Athlete Quotes - Day 2

Linise Gordon - women's 400m hurdles
"I ran a smart race today. I was not too worried about the time. I knew if I finished in the top two, I would be in the finals."

On the finals:
"I hope to get out strong. In the second heat, there were finishes in 55 and 56 seconds. I should be able to do that."

Brenda Taylor - women's 400m hurdles
"This surprised me. I have been out with a stress fracture. I haven't been able to work out that much. Half way through the race, I realized that I wasn't working that hard."

Sandra Glover - women's 400m hurdles
"When it's a little windy, you've really got to be focused. The plan tomorrow is to run faster. I had some trouble at hurdle six, but that will be better tomorrow. I am excited to have the opportunity to be in the finals."

James Carter - men's 400m hurdles
"I took it out a little hard like I did yesterday because the wind was so strong but I stayed relaxed and made it through not exerting too much energy.

On the finals:
"I feel pretty good. There is a good chance to win it...It will take about a 48 or 48.5 to win it tomorrow."

Joey Woody - men's 400m hurdles
"I just wanted to take it up a notch from yesterday, and I got out a little harder, so I had a lot left. After I came off of the tenth hurdle I didn't see anyone close, so I just shut it down and relaxed the rest of the way."

Nicole Teter - women's 800m
"It was a good race. I took it out nice and relaxed. I brought it home like I was taught. I missed running last night. I was more nervous today than I would have been if there was a race last night. But the weather warmed up today and the wind died down. I want to do my best (for the finals). I hope to get my indoor time...I'm going to keep a good pace tomorrow."

On the finals:
"I'm still working on my strength. I haven't tapered yet. It's a long season."

Mary Jayne Harrelson - women's 800m
"I felt pretty good. It was only my second 800m of the season and I wanted to PR so I ran as hard as I could. It was a pretty even race. I eased up with about 200m to go and I tried to gradually accelerate off the turn. I was ready to race against someone off the turn but no one was there so I brought it in by myself."

David Krummenacker - men's 800m
"This is the first time we've run three rounds in a row. So it was kind of interesting to see how everything played out. It gives the young guys some experience and for them to get to the big meets, and have them run three rounds including a final.

Trinity Gray - men's 800m
"I just take it race by race. I caught a virus during the indoor season. I think it has affected my training. I feel better having run the outdoor season...I might have been able to run better without the rounds. I haven't had the basework."

Marion Jones - Women's 100
"I feel fine. I thought I would run faster but I'm not disappointed by the time."

Chryste Gaines - Women's 100
"I had a good start and a decent middle, but I think I could have finished stronger. I always step on the track to win. I expected to win, I'm the defending champ."

Kelli White - Women's 100
"I got out well. I'm not happy with the time. But this was a solid race for me. It was a lot warmer. I was sore from yesterday. It was hot and made the warm-ups a little more difficult. But I'm happy that the sun is out."

Maurice Greene - Men's 100
"It was probably the best start I've ever had. I figured that if I had a great start, I would win the race. I just tried to stay strong. The 100 meters is actually a very easy race. You just have to go through your phases. And I like to be challenged."

Tim Montgomery - Men's 100
"I've been working on what he (Maurice Greene) is best at. It just wasn't enough. I thought he got off to a good start. With him, you never know if it's a good start or a false start...He had a great start. Every race you learn something different, this time I learned how to deal with the pressure of the [media]. There are going to be two dead runners at the end of the (European) circuit. I really think you need two people to get motivated."

Jon Drummond - Men's 100m
"I think he (Maurice Greene) runs better when he's mad. Every time I read the paper, I think, 'Tim, shut up!' "

In response to Tim Montgomery:
"When these two (Maurice Greene and Tim Montgomery) die, I'm going to be the man!"

"I am very happy. Compared to these two guys, I am running with bricks on my shoulders. I came here to have a little fun. If you take away the 2.4 wind on the Mondo I could have run a 9.95."

Antonio Pettigrew - Men's 400m
"It is going to be a good race (tomorrow). I've got to be at a point where I can kick it in the last 150 and try to win the race. If I'm right there in the race, I have enough foot speed to cover people and to win the race."

Leonard Byrd - Men's 400m
"(I expect) to win (tomorrow). I was trying to save some for the finals. The better man on that day will win."

Michelle Collins - Men's 400m
"I just wanted to go out and run a controlled race. My goal was to set myself up for a good position in the finals. Overall it was a good race. I'm definately happy with the result. I went out, stayed in control of the race and ran a good time."

Breaux Greer - Men's Javelin
"The crowd got into it. At our end of the stadium, it was very loud. Everyone appreciated that. I still think that I could have done better. But I was having fun out there. The day I don't have fun out there is the day I quit." Greer announced the he is ending his season to have surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday. "I've had four practices this year and it's been at just four meets. I'm going to have my shoulder cleaned out."

Miesha McKelvy - Women's 100H
"I ran a clean race which was good. I had a hard hit last week so I am happy to finish with a clean race today. What I like about hurdles is there is always something positive to take away from the race. There is a chance to fix something after every race and something positive to take from every race. My expectations for tomorrow are to run fast and compete well."

Gail Devers - Women's 100H
"I have been trying hard to put together some good races. I had no time in mind, but I wanted a legal time. I wanted to really work the first three hurdles. I don't like to focus on time. This year I'm really trying to focus on mechanics and become a student of my event. Tomorrow, the first order of business is to clear the hurdles. My goal is to be healthy this season. I pray off the little things like hamstrings and Achilles' tendons."

Yuliana Perez - Women's Triple Jump
"Being a U.S. National Champion fulfills half of my goal. The other half will be fulfilled when I go to the Olympics. I'm going to do what it takes to make my dreams happen. I'm a hard worker."

Jenny Adams - Women's 100 hurdles
"This was the first round. I was happy to get through. I'm just trying to get ready for tomorrow. I'm pleased with my effort."

Terrance Trammell - Men's 110 hurdles
"I'm glad to get this out of the way. I was just a little sore from running those 100s yesterday. I was not as sharp over the hurdles. I'm happy to go on through."

Allen Johnson - Men's 110 hurdles
"It is pretty good for the first round. I could turn it off and on. I wanted it to be clean, smooth, and fast. The first hurdle is very important for me. Tomorrow I want to feel like I did today."

On the delay due to the shotput:
"I've always liked the shotput. Its only our first round and their final. It will be quieter tomorrow."

Larry Wade- Men's 110 hurdles
"I had a great race and a good start. There were a lot of college kids (in the race) who pushed me out for the first four or five hurdles. I hit some hurdles and that made me run faster than I planned too. I have high expectations for tomorrow. I just want to have fun. I am not worried about time. Time is relative to the wind. I know that the Lord will bless me."

Marion Jones - Women's 200m
On the 100m race:
"It wasn't my best race. The semi-finals was definitely a more technically sound race. I am happy with the win and proud to represent the U.S in the World Cup. Overall, I am happy with the fact that I won. The wind yesterday shows me that I did not run my best race today. I didn't nail the start. I had a little ground to make up."

On the 200m race:
"I ran the curb and stayed relaxed. I'm happy with the time and I'll come back tomorrow ready for my next run."

On Competition:
"It is great that American female sprinters are getting fast. I am harder on myself in that I personally did not run a good race. I look forward to competing against Christie. When I get everything together, I plan to run very fast. If anyone wants to compete against me, they are going to have to run very fast as well."

Kelli White - Women's 200m
"I just wanted to get through the first round. I'm tired, extremely tired. It was hard to get up for this shortly after the 100. This sport is very mental. This was a good 'going through the motions' race."

Floyd Heard - Men's 200m
"This is the second 200 I have run this year. The last one I ran was at Mt. SAC. I don't have a lot of races to run. I just have to plan to be ready to run. This is an off year. I can work on some things. You will see a better time tomorrow."

Shawn Crawford - Men's 200m
"I felt strong, but technically, I felt like I was out of position. I should have been leaning forward more. In the final, I expect to blow it up."

Bernard Williams - Men's 200m
"Everything's important in the race, the start, the middle, and the finish. If you don't have that, you don't have a race."

Ramon Clay - Men's 200m
"I opened up really well. This was only my third race and I felt comfortable. It is always a comfort to go into the first round and get rid of some of the nervous energy. I only ran about 150m of the race. I looked to my left and I think Kobi had pulled up but I felt comfortable with what I was doing. I haven't got to my top end yet so I am excited about tomorrow."

Darvis Patton - Men's 200m
"When I found all the big names were pretty good I knew my chances were a lot better. I want to stay consistent and drop a good time. A lot of people don't know me, and I want to let them know who Darvis Patton is."

Adam Nelson - men's shot put
"I had fun out there. The crowd was awesome. I thought Portland did a great job with the fans, and that was also the case at Prefontaine. But the crowd here was unbelievable. They were giving the runners a hard time for all the false starts. The crowd made it so much fun."

On firing himself up:
"I do it mostly for myself. I need to be loud. I also play to the crowd. I would not do that if it affects my throwing."

On the world record:
"I think the world record is in danger. Within the next two years, there will be a new world record."

On his goals:
"I'm a believer in setting high goals. I have not accomplished any of my goals yet this year."

John Godina - men's shot put
"71-10 is a great mark. If I have to lose, I would like it to be with a mark of 71-10. It used to be that 70 or 71 feet would win with 69 feet good for second place. Now, 72 or 73 feet will win. People are starting to pay attention to us now. My year this year is as good as it was last year. The crazy part is that I am starting to blend in with these guys. These guys have done their job. Now it's my job to pass them up."

Kevin Toth - men's shot put
"I was jacked up for the first three throws. I let it go on my first throw. That throw of 70-7 could have easily gone 72-7."

On the status of the event:
"This was getting awesome. The fans are coming alive. I think that we delivered a good show."

On the future:
"There are a lot of young guys who are going off. We had some young people who set huge PRs today. The next few years will be spectacular."

Marla Runyan - Women's 5000m
"I figured it would come down to the last lap or Deena (Drossin) would be so far ahead I couldn't catch her. I tried to take the lead but then she'd speed up. This wasn't an easy race. I wasn't feeling well today. It is so important to me that I have won back-to-back titles. I really had a big comeback, more than most people know. In January I had a stress injury in my left shin. I didn't start running until February. My training up until this point has been endurance and stamina. I'm already getting ready for the marathon."

Deena Drossin - Women's 5000m
"There were a lot of girls in the race I was trying to run away from. My tactic was to try and go out fast and run a personal best in the 5k. I was hoping people would come up and share the pace. I felt a little tired. You might say the race affected my esteem. I've had a good year until the last couple of weeks."

Carrie Tollefson - Women's 5000m
"You never want to say you won't go for the win, but I was racing for third. It was a hard race, but every race is exciting."

Kris Kuehl - Women's Discus
"I came here hoping to win, but not expecting to win. I was trying to get my timing right. I've had a lot of wasted energy. The competition here was like any other meet. I was just very fortunate that my mark held up. The American women throwers will continue to get better with support."

Mebrahtom Keflezighi - Men's 5000m
"The race felt great. I wasn't very tired and I ran well. Alan (Culpepper) has a great kick and you have to run hard early to counter that."

On the double:
"Yesterday was my day. I was glad to win that. I am happy with today too. First and second is not bad. Of course the goal was to win both but I was one spot off. I still feel great."

On his fast final lap:
"I have been doing a lot of 5 minute drills. Usually in the end of the race it's the most relaxed person that wins. In my last 200m I just ran relaxed. It paid off today and yesterday."

Alan Culpepper - Men's 5000m
"I was excited to win this race. It was the perfect pattern for my racing style. I can run with anyone for the last 500m. He (Bolota Asmeron) kept fighting me every time I would come around. Yesterday these guys took the kick out of me." These guys are tough, it's a testament of how deep the U.S is."

Matt Lane - Men's 5000m
"I am just happy to break the streak of coming 4th. It has been a long time with that so to come in third place is a real accomplishment."

Jeff Hartwig - Men's pole vault
"The conditions were a little tough at the beginning. But I have had tough conditions at every meet this year. I just got back from Europe. I had the worst conditions at Athens. We had the wind blowing right in our face. It played havoc with us running on the runway."

Future plans:
"I'm going to stay here for a couple of days. Then I head back to Europe for the Grand Prix series."

How high:
"I think I can break 20 feet. If the conditions are right, I can do it. Us mere mortals, compared to the great Sergi Bubka, must have perfect conditions."