Athlete Quotes - Day 5

MEN'S 400m FINAL

JEREMY WARINER, Baylor

"I feel great and have wonderful coaches, and I'm coming off a great season as a collegian. At each meet, I kept getting better and I felt like I could do something big here.

"I thought it would be a little closer than it was. I have to give a lot of credit to Coach Hart. He knows what he's talking about. I wish Darold (Williamson) and I could have gone 1-2, but he still ran a great race. Hopefully, he'll be part of the relay team. I exceeded my expectations coming into this year. I expected to be an Olympian, but not this soon. In a few days, I'll be very excited when it hits me."

On the advantage of being a collegiate athlete over a professional athlete: "We have a lot more races than the pros, but they are a lot more rested coming in. I was able to work on different parts of my race at each competition (in college), so I think that is an advantage. It was time for us to show what collegiate athletes could do on a big stage. Being out there with all these great athletes is a terrific honor."

OTIS HARRIS, Nike

"It's just unbelievable. It's not a relief, because I didn't expect so much success this early. It's just a dream come true to make the Olympic team and represent my country."

DERRICK BREW, Nike

"All I was thinking about was getting to the line. I was trying to win the race, but if not, just trying to get one of the top three spots. To make any team in the 400 is great. I was fourth in 1999, 2001 and 2003. I was tired of finishing fourth."

ANDREW ROCK, adidas

"I felt good at 200, and tried to stay with them at 250. I tried to relax coming home, but they were too far ahead. This has been a great experience and I'm happy how I did for my level of experience."

WOMEN'S 400m SEMIFINALS

Heat 1

MONIQUE HENNAGAN, Unattached

"I was a little disappointed, I was hoping to get first or second coming in to the race. I didn't set myself up for tomorrow like I was supposed to. I'm going to have to run well out of whatever lane they give me. I wasn't happy with my transition into the 200, and then out of the 200."

MONIQUE HENDERSON, UCLA

"At the end, I could feel I was in the top four and didn't have to look around. I got a PR today, so this gives me confidence heading into the final. I know I can go even faster on Saturday. When I was here four years ago, I was just happy to make the final. Now the expectations are a lot higher."

Heat 2

DEMETRIA WASHINGTON, Nike

"I gave it everything I had. I'm glad to be here and I'll be back in 2005."

SANYA RICHARDS, Nike

"I've been feeling good here, I'm trying to take it one round at a time and just stay relaxed. I'm trying to control the race early and come home strong and confident."

On the success of the collegians at the Trials: "It's a changing of the guard. The collegians are doing a great job."

MOUSHAUMI ROBINSON, Nike

"I got caught up with my emotions after the midway point but I was still able to show my determination and advance. I still need to get the "A" standard, but I'm going to get after it tomorrow and let the chips fall where they may."

MEN'S 1500m QUARTERFINALS

Heat 1

MICHAEL STEMBER, Nike

"It was a good race, but it was tough. I wanted to make a move early, but I had to calm down. With 300 to go, I felt it was a safe time to do it then. Overall, I felt in control and pretty smooth. I'm looking forward to another round tomorrow, although I might have to use another gear. These guys didn't come here just to play."

CHARLIE GRUBER, Nike

"I'm taking it one round at a time. I let four guys get ahead of me during the final stretch and pushed my luck a little. I wasn't really paying attention to who was in my race, I just wanted to go out and be ready to respond or lead."

Heat 2

JASON LUNN, Nike

"Today felt more like a formality and I was more worried about trying to get out unscathed. At the end, I was looking around a little bit, but I wasn't worried - that is something I do a lot. I ran a PR one-and-a-half weeks ago in Crete (3:36.38). I needed something like this to get the plane ride out of my legs. I didn't expect to get a PR over there, and just missed the "A" standard by .18. I expect another solid race in the semis on Friday. Anything between 1:58-2:08 feels about the same. Maybe it will be like 2000 when they ran 3:38 in both races."

Heat 3

SAID AHMED, Arkansas

"Coach wanted me to run up front, so I did that and I think I did a good job of not panicking. I didn't make any stupid moves, either. I'm just a college kid looking to advance into the next round and I'm learning from my past mistakes."

MEN'S 3000m STEEPLECHASE FINAL

ROBERT GARY, adidas

"I was running very hard out there and I wanted to take the lead, but I felt kind of dead. So, I just tucked in and hoped no one came up from behind. Fam (Anthoney Famiglietti) did a great job of leading the race. After three laps, I felt rotten, so I quit looking at the clock.

"Four years ago, I came here and tried to not mess up and didn't run well. I didn't try to race, and I was also a little banged up. If Fam says he is a veteran, I guess I'm a senior citizen.

"In 1996, I had nothing to lose and thought I could out-kick anybody with 50 meters to go."

DANIEL LINCOLN, Nike

"I felt great out there and had the opposite stretch of Anthony in that I was waiting to see if he was going to take it out or not. I came in with a solid strategy and wanted to win, but everybody else did to. I wanted to go with either 2.5 or 1.5 laps left at the water pit. When I saw it was just the three of us with 2.5 laps to go, I decided to wait a lap even though I stuttered going into the water jump.

"Sacramento definitely likes track and field, and it's really rewarding to run here. The fans are great on the track, and the guys in the race made it exciting."

ANTHONEY FAMIGLIETTI, adidas

"I knew I was really strong coming in. My workouts have been going better and better, and I knew I had the strength to run a PR. I could have run sub-8:20 in the prelims, but decided to wait. Tonight, I just wanted to stay relaxed and feel good as long as possible. I quit looking at the time on the clock and just pushed. I have to give credit to Daniel, he was really strong at the end."

WOMEN'S 3000m STEEPLECHASE FINAL

ANN GAFFIGAN, Nebraska

"The steeplechase is a great event, you can't be just holding on that last 800 meters because you have to clear the last barrier. It takes strong character and it's a very tough event. I got started in the event in 2001 as a freshman because my coach suggested it. It was frustrating at first because I wasn't very good, but I think it's a great event."

CARRIE MESSNER, Asics

On competing in the steeplechase: "I definitely plan on sticking with (the steeplechase) . This is my first year of running the event. I love it. It's a lot of fun. It gives us something else to do besides running in a circle around the track."

KATHRYN ANDERSEN, BYU

On her injury: "Thank goodness the injury occurred on my last water jump. I twisted my ankle and fell over. I looked up, and wasn't sure how I would clear the last barrier. I was just glad I only had 200 meters left."

MEN'S HIGH JUMP QUALIFYING

JAMIE NIETO, Nike

"Things went as planned. It took two jumps today, although I hoped that it would take one. Right now, I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed. With the next two days off, it will be nice to stay off my feet. I think that will be enough time to be ready for Sunday."

CHARLES AUSTIN, Unattached

"I just got here yesterday, so my timing was off a little, but the jumping still ended up being pretty easy. I always arrive just before competition and I felt like doing the same thing this year. It's been a slow season so far and I've focused more on my athletic training business than jumping until the past month. I see a lot of talent out here and everybody has potential to do well. It's a matter of being hungry."

ANDRA MANSON, Unattached (Texas)

"I felt great and was only off a little on my timing at 7-4. I haven't jumped competitively for a month, but things turned out pretty well. I thought maybe a bar lower would get in, but it's a challenging field and people jumped well."

CHARLES CLINGER, Nike

"I was hanging back a little, but jumped well enough to make it to the finals. It may take a 7-7 jump to make the team, which would be a challenge for me or anyone else. Things are a lot different for me since 2000. This is more of a hobby now, I'm a full-time loan officer back in Utah. My wife and I had a baby last year. Today, I spent part of the day shopping with my wife."

WOMEN'S LONG JUMP FINAL

MARION JONES, Nike

"I'm very happy with my performance tonight. I'm excited about making my second Olympic team and look forward to going to Athens. I thank all my fans for their support."

GRACE UPSHAW, Nike

"I'm very relieved. I'm happy to get through this day, and I don't put anything past Marion (Jones). She's an awesome competitor, but I focused on what I had to do. I definitely feel I have more in me, but right now I'm pretty consistent. I think we're all out to prove something on a day like today. I feel the most fit in my life. Today was more about keeping my nerves and emotions together, and I did that.

AKIBA McKINNEY, Unattached

On Marion Jones' 23-foot jump: "I knew she was going to do something big today and I expected it.

This feels great, I'm confident that I will be able to get the "A" standard. I'm going to try and do it at the meet they are putting on at the Training Center.

This is the first meet I've been healthy in a long time. I'm grateful for all the medical treatment I've received at the Olympic Training Center. I definitely wouldn't be here without all the help I've gotten from them.

ROSE RICHMOND, Unattached

"My third jump in the prelims was OK, but I drug my foot. I also had two fouls in the final that were pretty good, too, and might have moved me up. There's still a chance I can qualify since the third-placer hasn't gotten an 'A' standard, and we both have until August 8.

"I still train in Bloomington, Ind., with my college coach Wayne Pate. I'll graduate from grad school next year with a degree in sports marketing."

MEN'S TRIPLE JUMP QUALIFYING

TIM RUSAN, Nike

"The runway was fast, so that caused a major adjustment in my approach. The nice thing was my whole family is out here supporting me."

ROBERT HOWARD, Unattached

"It was like Murphy's Law. Everything that went wrong could go wrong. This might be my third Olympics, so third time is the charm. It's time to get a medal."

WOMEN'S SHOT PUT QUALIFYING

JILLIAN CAMARENA, Stanford

"I'm excited to be here. It's a great track and a great crowd. After today, it's now time to get an ice bag and stay off my feet because the final is tomorrow. To make the team, I'm going to have to hit it and be on. It's important not to change anything I've done in practice because workouts are going well. I was a little disappointed with my mark today, but it's a qualifying round."

LAURA GERRAUGHTY, North Carolina

"I've prepared for these trials the same as usual. It's still the U.S. championships and the honor of winning it. The important thing for me is keeping my mind at this meet.

ADRIANE BLEWITT, Ashland Elite

"I'm just taking it one day at a time, and today was a very good day. I've been consistent with what I've been training for all year. I'd like to throw 17.55, that would be a meter under the "A" standard but that would be a great PR for me."

WOMEN'S HAMMER THROW FINAL

ERIN GILREATH, New York AC

"I was trying to approach this differently than the qualifying round where I was very nervous. I wanted to be relaxed and composed."

AMBER CAMPBELL, Coastal Carolina

"This season, I've improved from 64 to 67 meters, but there is so much more there. I only picked up the sport as a freshman and I just graduated with my degree in psychology. I was hoping to finish in the top three, so I wouldn't have to get a job quite yet. Now, I need to get the "A" standard, which I'm only a foot away from."

ANNA MAHON, Nike

"I got fourth in 2000, so better late than never. I had some rough throws in the middle, but had some in the 68-69 range. The top three was the goal, so I'm happy and I have the "A" standard (67.57 meters). Erin (Gilreath) and I have been battling all year long and tonight she was better. It was so much fun to throw out there at night for a change, and in front of 20,000 people. I'll probably head over to Europe next week, but I don't know when or where I will compete just yet."

MEN'S JAVELIN QUALIFYING

LEIGH SMITH, Univ. of Tennessee

"I plan on throwing the "A" standard on Saturday. If I don't (make the "A" standard) and I make the top three, we have until August 9 to get it done, so I'll just try to get it at some events here in the U.S. or in Europe."