Athlete Quotes

Day 1 Quotes

Long Jump

Miguel Pate - winner, men's long jump: "I'm still in college, but I only have indoor season left. So in one week I'll be done. I knew something special could happen, because last year I jumped 27-even. I knew I was going to jump far, I didn't think 28 (feet), but something special."

On jumping the 3rd all-time farthest jumper: "I really haven't had a chance to think about it. It feels great even being mentioned in the same breath (Carl) Lewis and (Ivan) Pedroso. What can I say, I don't know what to say. I'm shocked. But just to be mentioned in the same breath with those guys, it's an honor."

Weight Throw

John McEwen - winner, men's weight throw: "Going into the last throw I knew that Kevin's (Mannon) last throw had tied me for the lead. I love the competition. For some people it freaks them out to have competition. Not me, I want someone to challenge me because I can bounce back and overcome adversity. I wanted to dig deep and win it outright. It fired me up. This really means a lot to me. Winning the national title last year was awesome, but to repeat and defend it is really an awesome feeling."

Shot Put

Adam Nelson - winner, men's shot put: "I recently made a move to Athens, Georgia that's really paying off. Christian Cantwell came out here and surprised all of us today. Everyone knew that he was capable of throwing those distances, but to do it here with Kevin Toth, Andy Bloom and myself as the "old guard" here, that's pretty impressive. I'm in great shape right now. I feel very good and to throw this far so quickly is really fantastic."

Christian Cantwell - 2nd place, men's shot put: "This is the first competition I've been in against our elite athletes since last year's outdoor championships and I didn't do so well then. But I've had a great indoor season. I've been averaging around 66-5 when I compete, and I PR'ed last week at 67-5, and doing this today is really nice against all these guys. I've been throwing well in practice and it's just a matter of carrying it over to the competitions. I'm getting older now, I'm 21 (years-old) and the maturing is helping me a lot. We've had a lot a great shot putters in the U.S. in recent years, and someday I hope to be up there with them and lead and eventually lead with the same character that they did."

Teri Steer - winner, women's shot put: "I'm really happy because I tore my Achilles last June. I'm not even fully recovered, so I did a standing throw instead of my full throw and it felt great."

Seilala Sua - 2nd place, women's shot put: "It was an okay throw for me, not really bad, but not really good. Its kind of average, I'd hope to do better, but we'll see for outdoors. The discus is my main thing, so we'll get ready for that."

Triple Jump

Vanitta Kinard - winner, women's triple jump: "I was a little under the weather today, but I just went out there and gave it all I've got. Every jump, I tried to go further and it worked out."

Tiombe Hurd - 2nd place, women's triple jump: "I haven't jumped well this year because I hurt my leg (hyper-extended left knee) in January. I knew it was going to be tough, but I wanted to come anyway and defend my title. I just had too many fouls today and my leg wasn't there. I just didn't have it today."

3,000m

Tim Broe - winner, men's 3000m: "I've got the mile coming up and I want to double up, so I was hoping it would go as slow as possible. With 600m to go, that's where I started to grind it, cause I don't like it to come down to the last 100 meters. I turned around with 400 to go and nobody covered my move. I was on cruise from there."

Amy Rudolph - winner, women's 3000m: "I knew the race was going to be tough. Everyone is running really well right now. The pace wasn't extremely fast, but it felt pretty tough. Cheri (Kenah) was running really hard in the front. I just went when I knew I could go full blast for the tape and Cheri came around and I just tried not to panic and relax for a clean finish."

Pole Vault

Mary Sauer - winner, women's pole vault: "I didn't feel as smooth on the runway as I did earlier this year. Maybe it's a little faster than what I am used to. It's still a win and I'll take it. There are a lot more meets this spring and summer. I'm really pleased with my season. I'm getting the feel of the pole vault."

High School 4x800m

Stacy Ann Livingston - anchor leg, girl's 4x800m relay from Boy's & Girl's High School: "My teammates did a wonderful job in the first three legs and it was up to me to finish it up. We put everything that we had into it and I did all I could to bring it home as quickly as I could for my team. We're very happy."

Relay order: Akilah Varsas, Keziah Fernandez, Meisue Fernandez, Stacy Ann Livingston.

High Jump

Amy Acuff - 2nd place, women's high jump: "This was the best jumping that I've done this year. It felt good to be out there jumping."

Tisha Waller - winner, women's high jump: "It seems like Amy (Acuff) and I are always the last ones battling it out and it happened like that again today. I think its great that we go back and forth. I know for myself, it makes me train harder and I'm sure it the same for her as well."

