U.S. stars Stacy Dragila, Allen Johnson, Kelli White, Tim Montgomery, Amy Acuff, Tyree Washington along with head coaches Bubba Thornton and Angie Taylor appeared at a USATF press conference Friday on the eve of the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. The following are excerpts from Friday’s press conference.

AMY ACUFF

A four-time U.S. outdoor women’s high jump champion, Acuff set a new personal best in Zurich with a clearances 2.01 meters/6 feet, 7 inches, the best mark by an American since 1998.

Q: We understand that you have reason to be jumping for joy these days with news regarding your personal life, could you explain?

AA: I got engaged the day before I left. It’s kind of sad because I’ll be gone for a month and a half, but it will be exciting when I get back with lots to plan. He’s a pole vaulter for the United States, his name is Tye Harvey (2001 World Indoor Championships silver medalist).

Q: You’ve been jumping well this season, how do you feel now that you’re in Paris?

AA: I feel like I’ve been really consistent and I’m on the way up. I think I have another bar in me even above 2.01 meters and it’s going to be exciting. I’m really proud of my competitors. We’re all really friendly and close and it’s been a lot of fun. A statistician told me that Zurich was the best women’s high jump competition in the history of high jumping, with four women over two meters, that had never happened before. So many people have told me that the women’s high jump and the men’s 100 meters is where it’s at for this competition, and it makes me feel good that my event is strong right now. I want to come out and do my best and try to get on that podium.

ALLEN JOHNSON:

A three-time world outdoor champion and the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 110m hurdles, Allen Johnson enters the competition in Paris with the fastest time in the world this year with his 12.97 seconds clocking at the Gaz de France meet.

Q: You’ve spoken in recent years about wanting the world record, but lately you’ve changed your focus into concentrating on winning. Tell us how you made that change in your outlook.

AJ: I made that change in my outlook because when I was trying to run after times, I was making a lot of mistakes and I kind of lost sight of the fact that when you win races that means you’re the fastest person on that day. If I continue to win eventually the fast times will come, so I decided to stop worrying about the time and just worry about the race and try to excel at that.

Q: Could you talk a little bit about your teammates in the 110m hurdles?

AJ: We’re the only country that has four competitors, so I think there is a good chance that we can try to sweep the event and go 1, 2, 3, 4. As Craig Masback always says, we’re the #1 team and the same goes for the 110 hurdles.

Q: What time will it take to win the gold medal?

AJ: Honestly I don’t know. That’s really hard to say because everyone raises their game. So far this year you’ve seen 12.97 and 13.00. It will be at least that fast, that’s all I can say.

STACY DRAGILA

The only woman ever to win the women’s pole vault at a World Outdoor Championship (1999, 2001), Dragila also is the 2000 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder in that event.

Q: You’re used to coming into these events with a big target on your back. Now there are more women jumping the heights you’re accustomed to. Do you approach this year any differently?

SD: In 1999 I went into the World Championships known as the dark horse and I was kind of mad about that, but it kind of took the pressure off of me and I was able to just go out to the track and take care of business and take care of what my coach wanted me to do. Again this year nobody’s really talking about me and the Russians are the big stir, and that’s great. It’s been neat to see the Russians take the (world) record from me, although I want it back. It’s still been nice for it to change hands and kind of make the event more legitimate with more competitors at the top. I’ve changed coaches this year and changed a lot of things with my technique and it’s been a roller coaster ride this outdoor season and it’s been frustrating for me. But also knowing that I’m doing the right thing for 2004 in getting my step out, having an earlier plant and controlling my run will help me bypass the 4.80m mark and be more consistent at 4.90 and 5.00 meters is my ultimate goal. I think things are coming around for me right now. It was a little stressful for me about three weeks ago, but right now I feel very confident in what I’m doing. I’m looking forward to starting the competition with the prelims tomorrow and going into the finals on Monday knowing that I’ve been there done that before. TIM MONTGOMERY

The world record holder in the men’s 100 meters (9.79), Montgomery enters the 2003 World Outdoor Championships after winning the silver medal at the 2001 World Outdoors in Edmonton.

Q: Tell us what your life and training has been like entering the Championships.

TM: I’ve been living this perfect world since the last time I was in Paris (when he set the world record on September 14, 2002). It rained on me in Stockholm. The rain started stopping in London, and now I believe that the rain is gone. I’m here and healthy. I have a coach (Dan Pfaff) who has seen sprinters before me. He knows where athletes should be, and he told me I’m there. I feel like I’m there, so I’m ready to go.

KELLI WHITE

White is the 2003 U.S. outdoor champion in the 100m (10.93PR) and 200m (22.21PR). She won the bronze medal in the 200 at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, and enters Paris as a favorite in both events.

Q: You’re exceptionally fit, coming off a big win in Berlin. Tell us how you feel entering the meet.

KW: I believe my fitness is good. My coach obviously knows what he’s doing, and I trust him with everything. I’m happy with how the season has gone. It was a big shock to me that the 100 meters was so successful. I’m hoping that it will also carry over to the 200 meters here in Paris.

TYREE WASHINGTON

The 2003 U.S. indoor and outdoor champion at 400 meters, Washington won his first world title at the 2003 World Indoor Championships. He won bronze in the 400 at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, where he anchored the gold medal-winning U.S. 4x400m relay team.

Q: How does it feel to be back on top of the world?

TW: It feels very good. It definitely helps my confidence out a great deal. Taking 18 months off for me was real tough, watching my competitors when the times weren’t real fast. To come out this year and won 44.33 at nationals was a good victory for me. I’ve won every race and I’m very grateful for that accomplishment. I know when you come to a World Championships or U.S. Championships, the season starts over again. Even though I’m not playing football anymore, I still have that mentality.

Q: Do you know how you’re going to run your race?

A: I have a pretty good idea how I’m going to run. I still haven’t mastered the quarter yet. Michael (Johnson) broke the world record when he was 31, and I’m turning 27 next week. I’m fairly young, and there’s lots of stuff I still need to work on. I think when I get around 29, 30, my times will really start dropping. Is 43 going to happen? It’s a big possibility that it will happen, I just don’t know when. But I can break that world record, and I believe I can run under 43. I think I have the capabilities, I just need more maturity.

ANGIE TAYLOR, Team USA women’s head coach

Q: When will your relay orders be announced?

AT: We’re going to wait and see how everyone runs in the 100 and 200 meters before we make a decision on who will compete here.

Q: How to you feel about the team heading into the first day of competition tomorrow?

AT: We’re very excited. I think that we’re going to do very well. The team is excited Bubba led us in our pep rally and the guys got together in the end and had a really big loud “Go USA, Go USA! So we’re really pumped and excited and ready for the action to start.

BUBBA THORNTON, Team USA men’s head coach

Q: When will your relay teams be named?

BT: Everybody in the room is in the pool, and we’re going to wait until after we’ve competed in the individual events and then we will name those lineups and then we’re looking forward to the results that will come from those lineups.

Q: What are your thoughts about the men’s team heading in to the competition?

BT: I believe it’s a typical USA team. We’re strong in all of the explosive events, whether it’s throws, jumps or sprints. We have made considerable improvement in our other areas and we’re looking forward to watching those people compete and watch those programs develop throughout the country so we can come back in 2004 and have an even more complete team than we have now.