2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships Day 6 Team USA morning quotes

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Contact:
Vicky Oddi
USA Track & Field
Communications Coordinator
+4917617368884; Vicky.Oddi@usatf.org


2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships Day 6 Team USA morning quotes

Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.), Men's 800

I had to match all the moves down the stretch and make sure that nothing terrible happens. I felt good enough. I made a couple of spurges that I didn't want to have to make. But that's the way you get through the rounds. I was in good position with 100 to go. The stadium is one of the best I have ever raced in. It's beautiful. I like the layout. I love the free and open grounds around it that I can warm up in. The track is fine. I ran my PB on a track much like this one.

Ryan Brown (Seattle), Men's 800

The race was faster then I expected to be off the first 200. At first, I was worried, but then I thought it was good. There are time qualifiers, too. I kind of got caught in the back. A guy fell at about 450, and that's when the race started to pick up. I got a little bit detached from the leaders a little bit. I had to catch up through 600 and catch up through 700. It feels good. I ran sub-1:47. It's my first time here and I wanted to get some experience. If I make it through to the next round, it's even more bonus. It's been a wonderful experience. I love this. This is what track is all about. I want to come back every time I can.

Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.), Men's 800

Getting in is what matters. What you saw in all the other races, women's 800 and some of the other heats, some of the women barely got it, but they got in and did really well. It was the same thing in the 400 and the hurdles. But you never know what happens the next day. I had a pretty tough heat. I wasn't too concerned at first. But then I realized I have the Olympic champion and the world champion in my heat. I had to stay focused. I made it through, though I didn't do as well as I thought I should have. Who knows? We all have days where one day you feel bad and the next day you feel great, and vice versa. I'm hoping tomorrow feel like today and I can compete. If my body does what I trained it to do, I will be fine.

Derek Miles (Tea, South Dakota), men's pole vault

It was a bit of a stain on a good pair of underwear; that's what that is. There were some jumps that I timed up really well, and some jumps where I was fighting it. Fortunately, I have my coach here, so we can go back and talk about things that I was missing.

I know I'm capable of jumping well; I just cleared 19 feet 5 days ago easy. I just need to find my rhythm down the runway. When I'm timed up the runway and I'm running well, the jump's easy. I got three hours of sleep last night, and the body's firing and missing.

Jeremy Scott (Brookland, Arkansas), men's pole vault

It was a struggle the whole day. I'm not happy; the qualifying height was well within my range, and I just couldn't get things going in the right direction.

I was working on my run-up when I got over here to Europe, and I got that down. The transition from the run to the jump wasn't real fluid. I felt a little bit out of myself today. I had two or three jumps where I felt, 'What just happened?', when normally I can tell right away what I just did.

Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills, Calif.), women's hammer throw

The one-and-done is better (than the personal best). You come in here and that's your goal for anybody in the throws. Try to hit it on your first, get out and rest up for the finals. I'm glad that I was able to do that. The personal best was also a good thing, too. But I am more happy to be moving on to the finals.

Coming in, I was focused on doing my best. I was going to attack each throw, if it came down to taking three throws. That's something I have been preparing for in practice. I'm glad I was able to execute on the first throw. The throw felt good. I have a little more in the tank. I'm going to rest and we'll see what happens in the finals.

Erin Gilreath (Munice, Ind.), women's hammer throw

It was interesting. I don't what else to say about it. I've been training really great since I got here. Considering the season I had last year where I finished 12th at the Olympic Trials and not going to Beijing, it was really just a goal to come back and compete at this level. A small goal was completed as I got on the team. I wanted to try and make the final, but that didn't work out. I'm going to go home, visit with my family, go to a friend's wedding, then start training again.

Amber Campbell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), women's hammer throw

(On her second throw) I knew the throw was good. I tried to relax into it, letting my arms and legs do the work. I was happy with the result. I wasn't quite sure that I made it because I was right on that bubble, at about eighth or ninth. I wasn't relaxed until the last thrower made her throw. It wasn't a sure thing until I saw my name on the board in the top 12. Then we are good.


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