Athlete Quotes - Day 2 (Sunday 8/5)

Mens 100m final

Maurice Greene: No one is just going to give you the gold medal. You have to come out here and fight for it, and be willing to actually die for it. Im just thankful for finishing the race the way I did and that I was able to pull it out. We had eight fast guys out there, and everyone is coming for one thing the gold medal. Im not going to just them break it (his string of World Championships victories). Theyre going to have to take it.

On leading a renaissance in U.S. sprinting: The mission is becoming accomplished.

On his injured left leg: I felt something in my quad, then I took another step, and I felt something in my hamstring in the last 10 to 15 meters of the race. I am not running the 200. I dont know if Im going to run the relay. If Im a hundred percent, I will run, but Im not going to jeopardize the United States relay team with my ego, going out there if Im not a hundred percent. Im not going to do that. I believe those guys are very good, and if Im not healthy, I know they can accomplish what they want to do.

Tim Montgomery: I said I was going to leave everything I had on the track. You cannot give a champion like Maurice anything at the start. And with the false start, I gave too much. I know I was on world-record pace, because you dont run a 9.82 if youre not on world-record pace, with a start like I had. I ran 9.85, he just posted 9.82, so its my job to go out there and beat that time. On his false start: I was (catching Greene at the end). After the start, I looked, and Maurice Greene was out there. And I was like, I must go get him. I just ran out of room. I know I have 9.75 in my heart. I came out here to put it all on the line, and Maurice Greene proved to me why hes a champion.

Bernard Williams: I was relaxed, running pretty composed. Officially I didnt get the gold, but I was blessed with the bronze. Im pleased because I gave the U.S. what I had, everything I had. I planned on being the man this week, but I came up two medals short. I plan to be there in the future. Now I know I can run with the best of them, but I have a lot of hard work to do. I broke down within 85 to 90 meters, but I kept my composure.

Womens heptathlon final

Shelia Burrell: It feels a lot better than it did two years ago. Im sitting on top of the world. The whole meet felt really easy. Even running the 800, which is one of my better events, I knew all I had to do was hang onto the Russians, no matter what they ran. I just had to be close enough to them in order to maintain my position. I had three PRs in this meet, so I had a great meet. I scored 6500, but I PRd still, overall. It had to be the grace of god, because it was too easy. when Barber went out, I thought I might have a chance to be on the podium. Im sure pretty much everybody thought the same thing. I was sad she went out, but I have to say there was an opportunity for anybody to take it, and I just thank god that I was able to take advantage of it. I did good, but there are still some things I would like to accomplish.

DeDee Nathan: I had a good time. I enjoyed watching Shelia medal for the first time. Im pleased with the second day, for the most part. I should be fast, I was doing good speedwork, but it just didnt show up here, and I dont really know why. The high jump (was her undoing).

Womens 1,500m semifinals

Sarah Schwald: I felt really good. Especially as the race got going, I was feeling better and better. I really thought with about 300 meters to go that I was sitting fine. Then that girl fell, and its really difficult to regain momentum when you come to a stop. The girl right in front of me is the one that fell. I think it was more unfortunate than anything. Theres really not much you can do. It wasnt like I got into this race and died. Ive had a great year. Of course I really would have liked to make the final. I really think I can run with those girls. Ive been running well, Ive been running consistent, and I really think Ive shown that I belong in some of these races.

Suzy Favor Hamilton: With about 600 to go, there was a big pack and somebody fell, and I was right there. I totally stumbled and lost my stride. I just lost my composure. Once you break your rhythm like I did, its just hard to get back. So with a lap to go, I thought theres no way Ill catch them, Id lost too much distance. So instead of wearing myself out on another lap, I decided I shouldnt finish this one and just save myself for Zurich. I had felt totally fine. Everyone was just so tightly packed. It totally broke my stride and played with my mind. They all went ahead. Its hard to get your composure back when something like that happens. Thats the way this sport works sometimes.

Mens 800m semifinals

David Krummenacker: It was tough. I knew it was going to be like a final. I just didnt have it today. I felt flat. With 300 meters to go, I tried to make a move.

Mens 400m semifinals

Antonio Pettigrew: I was just flat today. Once I got running, I could have caught him if I wanted to, but I shut it down the last 5 meters. I knew I got second, so I wasnt worried about my place. Tomorrow Ill run them to the wire. I dont feel that anybody will have enough foot speed, if Im right there with them, to hold up to win. Im real confident I can win it. Its going to be a good race.

Leonard Byrd: I felt good coming out. I think I went out too hard for the first 200. After we got to the straightaway, I tried to push it and it wasnt happening.

