2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships Day 6 Team USA evening quotes

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Vicky Oddi
USA Track & Field
Communications Coordinator
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2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships Day 6 Team USA evening quotes

Trey Hardee (Austin, Texas), men's decathlon gold medalist


"I think I've said it a million times tonight, Everything happens for a reason, and I'm honored. I feel like I represented the people to the best of my ability, and you can't ask for anything more.


This victory isn't as sweet without last year (when he no-heighted in the pole vault). That was great motivation, unbelievable motivation for this past fall, the spring, and my mental preparation going into this meet.


The shot put was big-it was exciting. The javelin's going to go far.


After the Texas Relays when I strained my hamstring, we didn't do anything for six weeks, and then to go to Gotzis and almost PR set the tone for the rest of this season.


After the confidence we got from Gotzis, we trained right through USAs.


The decathlon is a two day physical and emotional battle with yourself and with the field. I'm getting better at that, and getting better at all ten events.


Jake Arnold (Tuscon, Arizona), Men's decathlon


I started out with a PR in the first event and I thought that this was going to be a great meet. I finished, and I'm glad I'm here at worlds. Even with one of my worst days, I was still 24th. I wished I could have done better.


I've been lucky in my decathlon career in that when I have a bad event, I turn around and PR in the next event


Ashton Eaton (Eugene, Oregon), Men's decathlon


I felt good just being here. The fact that I got over 8000 points again is good for me, especially this late in the season. This is my fifth decathlon this year.


The hurdles weren't so great. The discus wasn't so great. I was around my PR during the pole vault, but it was in the middle of the day when it was getting so hot. The javelin was just an average event for me. By the time the 1500 got around, I was just happy to be with the guys.


My plane actually leaves in five hours! I go from here to Amsterdam, and then to Portland.


Tiffany Williams (Kissimmee, Fla.), 5th in Women's 400-meter hurdles


I gave it my all. I got a season best. Technically, it was a great race. I'm thankful to God. I'm disappointed I didn't get a medal. But I am thankful to God I got here.


Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.), Women's 400-meter hurdles silver medalist


I had a bad technical race. I could run much better. I'm so disappointed. I messed it up in the final race. But it happened. I haven't been to a championship in a couple of years. I can't be upset with getting a silver medal. I will look toward the future. I know I can do better.


Charles Clark (Virginia Beach, Va.), 6th in Men's 200


With this crowd, I was so happy to be pout there. To race against the world and be No. 6, I am so blessed. I am thankful for the opportunity. I'm thankful for all the support I get back home.


Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles), 4th in Men's 200


I wanted to come out and run a personal best. But I can't complain. I did what I could do to pick those guys off as fast as I could.

(On Usain Bolt) I felt like I was in a video game and that guy was moving. I think my race was pretty good compared to what I felt in the quarters. I felt good to go up under 20. I was hoping to go 19.51, but that didn't happen. I think I ran a pretty good race for running in Lane 8. The first part I liked, about 150, 160. Then I started breaking down and couldn't keep my knees up. Up to that point, I really enjoyed the race.


Wallace Spearmon (College Station, Texas), Men's 200 bronze medalist


It's another world record race I have been in. Usain Bolt is a great competitor. He's Jamaican, he's fast and he's what the world needs in track and field right now. I'm so happy I can finish the race, come to the medal stand and not be disqualified this year. I ran a great race, I can't complain. I was hoping for at least a silver, but I got a bronze. I'm one of the top three. I ran a season best. I was hoping to run a little bit harder on the turn. It might have seemed like I ran a good turn. But I went out there and I tried. I started training in February. Anything I did this year was a blessing.


David Payne (Covington, Ky.), Men's 110 high hurdles


I wanted to win the gold. I was in contention for the gold. I hit a hurdle I kind of fell back. I still tried to go with the pace. I tried to catch Terrence. But they gave him the silver. I'm glad for my teammate. We both got medals. But at the same time, we both wanted the gold. It was a good race.


Terrence Trammell (Atlanta), Men's 110 high hurdles


I think between 5 and 9 or 6 and 9, that normally where I make a surge. At that point in the race, where I get the surge, they got the lead. These things happen. I'm happy to make the podium again, especially after last year. That was a very tough injury to overcome. I'm grateful to be back. I'm looking forward to competing in more races. I didn't get a good start. But between 2 and 5, it was really good.


Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.), Men's long jump


That was what my plan was. I know that I am fit. I knew that 8.15 would be an easy mark for me. I'm just looking forward to Saturday and produce a great effort. I wanted to get a good, decent jump. I had to slow down a lot. I got the jump in. I'm going better prepare myself and be hyped for Saturday and I'm going to see how I can produce some better results.


Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.), men's 5,000 meters


It was a challenge. There was a lot of pushing and shoving. It was step one. That's all I can take out of it. That's what we train for to get people to the final. Now it's a clean slate and we all start from scratch on Sunday and get ready for a very hard final.
Chris Solinsky (Madison, Wisc.), men's 5,000 meters


It was a tough race. Being in the first heat, it's traditionally a little bit slow. To see the Kenyans work together at the beginning, I was very pleasantly surprised. It took a lot of stress off me. I'm confident in my abilities to finish. As soon as it came down to the top five, I could have done it. When they were running fast, I tried to chance a little bit by letting up. The fact that I was sixth, and when I saw the clock ticking down in the teens and I had only a few meters, I was confident 13:20 would be good enough.


Evan Jager (Beaverton, Ore.), Men's 5,000 meters


It was a great experience. I learned a lot from it. We got thrown in a rough situation. The first heat was fast. We had to run even faster to get 10 guys in. I think that's what the leaders decided to do with about 2K to go. They started pushing and it was a really long grind for me. I'm more of a kicker. I have more foot speed to close at the end of a race. I tend to run a decently fast, even paced race. It didn't play to my strength at all. It was kind of a hard situation to be in.


It was great competition. I was running with the best in the world. It was a lot of fun to get in and compete with those guys, bump elbows with them, literally. There was shoving and pushing through the entire race. You have to do that. Matt (Tegenkamp) told me not to be afraid to do that. It was my first real experience, getting out there and doing really getting physical, and running fast with a great time. It was a big thing I learned today. I definitely want to return. It makes it even better to know I have two more years to develop. I'm still really young. This was my first real year of training. I have never gone out with that much strength before this. It makes me excited knowing I have two more years until the next championship race. I know I am going to improve on my race.


Brian Johnson (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Men's long jump


Glad to make it to the finals. I made it difficult for myself, but I'm glad to make my first final ever. This is a stepping stone, and now it's time to get ready for the finals. I don't think I was as aggressive (the first two rounds) as I was on the last one.
It was like, 'I just gotta run fast, and see what happens'.


Miguel Pate (St. Francisville, Louisiana), Men's long jump


It was a little rough tonight. I was banged up last month, and I've had foul problems, and the combination's finally caught up with me. I tried to move my step back, but the more I moved back, the more I reached for the board, and the more I did that, the more I hurt my back. During the set-up, I felt that I was out of position.


It may be emotions speaking, but I'm about ready to shut it down now.


Charonda Williams (Tempe, Arizona), Women's 200 meters


It was pretty tough. In the last 50 meters, I started pressing. It would have been better if I had stayed with my technique.


Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, California), Women's 200 meters


I felt like I conserved a lot of energy tonight. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.


Muna Lee (College Station, Texas), Women's 200 meters


It never seems that easy, but as long as I run technically correct, I won't feel any of the bad parts. Since I ran it right, I won't be sore tomorrow--that's the plan! I'm ready and I'm excited!


Amy Acuff (Isleton, California), 12th in women's high jump


I bet the house on a fast, aggressive approach that I know I can jump 2 meters on, but I couldn't time it. Tonight was either going to be very good or very bad. I wasn't going to use the approach that I can safely jump 1.95 or 1.96 with.


Chaunte Howard (Decatur, Georgia), 7th in women's high jump


It didn't go as well for me as I expected, but it was a fabulous competition to watch. Blanka (Vlasic) has had a few rough years where she's been so close, so it was nice to see her get it tonight. Ariane (Friedrich) had the weight of a country on her shoulder, so it was nice to see her get a medal as well.


It was even amazing to see how quiet the stadium got when Ariane said "shhhh!" It was exciting to watch and even more amazing to be participating.


My jump at 1.96 was a really great clearance, and I had a great clearance at 1.99--I just couldn't hold my hips up. It's heart breaking because you train all year for this moment.




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