Posted: August 30, 2007

Athletics: Gay breaks another record as USA goes 1-3 in men's 200; Phillips takes LJ bronze

OSAKA, Japan - World 100m champion Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.) broke yet another meet record held by Michael Johnson in an evening that also saw Team USA pick up two bronze medals Thursday at the IAAF World Outdoor Track& Field Championships at Nagai Stadium. At the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June, Gay set a pair of meet records in the 100 (9.84) and 200 (19.62), the latter previously held by world record holder Michael Johnson. Running into a .8 meters-per-second headwind Thursday night, Gay took down Johnson's meet record at the World Championships, coming from behind to win his second gold medal of the meet. Running in lane 4, Gay trailed Usain Bolt of Jamaica in lane 5 during the early stages of the race. But Gay used a powerful stretch run to pull away from Bolt, the world junior record holder, running 19.76 to Bolt's 19.91, breaking Michael Johnson's championship record of 19.79 set in 1995. Wallace Spearmon and Rodney Martin (Los Angeles, Calif.) had strong stretch runs of their own, moving up to place third and fourth, respectively, in 20.05 and 20.06. Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.) took home bronze in the men's long jump after a dramatic competition that saw him finish behind two men setting national records. Phillips popped off a solid first-round jump of 8.30m/27-2.75, which put him firmly in the lead after one round - only Jamaica's James Beckford had gone beyond 8 meters (8.09m/26-6.5). In the second round, 2006 World Cup and World Athletics Final champion Irving Saladino of Panama responded by matching Phillips' mark, jumping 8.30m. Saladino then surpassed Phillips in the third round with a jump of 8.46m/27-9.25, while Phillips scratched on his second, third jumps and fifth jumps, and 8.30 remained his best mark. In the final round, European Indoor champion Andrew Howe of Italy unleashed a national-record jump of 8.47m/27-9.5 to vault into first by just 1cm, moving Saladino to second and Phillips to third. But Saladino came back on the very last jump of the competition with the winning mark of 8.57m/28-1.5, also a national record. Miguel Pate (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) was 10th with 7.94m/26-0.75, and Trevell Quinley (Sacramento, Calif.) fouled on his first three attempts and had no mark. 2007 Visa Champion and world leader Tiffany Williams (Columbia, S.C.) ran a bold race but fell short in the women's 400m hurdles final. Running out of the disadvantageous lane 9, Williams went out fast, leading the field over the first five hurdles before defending champion and world record holder Yuliya Pechenkina of Russia and Jana Rawlinson of Australia made their move. Coming down the final stretch, it was a two-woman race between Rawlinson and Pechenkina, with third place up for grabs. Williams was in third over the final hurdle, but her brisk early pace took its toll and she faded to seventh in 54.63. Rawlinson took the gold in 53.31, with Pechenkina second in 53.50 and Anna Jesien of Poland third in 54.92. Future finals packed with Americans In qualifying action, Americans once again advanced multiple athletes to several finals. Team USA uniforms will fill half the lanes in Friday's women's 200m final. Coming off the curve strong, defending gold medalist Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.) looked easy in winning Thursday's first semifinal, running 22.21 to Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell's 22.44. 2003 World Outdoor silver medalist Torri Edwards (Corona, Calif.) was third in 22.51 to advance as well. Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas) won Heat 2 in 22.50, with LaShaunte'a Moore (Akron, Ohio) fourth in 22.73 to advance. Team USA's distance runners continued to achieve more "firsts," with three Americans qualifying for the men's 5,000m final for the first time in World Championships history. Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.) showed no fatigue from his gold-medal performance in Wednesday night's 1,500m final, easily advancing by placing third in Heat 1 of the 5 km semifinals in 13:46.57. In Heat 2, Matt Tegenkamp was third in 13:35.05 to automatically qualify, and Adam Goucher made in on time, placing eighth in 13:41.65. A pair of Americans will be in Friday night's final of the men's 110m hurdles. Having arrived in Osaka Tuesday night as a last-minute replacement, David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio) continued to amaze. The fourth-place finisher at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships won the first of three men's 110m hurdles semifinals in 13.19, earning a prime lane in Friday's final. Leading from the gun, national champion Terrence Trammell easily won Heat 2 in 13.23. David Oliver (Orlando, Fla.) was fourth in Heat 3 in 13.42 and did not make the final. USA indoor champion Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.) moved to Friday's semifinal of the men's 800 meters by placing second in Heat 1 of the first round in 1:46.16. Four-time USA Outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.) was fourth in Heat 4 in 1:45.78 and advanced on time; Duane Solomon (Los Angeles, Calif.) was seventh in Heat 6 (1:48.95) and did not advance. In men's pole vault qualifying, 2007 world leader Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) will