Athlete Quotes - Day 1

Men's 400 Qualifying heats
Heat 1
Calvin Davis 2nd place
On the race:
"The first round you try to take it a little easy. But a lot of guys ran a lot harder than I would expect anyone in the first round. Derrick (Adkins) came out look as good as he ever as. They pushed the race harder than I expected. I made it through and will get ready for tomorrow."

Health:
"I'm healthy. But now, my hamstring is grabbing and pulling. I took it easy and didn't want to do anything to aggravate it."

Notes...Adkins won the race in 49.67, with Davis second in 49.68.

Heat 3
James Carter, winner in 50.16
Weather conditions:
"Windy (laughs). But it's not as windy, but it's enough to mess with you. It's a little bit cold. But it's going to be like that sometime.

Heat 4
Joey Woody, winner in 49.54
On his race:
"I felt comfortable the whole way around. I was happy to get out here. I've been sitting around for a couple of days wanting to get things going."

Weather:
"It was a little cold but I have to train at Iowa, so I understand what the conditions are like. These are about the same as in April, early May back home. And it's always windy back home where I train. I'm not too worried about that. I'm happy with getting the win and feel comfortable the whole way.

Men's 800
Heat 1
Trinity Gray, winner
On his race:
"I think it's OK. I'm starting to feel better. I'm coming from a virus indoor and it has been a slow, slow start. I'm going to try and pick it up now."

How long out:
"I didn't run at U.S. (Indoor) Nationals. I was off about three weeks during the indoor (season). I went to start training hard too fast. I've been struggling. My legs have been too tired. I'm getting back together. I'm feeling good right now. I'll take it one day at a time. Tomorrow I'm going to try to make to the finals and see what I can do in the finals."

Heat 3
Elliot Blunt, winner 1:50.89
"I'm not even supposed to be here. I learned Tuesday that I was in the race. I haven't trained since. I got here in 1:50.89 and get in.

Jet lag
"It's tough. I got here Wednesday. It's a little different. I'm sleeping during the day. I'm getting used to it."

Weather:
"I have this on the East Coast. But there is no humidity. There is a slight wind. I'm not upset about the weather at all."

Women's 100
First round
Heat 2
Angela Williams, second 11.68
On the race:
"I felt pretty good. My thing was to get on to the next round. I want to take each thing a step at a time."

On her start:
"I got a little startled in my start. I stumbled pretty badly. I was trying to regain my focus and get back in there. Pretty much after I did that, it took me out of my game. I did what I had to do to get to the next round. Slow time, but I felt relaxed."

The weather:
"The weather is a little disappointing. I was hoping it was going to be hot and no wind. Unfortunately we all have to go through the same thing.

Inger Miller
First heat, third heat one, 11:56
Weather:
"Yesterday, it was nice and sunny. It was breezy. We saw what the U.S. Open meet was like a couple of weeks ago. We knew it would be windy. Looking at the forecast a couple of days ago, we were hoping it would be at least 75. You know, this is what you have to deal with. Who knows what it's going to be like in Madrid come September for World Cup. Who knows what it's going to be like in any competition."

Heath concerns:
"This is my first race back since I was hurt at Prefontaine. You have to take extra precautions. Warm up a little bit longer and take your time. Just because you are building up a sweat doesn't mean you are warm."

Men's 100m
First Round
Heat 1
Maurice Greene, winner of first heat in 10.22
On the next round:
I'm prepared...I'm gonna go it with my eyes closed. This is just the beginning.

On the weather:
"It don't matter about he wind, you got to take your time, get warmed up; everybody's got to deal with it."

Heat 2
Tim Montgomery, winner of second heat in 10.17

On his prospects for the rest of the day:
"I'm waiting for tonight...I'm praying harder than he [Maurice] is."

Heat 3
Jon Drummond, winner of third heat in 10.20
"I felt really good. We were expecting warmer climate and everyone wants sunshine. We all know that Stanford is a distance runner's track. It's a lot softer than what the sprinters are used to. But I felt good. It was an easy and comfortable round for me. I just wanted to come here and execute good races because it's going to be a long season. This is a weird season because there is really nothing to shoot for (outside of World Cup). But World Cup is so far at the end of the season. We are just trying to take it easy and stay focused and injury free so we can have a fast and fun season."

Heat 4
Kaaron Conwright, winner of fourth heat in 10.21
"It was a bad race. We had a lot of confusion at the start. There were a lot of people taking pictures and talking. That kind of got me distracted. My start wasn't as technically sound as I am being taught. I had to stay within myself. I had to do what my coach tells me to do and just go on. I messed it up from 50 meters. I just have to get myself together for the next round."

Women's Javelin
Serene Ross, winner 60.06m (197')
On record:
"I was not expecting a record. But I felt another throw coming. I felt I had to work for this record. At NCAAS, I had nothing to worry about."

