Team USA Sweeps 400m Gold at World Juniors

GROSSETO, Italy - Team USA quarter-milers made it another golden day with convincing wins at Olympic Stadium on day 3 of the 10^th IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

In the 400m finals, University of South Carolina-bound Natasha Hastings took gold with a personal best time of 52.04 seconds and Ashlee Kidd of Georgia Tech captured bronze with a 52.45 clocking. "I did not focus on my time, but just to win," said Hastings. "I was relaxed on the backstretch and the last 150 meters I gave it whatever I had left. I came out with a personal-best, which was the icing on the cake," Hastings continued

East Carolina University-bound LaShawn Merritt was well out in front with 100 meters to go before Nagmeldin Ali Abubakr (Sudan) tried to make a last surge before Merritt accelerated to a 45.25 seconds finish to strike gold in the men's 400m finals. "I came here to win," said Merritt. "I tried to run very hard the first 300 meters. I'm still learning a lot from track and I have room for improvement."

Nicole Leach of West Catholic High (Phila, Pa.) finished fourth in women's 400m hurdles finals with a time of 57.56 seconds. Jamaica's Sherene Pinnock (57.54) was able to hold off a late surge by Leach at the finish to claim the bronze medal. "I am happy that I got a PR, but that is what I came here to do," said Leach. "I took it out faster than I normally do. Down the straightaway I was losing my steps approaching the hurdles," Leach continued. Cal-Berkeley's David Torrence ran 3:43.62 to finish eighth in the men's 1,500m finals. Stanford-bound Erica McLain leaped 12.89m/42-3.50 to finish 11^th in the women's triple jump finals. South Carolina-bound Keith Hinnant finished in seventh-place of the 400m with a time of 46.88.

In the men's decathlon final, Chris Helwick and Jangy Addy finished eighth (7,176) and 11th (7,129), respectively. "I got a PR in the 1,500m by at least 36 seconds," said Addy. "I also got a PR for total points, so I am happy about that too."

The stage was set for a spectacular 400m hurdles final on Friday with USA teammate Kerron Clement of Florida (49.01) and Brandon Johnson of UCLA (49.78) both advancing. Chip Heuser a University of Oklahoma transfer cleared 5.05m/16-6.75 to tie for second-place and qualify for the men's pole vault finals.

Other Team USA members who competed today, but did not advance included Cory Martin of Auburn (66.41m/217-10), who finished ninth while American junior record holder Nick Owens of North Carolina did not make a mark in the qualifying round of the men's hammer throw; Marcus Pugh of Tulsa, Okla., (21.61) in the men's 200m semi-finals. Brandon Glenn of Arizona State competed in the men's pole vault.

For more information on the 2004 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships, including results from the Pre-World Meet, visit www.iaaf.org or USATF's newly redesigned website at www.usatf.org.

Athlete Quotes:

Natasha Hastings (World Juniors 400m champion) South Carolina-bound:

I did not focus on my time, but just to win. I felt loose early on and my adrenaline was up although I had my normal 'jitters.' I was relaxed on the backstretch and the last 150 meters I gave it whatever I had left. I came out with a personal-best, which was the icing on the cake.

I tried to treat this race as any other single race because I did not want to put any added pressure on myself. This was one of my toughest races without all of my family here to be with me. I gave it my all today to make my family proud because I love them especially my little brother Justin.

LaShawn Merritt (World Juniors 400m champion) East Carolina-bound:

I came here to win. I tried to run very hard the first 300 meters. I'm still learning a lot from track and I have room for improvement. I run both the 200 and 400m, but I prefer the 400m although it is tough because I like the challenge.

Ashlee Kidd (World Juniors 400m bronze medalist) Georgia Tech:

Overall, I think I had a good race and a good start, but I got tired at the end. It has been a long season. The last 100 meters, I tried to kick it in but I just did not have enough left to beat the other two at the finish.

Keith Hinnant (400m) South Carolina-bound:

I felt comfortable coming into the race but I always get nervous in these kinds of races. I felt like I was not putting any pressure on this since I felt relaxed in the race. On the turn, I did not realize how fast everyone was going. They all beat me to the turn. I have next year and I have this race to use as a learning experience and come back next year to get a medal.

Chris Helwick (Decathlon) Tennessee:

Today was a better day for me compared to yesterday. I pulled my hamstring in the pole vault event, which disrupted my rhythm throughout the rest of the competition. I think I finished strong despite my setbacks. I was pleased with the high jump, 110m hurdles and discus throw which were my best.

Jangy Addy (Decathlon) Tennessee:

I was shocked that I did not get a good start in my strongest events (100m/110mH/LJ/400m). Today, I started bad as well. My last four events were ok, but I am happy that I got a PR in the 1,500m by at least 36 seconds. I also got a PR for total points, so I am happy about that too.

Shalonda Solomon (200m) South Carolina-bound:

My start was not as good as the first round. The last 100 meters was better than the first round. I still have a lot of work to do to improve my time because I wanted to run 22 seconds, but hopefully I will tomorrow.

Shana Cox (200m) PennState:

I think I need to get used to the track and the environment. My time gets better every time I race, so I am happy about that. I perform best in pressure situations during race such as the finals, which should bring out the best in me.

David Torrence (1,500m) Cal-Berkeley:

I know the race was going to go out faster than the prelims. I tried to maintain my speed when people started passing me then I decided stay with the pack. I just went out to run my race and keep up with the pack then kick at the end to finish strong.

This was a great experience and bigger than I expected. It was great to meet everyone from other countries.

Nicole Leach (400mH) West Catholic High (Phila, Pa.):

I happy that I got a PR, but that is what I came here to do. I know my training was not ready for me to run 55 seconds. I took out faster than I normally down the straightaway I was losing my steps approaching the hurdles. Until the last 100m to close or too far and sometimes I overshot about three hurdles.

Chip Heuser (Pole Vault) Oklahoma transfer:

I thought I was going down the runway too fast. There was a stiff headwind and everyone had to use softer poles than they were used to. It was a matter of tough man competition because of the headwind.

I was confident today and was able to clear on my second attempt. I look forward to the finals tomorrow.