Trammell wins gold in Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia - 2006 World Indoor 60m bronze medalist Terrence Trammell won his second world 60m hurdles indoor crown Saturday night at the 11^th World Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Olimpiyskiy Sport Palace Complex in Moscow.

Trammell (Ellenwood, Ga.), who won his first World Indoor hurdles crown in 2001 and entered this year's Championships as the world leader, ran the fastest time in the world this year of 7.43 seconds to win the gold medal. Dayron Robles of Cuba finished in second place and 2006 USA Indoor runner-up Dominique Arnold (Irvine, Calif.) won the bronze medal with his clocking of 7.52 seconds.

Clay leads the heptathlon

Elsewhere, after the first day of competition in the men's heptathlon, reigning world decathlon champion and Olympic silver medalist Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.) has the lead. Clay dominated the field in the opening event, the 60 meters, with his time of 6.67 seconds. He followed that performance with a leap of 7.74m/25-4.75 in the long jump, a throw of 13.89m/45 feet, 7 inches in the shot put and a clearance of 2.10m/6-10.75 in the high jump.

Clay's first day total of 3,616 points leads the field going into tomorrow's second day of competition. Roman Sebrle (CZE) is the runner-up with 3,578 points.

In finals action, U.S. Indoor champion Danielle Carruthers (Kennesaw, Ga.) came within an eyelash of a medal in the women's 60m hurdles. Carruthers crossed the finish line with a personal best time of 7.88 seconds, just shy of bronze medalist Susanna Kallur of Sweden, who finished in 7.99. In the men's 1,500m final, U.S. Indoor champion Chris Lukezic (Washington, D.C.) finished seventh in 3:45.09

Elsewhere, U.S. champion Kellie Suttle (Jonesboro, Ark.) finished seventh in the women's pole vault (4.40m/14-5.25) and in the women's 3,000 meters U.S. champion Carrie Tollefson (St. Paul, Minn.) finished seventh with a seasonal best time of 8:59.13, and Sara Hall (Woodside, Calif.) placed 12^th in 9:14.49. Also in men's action, U.S. champion Brian Johnson (Baton Rouge, La.) finished seventh in the long jump with a best of 7.90m/25 feet, 11 inches. In the men's 400 meters, reigning U.S. Indoor champion Milton Campbell (Atlanta, Ga.) qualified for the final with his third place semifinal finish in 46.22.

2006 U.S. Indoor runner-up Frances Santin (Santa Monica, Calif.) ran 2:05.40 in her 800m semifinal and will not advance, nor will national men's 800m champion Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.)who finished sixth in his semifinal in 1:48.30. In the women's 400 meters, 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist Sanya Richards (Austin, Tex.) placed fourth in her heat in 52.46 and will not move on to the final.

Morning qualifying report

2005 World Outdoor Championships men's pole vault silver medalist Brad Walker (Seattle, Wash.) land 2006 world leader and American record holder Jeff Hartwig were the leading qualifiers in this morning's session and will move on to the final. Both cleared 5.70 meters/18 feet, 8.50 inches.

In other morning qualifying, reigning world outdoor silver medalist and U.S. Indoor champion Chaunte Howard (Atlanta, Ga.) qualified for the final of the women's high jump with her clearance of 1.93m/6-4. Three-time Olympian and five-time USA Outdoor champion Amy Acuff (Chula Vista, Calif.) cleared 1.90m/6-2.75, but will not compete in the final.

In the women's long jump, 2005 world outdoor champion Tianna Madison (Knoxville, Tenn.) was the third best qualifier with her leap of 6.60m/21-8. 2004 Olympian and two-time USA Outdoor champion Grace Upshaw (Menlo Park, Calif.) fell short of the final with her best jump of 6.44m/21-1.50.

2006 U.S. women's indoor 1,500m champion Treniere Clement (Knoxville, Tenn.) had the fifth-fastest qualifying time in placing fifth in heat 1 in 4:11.64. 2006 U.S. Indoor runner-up Tiffany McWilliams (Starkville, Miss.) in her first international race decided after the first lap that the pace was way too slow, so she took the lead and held it until right before the final lap when she was passed. She finished heat 2 in sixth place (4:15.80) and will not qualify for the final.

Reigning men's world outdoor triple jump champion Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.) qualified for the final with his hop, skip, and jump of 17.09m/56-1. 2006 U.S. Indoor runner-up Aarik Wilson (Falon, Nevada) had a seasonal best with his effort of 16.61m/54-6, but will not advance.

USA Indoor champion Jillian Camarena (Provo, Utah) was the sixth best women's shot put qualifier with her throw of 18.25m/59-10.50, and USA Indoor runner-up Kristin Heaston (Palo Alto, Calif.) qualified tenth with a toss of 17.83m/58-6, but will not compete in the final.

MEDAL TABLE (After two days of competition)

1. Russia: Gold - 3 Silver - 4 Bronze 2 = 9

2. United States: Gold - 4 Silver - 1 Bronze 2 = 7

3. Ukraine: Gold - 2 Silver - 0 Bronze 0 = 2

Team USA medalists:

Gold: Lisa Barber (women's 60m); Reese Hoffa, men's shot put; Leonard Scott, men's 60m; Terrence Trammell, 60m hurdles.