"It was very intimate (competing in the Armory). You can really hear the fans, it's really great to have the competition here."

Mile

Jason Lunn - winner, men's mile: "I was struggling at first, just trying to relax. I really didn't get into it until about 600m. That's when I caught my breath, and it was prefect timing, because that's when everybody else started to go. I just felt like I could hold on. I just told myself to stay strong and relax."

" The Armory is the best indoor facility. I was expecting to run a good time because I heard a lot of good things about it."

Day 2 Quotes

800m

Nicole Teter - winner, women's 800m: On setting a record "I am shocked, incredibly shocked. I'm amazed. I've been training really hard and I'm training with a new team, the Nike Farm Team with Frank Gagliano and I have incredible training partners you saw of them run the mile, Mary Chandler, Sally Houser, Melissa Reedy, We all train together."

On her coach. "My Coach had no doubts with me. He just told me to go out there and get that record. It's one of the biggest compliments when your coach is backing you without any doubts."

Derrick Peterson - winner, men's 800m: "Two things, I've always loved coming to New York and any time I get to come to New York and perform like I did today, its even better. Coming out here today, I ran a great race. That was what I came out here to do and I'm happy I did it."

200m

Kelli White - winner, women's 200m: "It wasn't as fast as I wanted it to be, I've been sick for the past four or five days, but I figured I could PR on this track. I wanted to go under 23:00 today so I went out as hard as I could. I always have a little trouble coming out of the second turn, but there aren't any indoor tracks in California so it's hard to improve on that."

Shawn Crawford - winner, men's 200m: "I feel good and I'm happy that I ran faster than I did in the semis. But I would have like to have run faster than my American record. I felt like today was a good stepping stone."

60m Hurdles

Allen Johnson - winner, men's 60m hurdles: "I felt good out there. I feel like I'm in as good of shape as I've ever been. The atmosphere and the crowd are great. It's nice to have everyone cheering and the kids coming up to get your autograph."

60m

Chryste Gaines - winner, women's 60m: "There was a great lineup of ladies today. I felt good from start to finish. I heard I got a good start; that's amazing."

Terrence Trammell - winner, men's 60 meters: "I thought I got out pretty well. Lane 8 was good for me. It helped me to focus on my own race. I had a little time off after the meet in Nebraska and it helped me out. I had a bit of a down year last year. It's tough being young and fast and then having some down time. I'm happy to see it through and I'm glad to run like I did."

400m

Brandon Couts - winner, men's 400m: "I didn't run as fast as I'd like to run, but a win is a win, first national championship. This will help me out in the future. Contining with my goals, up next, is to win outdoors (championship)."

Monique Hennagan - winner, women's 400m: "I felt good today, yesterday I went out and couldn't hold it. So today, my coach (Curtis Frye) set up a plan and I was determined to hold on this time. It feels good to have my first indoor victory here at the Armory."

Race Walk

Joanne Dow - winner, women's race walk: "I felt really strong out there today. I've been really focusing on getting stronger this season. I've had some down time after the Olympic Trials in 2000. I feel like I'm finally coming back and starting to feel like my old self again."

Tim Seaman - winner, men's race walk: "It was my fifth consecutive title and I was really happy. Especially to be back at home (is from Long Island). To be at the Armory is just a great deal; and that my family and friends can be here. Its such a great facility."

Long Jump

Grace Upshaw - winner, women's long jump: "I felt like some things have really been coming together, things I've been working on this off season. I still have a long way to go, but I feel pretty good."

Mile

Regina Jacobs - winner, women's mile: "It was great. Sarah (Schwald) went out and pushed the pace, which is the way it should be. She's the future of this event and she'll be the one to lead. The race was very strategic, and she did not give it to me. The race wasn't about time for me, it was about winning and that's what I cared about, particularly since this was my last race at the Armory."

High Jump

Nathan Leeper - winner, men's high jump: "It's still really early in the season. Most of the time, you don't really have any idea of how its going to go until you get out there and jump.

On the Armory: "This is a really nice place to jump. The surface is great and the atmosphere is pretty cool."

Triple Jump

Tim Rusan - winner, men's triple jump: "I thank God for this victory. I've been working hard all year. I was injury prone last year and finally I'm injury free. The Lord has blessed me."

On his training for this season. "I didn't do anything different to train for this. I just basically tried to stay healthy."

Kenta Bell - second place, men's triple jump: "I'm pleased and disappointed at the same time (about his performance). It's my best jump of the year so far indoors, but everybody wants to win. Technically I'm pretty sound right now, I'm not handling speed very well right now, but once outdoors comes and I back up to a full approach, I'll be alright."