Jerome Young: I just think this year is not my year, at all. I tried to do the best I can, but its just not a good year for me. I dont feel my endurance is the way its supposed to be.

Womens 100m 2nd round

Chryste Gaines: (The wind was) A little brisk. I was hoping to run as fast as the guys did into that wind, but I didnt quite make it. I think I got a better start this time.

Marion Jones: I felt much better about that start. I was impressed with my start today, I look forward to seeing what my reaction was. Chandra (Sturrup of the Bahamas) and I are having a little bet on the side on who can get the fastest reaction this week. Her reaction was .17 in the first round and mine was .16. (Monday) is going to be good. Chandra is running well, and Zhana (Pintusevich-Block) is going to be ready to run.

On her win streak: I can remember like it was yesterday, getting beat by Merlene (Ottey) in Japan in 97, and I didnt like that feeling. I hope its a while before I feel that feeling again.

Im looking forward to a plus (tail) wind. The wind was in my face again. With a plus 1, even a plus point-whatever, I think a 10.7, 10.6 might even be possible.

Angela Williams: It was better than the one before. It was really close, and I have a lot of work to do in the next round, since its top 4. My start is really good, but the last part of my race Ive really been working on going to another level. Hopefully that will come out tomorrow.

Kelli White: Im excited. I put it all together, finally. I feel so much more confident. Its the start.

Womens long jump qualifying

Jenny Adams: It was a little frustrating. We had a strong headwind, and my run was kind of all over the place. Tuesday will be a new day and Ill start all over again. By now, Im a little confused about what was going on. Maybe it was the wind. I felt really good today. I really expected myself to come out and jump a PR, even on my first jump. When it didnt happen, I was a little confused. Im going to have to talk to my coach.

Are you glad long jump is first? Yeah, I think so. Once you get to your second event, its easy to focus just on that. The hurdles are still in the back of my head. As I was warming up, I even wanted to do hurdle drills.

I had no idea it was going to be this exciting. You cant imagine what the experience is going to be like. Its just intense. This has been the best experience of my life.

Womens 400m Hurdles First Round

Tonja Buford-Bailey Ive been looking forward to this for a long time, coming back from having my baby, having a lot of disappointments. I was really blessed to have made the Olympic Team last year, and that gave me the confidence to know that I can still make teams and still compete with the best in the world.

Sandra Glover My first five hurdles were good, considering that Ive been struggling all year. I was just trying to establish a rhythm. Today, Im pleased, my rhythm was there.

Brenda Taylor Any time you run in a World Championship race, youve got to have a little fun. I felt pretty strong. Ive been having a little trouble the past few races, but I got out here today and knew what I had to do.

Womens 400 Meters First Round

Demetria Washington This is my first World Championships team and I was really excited to be here. Canada is a great place and there are a lot of great competitors out here and Im just happy to be able to run with them.

Michelle Collins I just wanted to go out, be confident and run smart, not too fast. That was actually a pretty easy race for me I feel good. Im just gonna take it one step at a time. Im trying to put myself on that podium.

Monique Hennagan It felt like I had a lot left. Come tomorrow, Im gonna lay it all on the line so that I can get into the finals. If I get into the finals stuff happens. It was a seasons best, but it didnt feel like my previous seasons best, it felt easier. God-willing, if I carry that on till tomorrow, then Ill be in the finals.

Womens 100 Meters First Round

Kelli White It was really hot down there. I like it hot, but its just early in the morning and I was pretty nervous last night so I didnt get much sleep (about 4 hours). But once the gun goes off, its over. Im just excited about the whole experience.

Angela Williams It was really relaxed. I got out like I needed too and found my position and held on. Its a new experience for me, Im just having fun. I felt really strong and I knew I was in control of my race. Im ready to move onto the next round and see what I can do there.

Marion Jones I sat at home yesterday and tried to examine how he (the starter) was starting and Tim (Montgomery) told me last night that hes holding everybody extremely long. Before my race, I tried to sit out there and time him and it didnt work. I got out there and I wasnt even quite set in the blocks, I was still rocking a bit, and he said set and I had to come up and then he held, it seemed like one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three. You just have to adjust, Im not complaining.

High Jump Qualifying Round

Charles Austin Everything went the way I wanted it to go. Now I can focus on the job ahead. I think I can win and thats why Im here. When the time comes that I dont think I can win, I wont come. Basically Im home here. Its nice to not have to compete half way across the world.

Nathan Leeper It didnt go so great. Its been a long time since Ive jumped and it felt like the first time. I never hit the right place twice.

Dave Furman I was nervous going into my first jump, then each time the bar went up, I started pressing more. Ill take a lot from this and make the final next time.