Hurdlers cruise through first rounds in Valencia

** Note: In addition to the live webcast on WCSN.com, fans can watch the World Indoor Championships on television. The Versus network will air the meet twice today (Saturday) and once on Sunday. Broadcast times are 3-4 p.m. ET and 7-8 p.m. ET on Saturday; 6-8 p.m. ET on Sunday. Check local listings.

VALENCIA, Spain - Team USA's hurdle crew advanced to the semifinal round during Saturday morning qualifying at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Lolo Jones (Baton Rouge, La.) and 2008 U.S. Indoor runner-up Candice Davis (Culver City, Calif.) easily advanced in the women's 60 meter hurdles, with Jones taking second in her heat in 7.96 seconds and Davis third in her heat in 8.02.

2008 U.S. Indoor champion David Oliver (Kissimmee, Fla.) won his heat in 7.59, the second-fastest time of the morning, to advance to the semi-finals in the men's 60m hurdles. Three-time World Indoor champion Allen Johnson (Columbia, S.C.) also easily advanced to the next round in the men's 60m hurdles, taking second in his heat in 7.67.

After winning the first two events in the men's heptathlon, 2005 World Outdoor champion Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.) is leading with 1,985 points. Clay first won the men's 60m in6.71 (997 pts) and then had the farthest long jump of the morning with a mark of 7.75 meters/25 feet 5.25 inches. Three-time NCAA Indoor champion Donovan Kilmartin (Austin, Texas) is currently in sixth place after running 7.02 in the 60m and jumping 7.36m/24-1.75. Competition continues in the men's heptathlon tonight with the shot put and high jump and concludes Sunday with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1,000m.

Reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wa.) and 2004 Olympian Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.) automatically qualified for the final in the men's pole vault, with their clearances at 5.70m/18-8.5. Three-time Olympian Amy Acuff advanced to the final in the women's high jump with her clearance of 1.93m/6-4.

Blazing paces were set in the opening round of the women's 1,500m. In the first heat, 2008 U.S. Indoor champion Christin Wurth-Thomas (Springdale, Ark.) put forth a good effort leading the pack mid-race for 400m before being passed by World Indoor record-holder Yelena Soboleva. Wurth-Thomas couldn't hold on to the lead pack and finished sixth in a personal best 4:10.56. In heat two, 2008 U.S. Indoor runner-up Jenelle Deatherage (St. Louis Park, Minn.) started out in the back and steadily climbed through the ranks, finishing seventh in a season best 4:14.27. Neither advanced to the final.

In women's shot put qualifying, 2008 U.S. Indoor runner-up Abby Ruston (San Marcos, Texas) finished 11^th overall with a heave of 17.79m/58-4.5 and four-time U.S. Indoor champion Jillian Camarena (Tucson, Az.) was 14^th with a mark of 17.66m/57-11.25. 2005 NCAA Outdoor heptathlon champion Lela Nelson (Winston-Salem, N.C.), competing in the women's long jump qualifying, finished 11^th overall with a leap of 6.31m/20-8.5. They did not advance to the finals.

Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com.

For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/IAAFWorldIndoorChampionships/.

ATHLETE QUOTES

Candice Davis - women's 60mH 1^st round

"It was slow, just working the kinks out. It was a good start to what will be a great beginning."

Lolo Jones - women's 60mH 1^st round

"It was easy. I'm just trying to roll through (the rounds)."

Allen Johnson - men's 60mH 1^st round

"I felt pretty good, I was happy with it. I advanced, it was what I expected. Everything I do right now is getting me ready for my Olympic Trials."

"I feel for him (Dayron Robles). He had the fastest time coming in and it will take a little bit away from the event with him not moving on." (Robles did not advance. Believing there had been a false start in his race, he jogged out of the blocks.)

David Oliver - men's 60mH 1^st round

"I just wanted to get out there and work the first hurdle and that's what I did. Last time I wore the USA uniform it didn't go so well, so I'm trying to make sure I do better this time. Now I'm going to go back to the hotel and get ready for tonight."

Christin Wurth-Thomas - women's 1,500m 1^st round

"I got sick on the flight over here. I've been pushing Vitamin C and allergy medicine all week. There is only so much you can do. But I went for it anyway. I just couldn't kick at the end, couldn't turn over."

Jenelle Deatherage - women's 1,500m 1^st round

"My race was way too much about how I felt. It was a rough trip over here."

Lele Nelson - women's long jump qualifying

"I'm so mad, I should have made the final. I thought it would have taken a lot further to make the final and with what the other girls jumped, I could have made it. I need to work on my runway. But it was awesome competing against world class long jumpers, I'm usually with the multi-eventers."

Abby Ruston - women's shot put qualifying

"It was good, I felt OK. It was close to my personal best. I'm pretty pleased (with my performance). I really attacked my last throw and tried to go after it and it just didn't work out. But this was a great trip and I'm happy to be here."

Jillian Camarena - women's shot put qualifying

"It just wasn't very good today, it just wasn't there. I'm looking forward to outdoors."

Brad Walker - men's pole vault qualifying

"It (qualifying competition) was long and drawn out but I made it through and that's all that matters."