Contact: Melissa Beasley
Communications Coordinator, USATF
In Santiago, via email: mbeasley@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 18, 2000

THREE ADVANCE TO FINALS AT WORLD JUNIORS

SANTIAGO, Chile - Three athletes advanced to the final rounds of their events Wednesday to highlight Team USA's performance at IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships.

High schooler Brionna Reynolds (Red River HS (N.D.)), the 2000 U.S. Junior discus champion, advanced to Thursday's women's discus final with a throw of 50.13 meters (164 feet, 5 inches). 2000 US Junior discus runner-up Stacy Martin (Auburn) failed to qualify with a throw of 40.14m.

Alfred Neale (Barton CC (Kan.)) and Matt Vincent (Florida) both qualified for Thursday's final in the men's high jump. Neale, the 2000 U.S. Junior champion and Vincent, the 2000 Junior runner-up, both cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 2.13m (6-11.75).

In finals action, Nick Welihozkiy (Stanford) finished eighth in the final of the men's hammer throw with a best mark of 58.32m (191-4). Turkey's Esref Apak won the hammer at 69.97m (229-6). Carrie Soong (UCLA) finished 11th in the women's hammer with a throw of 54.44m (178-7). Croatia's Ivana Brkljacic threw 62.22m (204-1) to take the gold in the event. Yolanda Thompson (Florida) placed 11th in the women's long jump, won by Concepion Montaner of Spain (6.47m/21-2.75). In the women's pole vault, Kathleen Donoghue (Stanford) and Laura Rosenberger (E. Mennonite U (Va.)) did not clear opening height of 3.50 meters (11-5.75). Yelana Isinbayeva of Russia won with a jump of 4.20m (13-9.25).

In Wednesday's preliminary rounds, Garland Martin (Wallace State CC (Ala.)) advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles with a fourth-place finish in his heat (14.23). Martin is the 2000 U.S. Junior champion. Michael Thomas (Arkansas) failed to advance, finishing sixth in his heat (14.68).

In the heats of the 400-meter hurdles, Chris Hickman (Barton CC (Kan.)) failed to qualify for the quarterfinals (53.08). Hickman is the 2000 US Junior 400-meter hurdles runner-up.

Not advancing for their final events for Team USA in Wednesday's semifinal competition were 2000 US Junior 400 meter champion James Graham of Georgetown University, who finished eighth (49.64) in his semifinal; 800-meter runner Nick Devenport (Baylor), seventh (1:52.81); women's 100-meter runners Consuella Moore (Penn State) and Khalilah Carpenter (Col. Brookhaven HS (Ohio)), who ran 11.85 and 11.81 to finish fifth in their respective semis; and men's 100-meter runner Monzavous "Rae" Edwards (Bevill St. CC (Ala.)), who was fifth in his semi in 10.51 and did not advance.

Stanford's Andrew Hill was to compete in Wednesday's first round of the men's 5000 meters, but due to an unexpected change in the IAAF competition schedule, Hill was unable to compete because he had not yet arrived into Santiago. (The 5,000 was slated for a finals-only race on Saturday, Oct. 21.)

For complete results, visit the official IAAF Web site: http://www.iaaf.org/wjc00/index.asp

TEAM USA QUOTES - Wednesday, October 18

Pam Marquez, Women's Head Coach: "I see today as a very positive day. We had a great morning, with Brionna (Reynolds), Alfred (Neale) and Matt (Vincent) all advancing. As for the afternoon events, well its safe to say that this extended season as definitely taken its toll on the team."

Women's Discus Qualifying

Brionna Reynolds, Red River HS (N.D.): "I went out there and just tried to remain calm while I threw. I did better than I thought I'd do, considering that I'm out of season. Overall, I pleased with my performance so far."

Men's High Jump Qualifying

Matt Vincent, University of Florida: "I felt pretty confident despite a shaky warm-up, but once I got into a little rhythm, it started to come together."

On competing against teammate and friend Alfred Neale: "If one is doing bad, we'll just go over and say something. Other than that, if we are doing well, we just try to continue to pump each other up."

Alfred Neale, Barton Community College (Kan.): "I feel all right about my performance today, it was rough in the beginning, I lost my mark. I was able to bounce back and make it into the finals."

On his pre-competition rituals: "I like to listen to music a lot, but another thing that really gets me pumped up is singing. I like to sing to myself before I jump, usually during my warm-up run."

# # #