EDMONTON - Team USA gold medal hopefuls John Godina (shot put/discus), Jenny Adams (100m hurdles/long jump) and Tim Montgomery (100m/4x100m relay) met with the media Friday at a USA Track & Field press conference previewing the World Championships. Below are excerpts from the press conference:

Jenny Adams:

Q: Could you talk about the difference between the international scene and what you experienced at the University of Houston?

A.: "Well I've experienced a whole new world within the last couple of months, and it's been very exciting for me and at times its been a bit overwhelming. I'm just trying to take everything in stride and stay focused on running the right mechanics in my race, and also in the long jump. I just can't emphasize how exciting this has been for me. I'm just thrilled to death to be here. I'm grateful and I feel blessed every day. I still feel like I have a lot to give in the sport, and I'm excited about what's to come this following week."

Q: Gail Devers has not run much this season, what do you expect from her here?

A: "You can't put anything past Gail Devers. From what I understand, she has a reputation of just surprising people. So I don't want to underestimate her or assume anything from her. If anything, I'm going to just assume that she'll be ready to run and I'm going to have to be at my best to win the gold."

Q: Could you talk about the rivalry you have within Team USA with Gail Devers?

A: "Gail is a role model of mine. I've been watching her for a while and I have a lot of respect for her. I wouldn't say there's a strong rivalry between us, other than we're competitors, but we're teammates also, and like I said I have a lot of respect for her. When it comes down to it on the track I'm just going to try to keep doing the same things I've been doing for the last month with the same mechanics so I can have a good race. Really all I'm worried about is what I'm doing."

Q: How is your training for the long jump?

A: "It's going great. I think what happened in Europe was that I got so excited about the hurdles, and all my attention and focus was going towards the hurdles, and so when it came time to jump I forgot what I was doing. I had not put in the time or preparation for the long jump that I normally do. Those two events are hard to double for me because you have to have two different mentalities. In the hurdles, you need to be a lot more aggressive and attack the hurdles, while in the long jump you have to be more relaxed and let things happen. When I got back to Houston I spent about 20 minutes with my coach Kyle Tellez and I was back to my normal self, so I'm really ready to jump this weekend." (Adams' long jump coach is Tom Tellez.)

Tim Montgomery:

Q: How do you view yourself and how do others view you after you ran 9.84 seconds (tied for third fastest ever) just a couple weeks ago? A: "I think that race improved my mental state by miles. My career has been an up and down situation. We took this last winter and we worked hard. It was a bad winter and we stayed out there in the snow and the rain. In Oslo I ran 9.84, the fastest time ever run on a non-Mondo track, and it was 57 degrees. My coach (Trevor Graham) has prepared me in the best way possible and I feel there's no way that I can be stopped."

Q: It was reported after your race in Oslo that you had an injury. What was it, and how is it now?

A: "I'm 100 percent. I have no excuse on Sunday. The injury wasn't really an injury. It was a minor cramp that I got because it was 57 degrees and a little misty out there. The shoes that I had on were Marion Jones' shoes and they were a little tight so my toes were cramped up in there. When I stopped it hurt, so I laid down and started to ice it. Then I worked towards being 100 percent here."

Q: Would you have run faster in Oslo if Maurice Greene would've competed there?

A: "If a bullfrog had a glass butt it would break every time. I don't go with ifs. If he would've been in the race I wouldn't have thrown my hands up and I would've ran 9.76. Can you put an if on that? If he would've been at the Trials (2001 USA Outdoor Championships) I wouldn't have been the winner. Can you put an if on that? People make a lot of speculations. All the people making speculations and predictions should be picking lottery numbers."

John Godina:

Q: Tell us a little bit about what's happened with you between Sydney and now, and how you're looking leading up to the Championships.

A: "After Sydney, I took a week off and then I started training right away because I knew that I had not trained hard enough the last couple years and it's paid off this year as I'm having the best season of my life. I haven't lost yet and I don't plan on starting here. I think it's going to turn out really well."

Q: Talk about your rivalry with Adam Nelson. A: "As far as me and Adam go, I think that, unlike most people in most events, we're pretty good friends. It's a friendly rivalry and we want to see each other do well because of it. And I also think I'm gonna beat both Maurice and Tim in the 100. They can't hang with me. I've had better speed all my life. I will be the champion of the 100 meters." (laugh.)

Q: How ready are you to throw the discus?

A: "For the discus I'm just relaxing. That's my biggest thing. From the shot I've learned so much aggression that I've learned that I need to relax for the discus. I really want to win both of them, and for once I think I have a chance, and if I can pull that off I don't think anyone will do that for the next 100 years. That would be an historical achievement right there."