Team USA women’s 4x100m quartet qualifies for final

OSAKA, Japan - Team USA's women's 4x100m relay squad looked solid during Saturday morning's qualifying round at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Nagai Stadium.

Women's 100m bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter (Long Beach, Calif.) ran a strong lead leg for Team USA before handing the baton to 2007 Pan Am Games 100m and 4x100m relay silver medalist Mechelle Lewis (Columbia, S.C.), who kept the Americans in the lead.

2007 Pan Am Games 100m gold medalist Miki Barber (Raleigh, N.C.) ran a masterful third leg that gave Team USA a commanding lead before handing the baton to 2005 World 100m champion Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.), who sped to the finish, crossing the line in the fastest time in the world this year of 42.24 seconds. Jamaica finished second to Team USA in that race, and in overall qualifying in 42.70 seconds. Men's and women's 4x100m relay finals will cap off this evening's action in Osaka.

Day 2 of the decathlon began with competition in the 110m hurdles. 2004 Olympian Paul Terek (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), finished sixth in his heat in 15.10 seconds. Heat 3 featured Americans Jake Arnold (Santa Rosa,Calif.) and 2003 World Outdoor champion Tom Pappas (Knoxville, Tenn.). Arnold finished eighth in 14.72, with Pappas ninth in 14.84. Pappas did not report for competition in the discus throw due to a foot injury.

Terek threw 44.81 meters/147 feet and Arnold had a best throw of 43.70 meters/143-4 in the discus competition. After seven events Terek is in 10th place with 5,774 points, with Arnold 13th with 5,727 points.

The men's 50 km race walk was held Saturday morning, where three-time USA 20 km champion Kevin Eastler (Aurora, Colo.) finished 31st in 4 hours 31 minutes 2 seconds.

For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org

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Day 8 Team USA Morning Quotes from Osaka

Women's 4x100 relay, semifinal:

Carmelita Jeter (Long Beach, Calif.): I felt like my start was pretty good. I ran a hard curve. I just wanted to come out and help my team for the prelims, get them to the finals.

Mechelle Lewis (Columbia, S.C.): It felt easy. We got the stick through. That was the hardest part. We come here and we are already practicing with the girls. I'm happy going to the finals. I felt really good. I wanted to make sure I ran my leg. I didn't want to see anyone in front of me or beside me. I think I handled that pretty well. The third leg and the fourth leg came through. All of us ran well and that's good.

Mikele Barber (Raleigh, N.C.): I've been here all week waiting to run. This is my goal to come here and win the gold medal. When I'm on the track, I'm ready to go. I made sure we had good, safe baton passes. I made sure to stay comfortable, hold my form and make sure I get that baton as fast as I could to Lauryn.

Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla): They definitely set the table for me very well. They made my job very easy this morning. I hope to get going tonight. I was a little bit tight, but I'm feeling a lot looser already. They handled their end of the bargain for the first three legs, so why not finish it strong. Everything felt good.

50 km Race Walk

Kevin Eastler (Aurora, Colo.): I threw up three times. It was just liquid. My stomach wasn't absorbing. I ate oatmeal for breakfast, which is what I eat every time. The pace was easy. My heart rate was low. At 21K or so, it popped up. Nothing much you can do when you deal with that. It's all about hydration and nutrition. I think that's my biggest challenge. I have a lot to learn. I don't think it's a fitness issue. I hope I never have a race that slow again.