Posted: June 25, 2006

Athletics: AT&T USA Outdoor Champs Saturday Athlete Quotes

Women's 400m Champion- Sanya Richards

"My coach told me to kick when I thought I had a lot of energy coming in. I really want to schedule an event where I can double in the 200 and 400. In practice, I worked on speed and endurance. I have been looking forward to the World Cup since the season started. I definitely think it is going to happen later in the season."

Women's 3000m Steeplechase Champion- Lisa Galaviz

"I went out conservative because my fitness wasn't where it should be. I was surprised I won. I was trying to hang on close to the leaders. I was just like 'I am going to go now, and see what happens'. I would like to get to the 9:30s, but it's hard to train, something always comes up."

Women's 400mH Heat 1-Lashinda Demus

"I felt good. I wanted to practice race pace for the finals, and I did it."

Women's 400mH Heat 2- Tiffany Ross-Williams

"It was a pretty good race. I relaxed the first 200, so I'd make it tomorrow."

Men's 400mH Champion- Kerron Clement

"I had a very good warm-up. I was prepared to defend my title and I did that. I'm very pleased with my time and the win."

Men's Pole Vault Champion- Russ Buller

"This past year I moved back out to the Olympic Training Center. It was a big deal for me to leave my job and everything. To win a national title my first year back is just great. My whole goal is to make it to 2008. Hopefully, I can just maintain and make it to the next Olympics."

Women's Long Jump Champion- Rose Richmond

"My year started off rocky. Things finally came together. This is what I needed, to come out here and jump close to seven meters."

Women's High Jump Champion- Chaunte Howard

"I felt unsure, I didn't know how I was going to compete. I just went out there with the attitude that I could do it. My technique made a huge difference. Now, I am going to go and train like a crazy person."

Women's Discus Champion- Aretha Thurmond

"I am excited about being first. I just wanted to reclaim the national title. First place is great, I'll take it."

Men's 400m Champion- Andrew Rock

"The U.S. 400 is pretty strong, 10 or 12 people are capable of running below 45. It was kind of my goal coming in. I had to run some good, consistent times. It feels good to be a U.S. champion. I felt like I had to be in it at the start in order to finish strong with 100 to go. I knew with five meters to go we were right next to each other, and I was going to have to push it to pull it off. When I crossed the line, I thought I had won, but I had to look up at the score board. It is never easy, the quality of the field is amazing. "

Women's 1500m Champion- Treniere Clement

"Strength helps out a lot. I love every minute of it. This one is just as good as the first."

Women's 100mH Champion- Virginia Powell

"I started hitting some hurdles at the end, so I started running through them to get the wind. It was a really messy ending. It feels good to have the win as a professional. "

Men's 200m Heat 1- Wallace Spearmon

"It was a smooth, nice first round."

Men's 200m Heat 2- Jeremy Wariner

"My start wasn't that good, and my curve could have been better. I've always considered myself a sprinter. I love the 200 because it's quick and it shows talent, speed and strength."

Men's 200m Heat 3- Tyson Gay

"I'm a little sore. We'll see how I feel when I get to the next round."

Men's 200m Heat 4- Chris Berrian

"I wasn't trying to take it out too hard. I ran the first 50 hard, then coasted and tried to save it."

Women's 200m Heat 1- Muna Lee

"I tried to work on technique, but I don't know if I did it yet. I am a little tired, but it is only one round today."

Women's 200m Heat 2- Shalonda Solomon

"I wanted to go out and make it to the semis. I knew my competitors were very fast, so I just wanted to advance."

Women's 200m Heat 4- LaTasha Jenkins

"Last year I progressed so well, I look even better than I did before. This is my second 200 0f the year. Hopefully in July and August I'll be right where I want to be. This sport is going to last forever, I love it."

Women's 100mH Heat 1- Damu Cherry

"I feel good. I've been praying all night."

Women's 100mH Heat 2- Virginia Powell

"I felt a little faster than yesterday, but my time wasn't faster."

Women's Heptathlon Champion- GiGi Johnson

"I was lucky, I tweaked my knee on Monday, I'm just happy I didn't re-injure it. My goal was to hit the A-Standard. It was a great competition, with great competitors, nothing was given to me. My shot put has been going well, my hurdles were great. I wanted to dip below 13.00 seconds in my hurdles but that didn't happen."

Women's Heptathlon silver medalist- Hyleas Fountain

"I'm hurting a little bit. It came down to the 800 meters last year as well. I did what I could and came up with a PR (personal record) in the 800, it just wasn't good enough to win. My shot put and long jump were my strong events. I pulled everything together for the meet.

Men 110mH Heat 1 - Ryan Wilson

"I feel good. I was eager to get tomorrow's race. The heat was great. We've had bad weather all year. I'm from Ohio, so I'm used to this humidity."

Men 110mH Heat 2- Dominique Arnold

"I was all over the place toward the middle of the race. The track is fast, I had to slow down, so I didn't screw up."

Men 110mH Heat 3- Allen Johnson

"I am just happy to get it over with. I felt comfortable for the first round. No, I don't have anything to prove, except that age is not as big a factor that everybody makes it out to be. I will keep running as long as I think I can win. I have a lot of fun doing it."

Men 110mH Heat 4- Terrence Trammell

"I am glad to get some kinks out. I have been here since Thursday, so I was getting anxious. I am happy with it."

Men's Decathlon Champion- Tom Pappas

"I'm just thankful I got through healthy. I've had one injury after another."

"It's a shame when decathlete (Bryan Clay) no heights, I've done it."

"My family and friends still knew I had it in me. I never doubted my ability to score a lot of points. Bryan earned the number one spot in the U.S. and the world. He is a great role model for the sport."

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