Athlete Quotes - Saturday

Women's Triple Jump

Tiombe Hurd, Women's Triple Jump, 1st place

"I got the meet record. Unfortunately, it took the last round for me to do it. I've been feeling a bit under the weather this week, so I've been a little groggy. I didn't have the speed necessary to go on the runway today. I've been under the weather because of the weather and travel."

"I've actually been working on the technique. With the triple jump, you have three stages. Unfortunately, today I had trouble coming out of my second stage. The last phase of my jump was the downfall today. I pulled out on my last jump of the competition. It wasn't pretty, but it was just enough to win the competition."

Yuliana Perez, Women's Triple Jump, 2nd place

On her performance today: "I feel good I got second place. It was better than last year's, and now I will be moving forward from here. It's been a good experience."

On her technique: "The process has been kind of slow, but once I develop it I'll feel pretty good."

Men's 5000m Race Walk

Tim Seaman, Men's 5,000m Race Walk, 1st place

On his mindset: "My mindset today was somewhere else. I have been mentally drained with everything. I didn't want to be here, but my friends and family said 'No, you have to do it, do it for Al. Normally at the beginning (of the race) I make everyone push, I knew I would not be able to do that today. Mentally I wasn't there, and I was more cautious."

On his performance: "It almost doesn't matter to me. While it's great and it means a lot to me, in the overall scheme of things it is insignificant compared to what I have had to deal with lately, and what everyone has had to deal with."

John Nunn, Men's 5,000m Race Walk, 2nd place

"I feel ok. I'm a little tired, it's been a rough two weeks. Curt Clausen talked to me before, and he said in the 50k, you have to forget about the 40k and just focus on the 10k. At that point, I just forgot about the last two weeks and just focused on the race itself."

"It was a little hard, but I fell back in, went for the win, but really didn't have it. I'll go for it next year."

Men's Triple Jump

Allen Simms, Men's Triple Jump, 1st Place

"My goal was to come here and perform better for the NCAA's, and I ended up coming here and making the world team. I'm looking forward to it."

"I felt so-so. I felt like I could have done a lot better. It's early in the season and I'm working on it."

Men's Pole Vault

Toby Stevenson, Men's Pole Vault, 1st place

"Today was obviously a great day. I had a great week of practice. You've got to come in here and want to make the team."

"I needed to make the team. I had a lot of confidence."

Jeff Hartwig, Men's Pole Vault, 2nd place

"I felt strong and confident. I had a little bit of a slow start. I chose to start a lot higher. Height's not the problem right now."

"I got a big jump on my last one."

Women's 3000m

Shayne Culpepper, Women's 3,000m, 1st place

"I thought they would come out fast. From the gun I was moving up from the 800 and to the 1500."

"I felt good about it last week. I waited too long to really get my momentum going. So today I tried to plan the race and try to remember that its an indoor track."

Carrie Tollefson, Women's 3,000m, 2nd place

"Every race has been sort of a learning experience, and I was hurt all of last year. Today my whole goal was to come in and not lead. I seem to lead every race, and always seem to get out-kicked at the end. I tried a new strategy, and got out-kicked again. It's February, and I have to work on my kick for June and July. I don't want to be to tuned in now."

Women's 60m Hurdles

Joanna Hayes, Women's 60m hurdles, 2nd place

"I guess it was a pretty good race. I couldn't see where I was in the beginning. Once I reached the third or fourth hurdle I knew I was a bit behind. I just stayed focus on the finish. Gail (Devers) used to be my training partner. So I'm not intimidated when I get into a race with her. I know how strong she is.

Men's 60m Hurdles

Allen Johnson, Men's 60m hurdles, 1st place

On his mindset: "Make the team, go to Budapest and try to defend my title. It was nothing major. I just wanted to go and see if I could win another world title. You never know this might be my last year.

"I'm happy with the time. There are some technicalities I'm working on that's the reason I'm running indoors. Overall, I give myself a 'B.'"

Duane Ross, Men's 60m hurdles, 2nd place

"I had a terrible race. I was off balance after a terrible start and you can't do that with Allen Johnson in the race. There are a few things I need to work on before next week. I ran the finals the same as the semis, with a terrible start, but I felt good through the hurdles."

"Coming off an injury, I'm not driving like I should. But injury or not, you can't give Allen anything."

Women's 800m

Jen Toomey, Women's 800m, 1st place

"I felt the pace was a little bit slow, so that's why I made my move at 400 meters. The strength work has really helped me."

"It's a great feeling having won a national championship in front of the home crowd. It seems like I know everyone here."

"I didn't have too much concern about running two races this weekend. I know the strength work will help me down the road."

Hazel Clark, Women's 800m, 2nd place

"I'm coming back. I'm feeling stronger each week. Hopefully by outdoors, I'll be where I want to be. I need to work on a few things, particularly overall fitness. Each time out, I'm working on something different. I expect better things next week. My confidence continues to grow higher and higher."

Men's 800m

Michael Stember, Men's 800m, 1st place

"There were a lot of different athletes and some of them were going to take it out on me during the race and that's what I was expecting."

"I'm very happy, this is my first national championship. Even in college, I didn't get one. All I wanted out of this indoor season was a little bit of momentum. I've lost that momentum in the past couple of years, but it was a learning process for me. In training, I took some risks in the weight room and with some of the speed work I tried to do."

Derrick Peterson, Men's 800m, 2nd place

"The field was excellent for only six men. I thought it was a good race, if I wanted to change the outcome, I would have won. Myself and Michael are fortunate enough to make it."

Men's 1500m

Rob Myers, Men's 1,500m, 1st place

"With one-and-a-half laps to go, I felt that if I made a hard move, I would put myself in a much better position. I kept pushing the pace, just trying to wait for the right moment to pass and him (Gruber)."

"The pace didn't feel all that bad. I knew my strength was very good coming into today's race. This is my first time on banked boards indoors this season. When I hit the tape, I was pretty sure that I had held him (Gruber) off."

Charlie Gruber, Men's 1,500m, 2nd place

"I'm a little disappointed because I came here to win, but it's definitely a progression after finishing third last year. I wanted to get up front and make it a fast pace. I didn't want someone to come in and steal it at a slower time."

"Looking ahead to next week, I want to try to medal. If you don't have that goal, it's not worth going. It will be good to get more international experience."

Men's 60m

Shawn Crawford, Men's 60m, 1st place

"I had no idea where I was running during the entire race. At the finish, I knew I had either gotten first or second. I'm a bit surprised running a personal best today."

"I didn't feel my start was as efficient today as it had been in practice. I'm very happy to make my third World indoor team."

John Capel, Men's 60m, 2nd place

"I think I should have ran a lot faster in the first round. Coming off Millrose, it's a big step. I'm getting better and better in my 100s and 200s. I felt myself closing. My 200s will be a lot better than last year. Some Americans have to step up. People think Americans are done."

Women's 60m

Gail Devers, Women's 60m, 1st place

"I'm tired, but I'm very thankful. At this point, I have to stay motivated, I have to find a reason. And my reason was to do something that I had never done."

"Everyone likes to talk about my age and at this point, this does take a toll on my body. I run with my heart. I'm planning to run both at World's, if for no other reason I have to try. I am as blessed as ever."

Torri Edwards, Women's 60m, 2nd place

"I wanted to come out National Champion. Gail (Devers) is a tough competitor. I did the best I could and fought to the finish."

"I'm pretty happy with my performance. I'm going to World's and I want to improve my time."