Silver: Lauryn Williams (women's 60m)

Bronze: Terrence Trammell (men's 60 meters); Dominique Arnold (men's 60m hurdles)

QUOTES

TERRENCE TRAMMELL (men's 60m hurdles): It feels good. I've come very close a lot of times and it's good to be on top for a change. I did it in 2001 indoors, but I'm happy about this. I wanted to focus on getting a quick start and I know they've been having a quick gun. I don't think it was quite as explosive as the one in the semifinals, but the thing I wanted to do was to concentrate on those five hurdles and I was able to do that. I just wanted to stay focused through the end.

DOMINIQUE ARNOLD (men's 60m hurdles): My practice prior to this race was sharp. I need to do a better job listening for the gun. I'm focusing too much on what I need to do instead of just listening to the gun and reacting. That's what I've been having trouble with during the rounds. These guys are ready to run. I got a medal, I wanted gold, but to come out with a medal at a world championships is great for me. It feels great!

KHADEVIS ROBINSON (men's 800 meters): I just never got into a rhythm. I felt perfect, not nervous and I never got in position and I'm disappointed in that. The tempo was not bad at all. To make a move you have to make it on the straightaway and they kept the tempo up.

MILTON CAMPBELL (men's 400 meters): I fell asleep during part of the race. I eased up and let them go by me. It was hard to get back in my rhythm after that. We'll have a better race tomorrow. I wish I would have pressed a little more for a better lane but I still feel confident in my top-end speed.

SANYA RICHARDS (women's 400 meters): I don't know. I felt good today, but I've been sick all week and now I'm not feeling good. I'm just weak. I have the flu and a headache. I guess it just wasn't my time.

CHRIS LUKEZIC (men's 1,500meters): It was pretty slow early on. I felt good early on. I'm not super excited about my race but not totally bummed either. My first international final as a senior is a great experience and overall it was a wonderful thing to come to and I can't say much more.

DAMU CHERRY (women's 60 hurdles): I didn't finish in the top three like I planned but I stayed consistent throughout the rounds so I'm happy.

DANIELLE CARRUTHERS (women's 60m hurdles): I think I got out well and I was right there. I kind of nicked my knee on the fourth hurdle and that made a difference in my concentration. I was hoping at the lean that I'd be right there.

BRIAN JOHNSON (men's long jump): I felt good. I had one big jump and just fouled by about an inch. It just wasn't enough today. I gotta keep working. It's just my second meet of the year so I have to keep working and hope it gets better. I wasn't nervous, I just didn't have it today.

CARRIE TOLLEFSON (women's 3,000m): I went with them as long as I could and I thought that if I could have held on for two more laps I would have stuck with the pack, but I let them go and that's where my fault was. It was a fun race and I gave it everything I had. I've been under the weather most of this week like the rest of our team.

SARA WELLS (women's 3,000m): It wasn't all I was hoping for, it being my first world championships, but I feel blessed to be here. I didn't feel quite like myself. All you can do is give it your all and that's all you can ask.

TIANNA MADISON (women's long jump): I had a pretty good day. I was comfortable. It's just the technical stuff now. I had to adjust my steps. I knew the runway was different but it didn't break me too bad. I'm as healthy as I can be with a stress fracture in my shin, my left one, my jump leg. It hurts when I jump but you have to overlook it. I'm going on vacation after this.

GRACE UPSHAW: (women's long jump): It just wasn't there today. It hasn't been a great indoor season hopefully this spring will be better for me. I'm changing a few things about my approach to make things happen but today it didn't happen.

JILLIAN CAMARENA (women's shot put): I'm doing alright. It came to the last throw and my coach and I have practiced that scenario in practice, which is completely different from here. I think I was more surprised that I threw it that far. I'm just glad I got in. I'm ready for finals. When I get in there there's a couple things I'm going to do differently.

TRENIERE CLEMENT: (women's 1,500m): It was tough out there, a lot of moving around. I was just trying to get them and stay in contact with the group in front of me. I lost a little bit when I wasn't there with them but I wasn't too far behind either.

TIFFANY McWILLIAMS (women's 1,500m): They took the pace out way too slow, which was ridiculous and that's where I messed up. I took the lead because there's no way I'm going to just sit there in the middle.

WALTER DAVIS (men's triple jump): I wish I would have made it (qualifying mark) on the first jump but I kind of bailed out on the first one. On my second one I kind of messed up on my phases a little bit. The other flight had a lot of guys hitting the qualifying mark and I was sitting like eighth and I didn't want to wait to see what someone else was going to get. I knew I had to get 16.95 so on my last attempt I ran a little faster than I did on all the rest of them and got it. Tomorrow I'll be ready.

JEFF HARTWIG (men's pole vault): I felt great out there. Qualifying is a bit brutal. It's three hours out there to jump just a couple of heights, but hopefully it shows the strength I'm in right now. We'll see. I felt really good and I didn't take many jumps.

AMY ACUFF (Women's high jump): I'm happy that my ankle didn't hurt all the time so I guess that's better than Boston. I'm really sick right now. I have some kind of respiratory thing and I think I have a fever. I still wanted to jump better, but the odds were stacked against me.

CHAUNTE HOWARD (women's high jump): It was a rough day, but I'm thankful for those first attempt clearances. When everyone else was missing I made it on the first attempt, so I got into the finals by the skin of my teeth.

AARIK WILSON (men's triple jump): I learned a lot. It was a great experience to be out there with all those great triple jumpers. I'm disappointed but I got some well needed experience. I just need to be more prepared next time.

For more information on the 2006 World Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit www.usatf.org.