On how she felt today:
"I felt [terrible]. I ate a strawberry yogurt blend this morning. I've spent some time in the restroom. But I felt better after moving.

On her competition:
"Any of them can come back at anytime. Erica and Kim are all great athletes and they are very supportive. You can feel the love between us when we are competing.

On prospects for the future:
"You can't muscle the javelin. I can improve if I wait longer to put my left leg down. I think a world record is obtainable for the U.S. I think its possible. Two-hundred feet is my next goal, I was hoping for that today, but I'll take what I can get."

On Lace Deal:
I love Lance Deal to death because I used to be a hammer thrower. He gives younger athletes hope. And I don't think he had the smoothies this morning.

Kevin McMahon, third place in the hammer
Injury:
"On Monday I was doing some sprints. It was the last sprint workout of the year for nationals. I was feeling really good. Then I started a little bit farther than my leg wanted to go. I thought that maybe I dodged a bullet. I've been really playing conservative all week trying not to test it. I took one throw on Wednesday and it hurt a little at the end. I thought if I keep going to the acupuncturist, keep going to the chiropractor, seeing everything. Doing everything that I can, I was optimistic I was going to be 100 percent. That's the way it turned out. It was a groin strain."

First throw:
"I knew it was going to hurt. During the warm-up throws I just dumped it out there. I knew I had just one throw. My first throw was kind of, 'it was going to hurt but let's do this.' I didn't train all year not to throw. I'm a little disappointed. But I should be grateful. There wasn't a chance I was going to compete at all. I lost to two really great hammer throwers and two great human beings. So, all things considered, I should count my blessings."

Lance Deal, winner in the hammer:
After he was allowed to get back, he just figured that he was going to throw for old-time sake.
"I just got out there and it just filled up my heart. I didn't miss it at all. I said goodbye it in Sacramento at the Trials. I said goodbye it in Sydney standing at the edge of the stadium, leaving the qualifying round. I said goodbye to it at the end of the Grand Prix finals. But when I got out there, it was so much fun to be there. It took me about two months to get after it because I had so work to do, building some discus cages. I started gradually and slowly. It has been a real joy. I get out at track meets and can't keep from smiling."

Men's 1500m
Bryan Berryhill, winner heat 1, 3:52.60

On his race:
"I wanted to go out there and win. Last year at NCAAS, I knew I was in the best shape three. But here I wanted to wait. It's only the semi-finals."

On his injury:
"My jury is good now, although I missed a couple of weeks."

On his goals for the future:
"I'm in a new training group this year. Making the World Championships next year is my main focus after this."

Women's 100 semifinal
Chryste Gaines, winner heat 1 in 10.96 (+0.7)
On the time:
I'm very pleased with the time in this weather in this stadium."

On the stadium record:
"I'll take it. I'll take a stadium record. It's still quite chilly for sprinting without the wind. But it's nationals and you got to get it done.

Reputation of the track:
"A track is a track. This happens not to be Mondo. We know Mondo surfaces are going to be fast. You put fast people on any track and you know that they will run fast. We would like to have it just a little bit warmer, say 15 to 20 degrees.

Marion Jones, winner heat 2
"I paid good money to have a plus wind. I have know three 100-meter races here in the past two weeks and they all have been a minus wind."

"I'm happy with it. The nationals bring out the rejuvenated energy in everybody. We national championships are happening in every country. I know we want to post our past times. We want put our names down in the book."

Surprised with that time:
I'm not that surprised. "I'm feeling good. It's national championships. As Chryste said, it's time to lay it all on the line. If we haven't put it together yet so far, it's over. We all go to Europe next week."

Men's 100m
Maurice Greene, winner second semi-final, 9.99

On the competition with Tim Montgomery and why he looked back:
"I'm just fired up from all the things that have been said. Earlier this year I was scared...It is time for that to stop. I was going to put an end to all the talking. That's what all that was about. I hope tomorrow won't be anti-climatic. I hope it will be plenty 'climatic'."

On the race:
"It was OK. I've made it to the finals. That's all that matters...I was happy with my start. It's only my second race of the year. I'm still putting it together. I'm still lacking a little strength."

Tim Montgomery, second place second semi-final
On the start:
"With a good start it would have been closer. I was on my way up when [the starter] shot the gun. After the start, I could either run myself into second, or run hard and have nothing left for the finals...If you saw the start you could tell something wasn't right...Semi-finals are my worst races."

On the competition with Maurice Greene and the look back:
"[Maurice's] look was great. I would have done that to him. It was payback for me. He put an end to me saying anything today. I'm amazed. He's not like the Mo of old, though. The Mo of old could have shut it down at 60m and looked at me."

Men's Long Jump
Savante Stringfellow, winner at 8.52m (27' 11.50")
On the competition:
"I knew it had to take something big to win. It took a PR. Every competition brings out the best in me. I think my competitors pushed me. Miguel [Pate] is in a pretty cool club that I'm trying to join."

On prospects for the future:
"I'm 22 years old. I'm not supposed to be on top of the world. I'm going out there with a chip on my shoulder, see, its right there. As time progresses, bigger things will happen. [Miguel and I] are trying to show the world that we're for real. "

Miguel Pate, second at 8.45m (27' 8.75")
On the competition:
"I really wanted to win, But, I ought to be happy. It's an outdoor best for me."

On his training and the future:
"I hadn't worked that hard in track and field until I got to Alabama. I went from jumping 25'4 my freshman year to 27'1" my junior year...I'm a late bloomer and my speed is just coming around. I want to work on staying consistent in meets and getting that distance up so I can get the big jump when I need it."

Tisha Waller, winner in the women's high jump, 1.95 (6-5)
"It was nice. I jumped well. I was really pleased with it. This was my best this year. I had some good attempts at 6-6. I feel like I'm getting back to the old me, getting ready for next year because this is sort of an off year for the women's high jump. (It's not a grand prix event this year.) We do have World Cup, which is in September. I will continue to train. I'll be back teaching and training. (School starts in August.)"

On the fans:
"It was great that the fans stayed out here because it was cool. I'm sure it was cooler for them sitting in the stands. It's after the 100 meters and they stayed. That's really wonderful. They cheered. We had people behind us who were cheering the whole time and that was wonderful."

On her progress:
"I'm feeling good. This is a comeback year for me. I took last year off. I finished my masters and I enjoyed the year off. I didn't do anything. I came back and I was ready to train again. It was really nice."

"I'm glad to see Gwen Wentland is back as well."

Substitute teacher for World Cup?
"I'm going to arrange that. I've been with DeKalb County (School System) since I started (teaching) and I haven't changed school systems. They know and they support my competing with track and field. I'm pretty much at work all the time. I don't think they will miss me."

Women's Long Jump
Grace Upshaw, second place
"Tonight, it wasn't happening for me. I don't know why. I kept trying to talk myself into it. I was trying to feed off the energy of the men's long jump. It just didn't happen tonight. Even leading with the jump in the first four flights, I wasn't excited about it. I wanted to jump further, and I knew I could jump further. It just didn't happen."

Brianna Glenn, winner
How tired considering she competed here and did two heats of the 100:
"I'm a little tired. It has been a long day. It's definitely nothing that I'm not used to. This what I do and I don't know anything different competition wise. It's a lot of running back and forth and trying to be focused on the long jump because that was a final today. Also try to make to the finals of the 100. Luckily it worked out OK for me."

On the 100:
"Basically what was important was to get to the finals of the 100. I don't that I had great races. It was really windy in the prelims. You just try to get through. When they take the top four in the heats, you are competing with the people next to you and making sure that you make it to the finals."

Women's Shot put
Teri Steer, winner at 19.20m (63' 0")
On the competition today:
"I wanted to win, I wanted to kick my injury in the butt. I'm a competitor. I don't throw as well if there is now competition. Selina throwing that big one on her first really helped...My practices have not been going that well. If I can practice that bad and throw that well, I know I'm back."

On the state of the women's throws and her future:
"Three of the women's American Records have been broken this year, and I'm the only one who hasn't. It won't be easy, but I would like to break the AR. I'm getting closer and closer. Shotput's been a little down this year, but the women's throwing events are very good...There are a lot of good young girls. We should pick up some medals in the future...a first for America's women throws."

Women's 10,000 meters
Milena Glusac, second place at 32:15
"My knee has been really sore. I had no range of motion. I gutted it out. I got a PB."

On Weather:
"Great conditions. It was perfect. It was so windy this afternoon that we were all concerned. But this was perfect."

Jen Rhines, first place at 31:57.38
On her race:
"I'm really thrilled because I think that track is my favorite of the three seasons...And I've been second three times in the 10k, so I was really excited to win today.

On her future:
"I want to run a marathon...that's why I'm running a really short track season. Then I'm going to give the marathon a try and decide if I'm going to train for it for 2004...it something I wanted to try before 2004 and see if I could make the Olympic team in. Its been something I've been thinking about for a couple of years and this seems like a good year to do it." People have been saying I have marathon form since high school. Its time to see if that is really true."

Men's 10,000 meters
Meb Keflezighi, winner 27:41.68
Thoughts on the race:
"We (second-place finisher Abdi Abdirahman) are good friends. If he wins, I win. If I win, then he wins."

On running at Stanford:
"I love running here. This is my track. I appreciate all the people who stayed here. We wanted to put a good show on to the crowd."

Abdi Abdirahman, second place 27:42.83
On the pace:
"That was the main goal was to run fast. Our goal wasn't to run 28:40. We wanted to put on a good show for the fans. We said to run together. We are good friends. We have been friends since college. Next year, we are going to live together. We will train together."

On the race:
"I feel I ran a good race. I've happy with my performance. You are never satisfied, you always want to run faster. It always motivates me when Meb runs fast."