seek to improve on his silver-medal finish from 2005, advancing to the final by clearing 5.70m/18-8.5. American record holder Jeff Hartwig (Jonesboro, Ark.) and Jacob Pauli (Cedar Falls, Iowa) both cleared 5.55m/18-2.5 and did not qualify. Team USA Medal Table Gold (6) Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.), M100m, 9.85 Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.), M200m, 19.76 CR Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.), M1,500m, 3:34.77 Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Fla.), M400H, 47.61 Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), MSP, 22.04m/72-3.75 Michelle Perry (Santa Clarita, Calif.), W100H, 12.46 Silver (2) Adam Nelson (Charlottesville, Va.), MSP, 21.61m/70-10.75 Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.), W100m, 11.01 Bronze (5) Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Ark.), M200m, 20.05 Dwight Phillips (Snellville, Ga.), MLJ, 8.30m/27-2.75 Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.), MTJ, 17.33m/56-10.75 Carmelita Jeter (Long Beach, Calif.), W100, 11.02 Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore), W10,000m, 32:02.05 Day 6 Team USA Evening Quotes from Osaka - August 30, 2007 Men's Pole Vault Qualifying Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.): Took three jumps. Cleared 5.70 after that, and luckily got the chance to shut it down. It's anybody's game, and I am sure there will be a lot of people in the mix in the finals. Jeff Hartwig (Jonesboro, Ark.): A bit frustrating. I feel like I was in much better shape at the US championships than I am right now. I put a lot of effort into just getting here at the nationals that I left myself short here. Jacob Pauli (Cedar Falls, Iowa): Everything was going good. Made 5.55 on the first attempt, then made a decision to pass 5.65, which ultimately made the final. Conditions were decent. This is a building block for next year, but it's still super disappointing. Men's 800m Qualifying Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.): I want to get 50-point, but I was a little slow. I wanted to hit 1:17, but I was a little slow. I ran what I thought I would run, 1:45.5. I thought I would be fine. But those guys are running today. I felt absolutely terrible. But hopefully I live to fight another day, get a lot of treatment, get my head right and go at it again. The legs were fine before I raced. I got back from Monaco and might have over done it a bit. I kind of nicked myself a bit. But that's definitely no excuse though. I felt fine tonight. I didn't feel it all in the race. I might have pulled my hamstring, but again, that's no excuse. Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.): The race went out pretty quick. I expected it to go out slow. It was the first heat. No one was expecting that. Technically, it was a good race. There weren't any pushing matches. People were running outside Lane 1 for some reason. Every move I needed to make was to the inside. It made it really easy. The only tough part I had was with 110 meters to go. I had to squirt through a couple of people. That opened up a lane for myself. I knew everyone was going to be doing the same thing. (On being in a box) That will happen. You know a hole will open up eventually. I hope to have something left for the finals. But I promise you to leave everything on the track. Duane Solomon (Los Angeles, Calif.): It went pretty well in the first lap. I felt pretty comfortable. I was in the lead. I had a pretty big lead. I was trying to relax. Coming down, say the last turn, I felt like my calf tightened up a little bit. I kind of worried about it. I pushed the gaps a little bit. It would then come back up. I had to slow down so it would go away. It lasted the whole way through the line. I couldn't really go to my top speed at the end. This is my first worlds, right after Pan Am. It was good competition over there. But it's nothing like this. I felt good all week. I hit my time. I was hoping to run a big one this week. At least 1:46 would have made it, or 1:45. It didn't happen today. Women's 400m Hurdles Final Natasha Hastings (Columbia, S.C.): I got out really hard for the first 350 (meters) and I just died after that. I didn't run a smart race. I just had nothing left at the end. I did my best. Men's Long Jump Final Dwight Philips (Snellville, Ga.): It's kind of bittersweet. I don't really know how to feel, coming in third. I hadn't finished like that with a bronze medal and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. But hey, I have motivation for next year and I'm looking forward to it. It wasn't my best at all. I didn't execute and that's what happens when you don't execute. Miguel Pate (Tuscaloosa, Ala.): It was tough. I think I had a jump that could've been in contention for a medal, but of course it was a foul. I'm really disappointed because I'm ready to jump far. I didn't have a chance to show that today, so I'll go back home and get ready for the rest of the season. Trevell Quinley (Sacramento, Calif): It didn't go as planned. I know it's my first team but that's no excuse. I'm pretty disappointed. It's back to the drawing board for me. I got some good experience getting my butt whupped at a major meet, but that's just going to motivate me for next year. Next season I'll be training with (world record holder) Mike Powell and I think that'll make all the difference Men's 5,000 