fast time will come.”

On the win: “To come out and win my heat and feel good was good. Tomorrow I get to try it again and then, for the final, hopefully I will be sharp enough.”

On the competition: “These ladies are running tough and have a few more races in than I do, so I am just going to go out and do my best.”

Alex Anderson, Women’s 100 Meter Dash Heat 1 winner

On the season: “Last year was a long year for me. I am excited, looking forward to going over seas, but I’m looking forward to going overseas.”

On the weather: “You know, I think I brought the heat here. This has been kind of nice, lately we’ve been practicing in 103-105, and that’s either early in the morning or late in the evening.”

On taking a break in race schedule: “I did it really for training purposes. I knew this season was going to be slow and the next two are major years, so I felt a break was the best decision training wise.”

Allyson Felix, Women’s 100 Meter Dash Heat 2 winner
On the race: “I felt okay, it was the first round and an opportunity to improve.”

On the cheers for her: “I’m not the favorite, I never think I’m the favorite. It’s a lot of fun to just get the speedwork. This is just one of a few 100’s I will run this year and I’m just having some fun with it.”

On her plans for the race: “I am just working on some things. Being a non-championship year. This is just a way to have some fun and get some speed work.”

LaShaunte’a Moore, Women’s 100 Meter Dash Heat 3 winner

On her heat: “The start was a bit shaky, but at the same time I wanted to get out and win while using the least amount of energy possible. Getting out in lane eight was a little rough because no one was in seven, I couldn’t feel anybody there.”

Kyle Ballew - Junior Men’s Pole Vault winner

On his winning day:

“It was definitely hard to get started. I had a third attempt make on my second bar and that’s kind of discouraging on some points, but I tried to stay focused. I knew what I came here to do and that was to compete. So I got right back in there to try and get some first attempt bars, and that’s what it came down to in the end.”

On his winning vault, which equaled his PR:

“I actually went up to a stiffer pole to make sure I had enough gas in it to get over the bar. And it ended up paying off big with that first attempt clearance. So I’m glad of that.”

On just missing a PR at 16-10.75, just hitting the bar on his way down on his first attempt:

“I got at least one good look at it. But it’s not discouraging when you miss a bar because when you come that close, you obviously know you just need to make a couple of minor adjustments and you can definitely come back on the next attempt and get it. But I was kind of dealing with some wind that was shifting a little and I was starting to get a little fatigued too at that time.”

On what it means to be a USA Track & Field junior champion:

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Steven Wiley, men’s 400 meters Heat 1 winner

I took it out smooth. I was kind of out there by myself because a couple of guys scratched. I had to run my own race. When they caught me on the home stretch, I just kicked it in and finished hard. I’m good going day-to-day, 24 hours between a race. I can come back strong. I didn’t know how fast I was going through the first 200. I had to go off my own pace and experience. I felt like no one was in the race until the middle of the second turn.

Jeremy Wariner, men’s 400 meters Heat 3 winner

I did what I needed to do to qualify for the next round. I think my first 200 was good. I kept them too close for me. But I’ll take the victory. Today was just to loosen the legs for the semifinals and qualify for the next round. My time wasn’t what I wanted. But I qualified for the next round. That was the most important thing.

Jamaal Torrence, men’s 400 meters Heat 4 winner

It felt kind of pretty good, but kind of sluggish. I was trying to get back in race shape. I am taking it round by round. I am looking forward to a good race.

LeJerald Betters, men’s 400 meters Heat 2 winner

I was just trying to go to the next round. I was just trying to be the first one to the 300 and judge the competition for the final 100 and try to save as much energy as I can. The first race is always a little tight. But it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I feel real good.

Leroy Dixon, men’s 100 meters winner Heat 2

I was a little nervous. I haven’t run in about three weeks. I just wanted to come out and get a good race. I’m happy. But I am always happy because God has given me a gift and I am able to come out and use it. The legs feel pretty good. But I can tell you better after tomorrow.

Travis Padgett, men’s 100 meters heat 1 winner

The race went pretty good. I just wanted to come out, run my race and try to get through to the next round. I felt pretty good. The only thing I hated was the wind. I could feel the wind as I was running. I hope tomorrow the wind dies down and I can run a whole lot better. I have kind of been up and down. But that’s due to my training and everything. I’m expecting to run faster. I’m trying to get on the right track and hopefully it starts here.

Walter Dix, men’s 100 meters heat 3 winner

It was good. I don’t know if I got out like I was supposed to. I felt strong at the end. The race went well.

Trevor Dunbar, Junior Men’s 5000 Meter winner

On the pace: “It was slowing down when I took over. I could have just waited to kick until the end, but I felt like that would be cheapening my abilities. I just wanted an honest race. I didn’t make too bold of a move, it was just to pick up the pace and string out the field.”

On taking the lead: “If someone does come up behind me, it makes the race easier. You don’t have to focus on keeping your pace as much; you just focus on beating that person and having a race on your hands.”

On making the World Team: “My dad said he wasn’t coming to this meet because he was going to go to the Canada meet. He already bought his ticket, I think. To be able to make that trip, now, finally feels good. I got that monkey off my back.”

Erica McLain - Women’s Triple Jump Winner

On her winning day, which included just two legal marks:

“My goal coming in was definitely American record. It was a little hard, I’m pretty sure my second jump probably was it - maybe a couple jumps in there too where I fouled by a toenail. So I was little upset there at the end. But it’s the most courageous performance I think I ever had.”

On why it was such a courageous performance:

“I’ve actually been reading a couple sports psychology books and the one I just finished was by Gary Mack called ‘Mind Gym.’ Our head football trainer at Stanford recommended that I read it and it had a lot of good things in it. So I was just out there focusing on my breathing, trying really hard to stay present - both thinking about the past jump, not thinking about the outcome of the meet. And I think that allowed me to get the big jumps that I had, even though they were small fouls.”

On her performance on a track she really likes:

“I’ve always jumped really well here. This is where I jumped my 47-11.75 — I think it was - and that was my last jump ever in college in 2008 when the NCAAs were here.”

Galen Rupp -Men’s 10,000 Meter winner

On repeating his championship in a slow pace:”Yeah, you never know what to expect in these races. But last year, the NCAAs kind of got me used to it. You just go out slow and be ready for anything. It’s like Al Davis [Oakland Raiders' owner] says, ‘Just win baby.’ That’s all I’m trying to do in these races.”

On his winning kick:

“It was 600 meters. Yeah, there were a couple of situations I’ve had where I had to make a big move to catch up to some guys because I was sitting back maybe a little too far. But they threw in some good moves here and there every once in a while that always throw your rhythm off a little bit, or take a little bit out of you. But I just try and relax as much as possible and wait to make my move to the front until the end.”

On whether he started his winning kick at the time he planned it:

“You know you just kind of feel it out coming in, judging by what’s going on on how early I would go. But I felt confident at that point that I could hold it all the way through. And I put a little distance on him pretty quickly. So when that happens, you say ‘OK, I’ve got to make the move now and go for the kill.’”

Amy Begley, Women’s 10000 Meter winner

On the weather: “We got a huge break with the weather. We were really anticipating it to be so much hotter, so much more humid. When I saw how slow the guys were going, I thought maybe it was a bit more humid than I thought. I saw my coach right before the race and he said that it must be deceptively humid because the guys were slow. When I got out there, I thought it was fine.”On following the leader: “I am usually the one that leads and people sit on me. Alberto told me to wait until 800 to go. I was like ‘I feel really guilty doing that’. I mean, I am ten years older than Lisa and I feel bad sitting on her for 25 laps. At three laps to go, he said to go at 400, but I went at 500 because I was a little impatient.”

On her goal: “At the world level, they close in 56 seconds. Right now, my goal is just to get closer and closer to 60 seconds on that last lap.”

On the race: “This race was great, defending my title. Maybe I can make it four in a row.”

On a repeat fight in the 2012 Olympics: “That would be great. I think Lisa’s the next up and coming 10K runner. I have ten years on her so hopefully my age doesn’t start wearing on me.”

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