meters Qualifying Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.): It was kind of up and down. I'm feeling good about Sunday. As much as people want to complain about US distance running, it's time that people need to put a positive spin on things. We surround ourselves with positive people, and it gets you going in the right frame of mind that you know that you can do the things you need to do, and we went out and proved that tonight. I think the final is going to be hard from the gun, and it will get rid of people early. Adam Goucher (Portland, Ore.): I don't think I've ever done that (miscounted laps in a race). It was a very big novice mistake. My legs got heavy with 400 meters to go, but I knew I had to be in the top ten and run faster than 13:47. I didn't think that there was going to be another five guys going past me. It's an advantage to be in the second heat. You know what time you have to run, and you can watch the clock Men's 110m Hurdles Semifinals Terrence Trammell (Ellenwood, Ga.): I felt pretty good. I just wanted to come out and have a good semi and make it through to the final and I was able to do that. It's a little more humid than I thought it was, but I'm okay. It's not too big of a deal. The goal is to stay hydrated and stick to the game plan. We'll see what happens tomorrow. David Oliver (Orlando, Fla.): I did the best I could. I guess it just wasn't my time. I went out there and gave it all I had and I'm kind of disappointed that it had to end this way, but I just gotta get ready for next year and hopefully the cards will be in line. I wish I could've done better. David Payne (Cincinnati, Ohio): I am amazed. I let it go after outdoor nationals. Good luck to all the rest of the guys. I'm just surprised that I am here. Now that I am here, it's great to be here. When I have that attitude of nothing to lose, I'm going for it all. I don't feel like (I have jet lag), but I'm not saying it because you might jinx me. I feel pretty good right now and I am ready to run tomorrow. I am (surprised), but I have been traveling a lot. I've been to Brazil for the Pan Am Games, back from Brazil, back over to London and back. I've traveled a lot, not that I am used to it. I'm slowly getting used to it. Maybe it will hit me in a little while. Hopefully it won't hit me tomorrow. Women's 200m Semifinal Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.): I wanted to come out really strong, and run a good 150, and it went well for me. We can expect something really fast. I'm looking forward to it. I think it's a good chance we can go 1-2-3-4. Everyone's running real well. I feel really prepared. I've been waiting for this meet for a long time. Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas): I felt really good today. I wanted to work on my last 50, especially running fast and staying relaxed, and that's what I did today. Allyson looked phenomenal in her heat today. I knew she had to run fast today with the kind of people running in her heat. I'm going to give it my best in the finals, and I think that we will run under 22 seconds. Allyson and Veronica (Campbell) will be really tough, but I want to win too. I think Veronica could potentially break up a clean sweep. I think Torri's very hungry. I know she wants a medal. Anything can happen in the finals. Torri Edwards (Corona, Calif.) I felt so-so. I didn't run the curve the way I wanted to. Lost some ground on the straightaway, but that's okay. I'm human, so I am feeling the rounds a bit, but I'm dealing with it. It's USA vs. the World, but there's also individual competition between us. It would be nice to get a gold medal. LaShauntea Moore (Akron, Ohio): My curve and my start wasn't so good. I had to chase once again. I'm going back to the drawing board and work on my strategy of getting out of the blocks, because I feel that if I'm within striking distance coming off the curve, I have a chance of getting a medal. I believe we can go 1-2-3-4. Men's 200-meter Final Tyson Gay (Fayetteville, Ark.): I believe what I did was a result of a lot of strength, a lot of prayer. I'm doing this for my coach Jon Drummond, my family, God, and I came out with the victory. I'm not used to not coming off the curve first and winning. It shows that I have a lot of strength and put in a lot of hard work. Usain Bolt gave me a run for my money. I was a little nervous. I worked on my form and staying relaxed and I came out with the victory. It shocked me that he was winning, and I'm not used to that. The last time that happened to me was in '05. I want the world to know that Bolt's a great competitor. I've seen him put in the work, throwing up after practice, so it would make me go home and put in the work. Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Ark.): My first two steps I stumbled and tried to stand up and just run and it was too late. I tried but there was nothing I could do. Tyson is an animal on that turn. I wanted to run the turn harder and it just didn't work. Maybe it's not for me. I got a medal, so it's like a pat on the back, but it feels like a spit in the face. I know I can run as fast as they did, but I guess you'll see it later. Tyson is the man to beat. Hands down, he just proved it. For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit USATF.org. Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com. For complete TV listings, visit USATF.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest