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VALENCIA, Spain - Team USA picked up two gold medals, one silver and two
bronze on the final day of competition at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor
Track & Field Championships to finish the three-day meet atop the medal
table once again. All told, Team USA won 13 medals - 5 gold, 5 bronze
and three silver.
2005 World Outdoor champion and two-time World Indoor silver medalist
Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.) dominated to men's heptathlon from the
opening event and never relinquished his lead. After dusting the field
in the 60m hurdles in 7.86 (1,017 pts), clearing 5.00m/16-4.75 (910 pts)
in the pole vault and running 2:55.64 (708 pts) in the 1,000m, Clay
claimed his first World Indoor title with a world-leading personal best
6,371 points. Three-time NCAA Indoor champion Donovan Kilmartin (Austin,
Texas) took fifth place with 5,951 points. On the final day of
competition, Kilmartin ran 8.25 (920 pts) in the 60m hurdles, cleared
5.10m/16-8.75 (941 pts) in the pole vault and clocked 2:51.54 (750) in
the 1,000m.
The Americans' second gold medal of the day came in the meet's final
event, the men's 4x400m relay.James Davis (Houston, Texas) ran the lead
off leg, handing off to Jamaal Torrance (Raleigh, N.C.) in third place.
Torrance then chased down Russsia and the Dominican Republic and took
over the lead, passing to Greg Nixon (Lubbock, Texas). Kelly Willie (Los
Angeles, Calif.) anchored the team to victory, crossing the line in
3:06.79.
In the men's pole vault, 2007 World Outdoor Champion Brad Walker
(Mountlake Terrace, Wa.) added a silver medal to his trophy case with a
season-best clearance of 5.85m/19-2.25. Walker only made attempts a
three heights: 5.70m/18-8.25, 5.85m/19-2.25 and 5.95m/19-6.25, saying
that it was frustrating down on the infield with three field events
going on at one time. 2004 Olympian Derek Miles was eighth, clearing
5.60m/18-4.5.
2007 Pan Am Games 4x100m silver medalist Shareese Woods (Charlotte,
N.C.) went out strong in the final of the women's 400m, trailing only
the Russians, Olesya Zykina and indoor world record holder Natalya
Nazarova. She was able to hold on to their brisk pace and win the bronze
medal in a personal best 51.41. Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Moushaumi
Robinson (New Albany, Ohio) was sixth in 53.10.
In the women's 4x400m, Woods picked up another bronze medal with the
help of teammates Angel Perkins (Cerritos, Calif.), Miriam Barnes
(Ruston, La.), and Robinson. They crossed the line in 3:29.30.
Also on the track, Jonathon Riley (Fitchburg, Wisc.) took 11th in the
men's 3,000m in 8:05.59 while 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Nick Symmonds
(Springfield, Ore.) took sixth in the men's 800m, crossing the finish
line in a personal best 1:46.48. Symmonds' race saw all six athletes set
personal bests and included one world leader, one area record and two
national records. On the infield, three-time Olympian Amy Acuff
(Isleton, Calif.) cleared 1.95m/6-4.75 for sixth place in the women's
high jump, and two-time U.S. Indoor champion Aarik Wilson (Lawrence,
Kan.) was seventh in the men's triple jump with a leap of
16.88m/55-4.75.
Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com,
and on television on the Versus network. Check local listings.
For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships,
visit USATF.org.
Athlete Quotes
Bryan Clay - men's heptathlon gold medalist
"I was sick and then I was hurt. Two weeks ago I would have told you
that I wouldn't even be able to compete here. This just shows how well
my training is going.
Jamaal Torrance - men's 4x400m gold medalist (2nd leg)
"We were behind when I got the baton, I was trying to get my teammates
into place."
Greg Nixon - men's 4x400m gold medalist (3rd leg)
"It was good. I'll take my performance, no complaints. We got the gold."
Kelly Willie - men's 4x400m gold medalist (anchor leg)
"I just tried to go out and run a great race and represent my country."
Brad Walker - men's pole vault silver medalist
"Lukyanenko deserved to win the gold, he jumped 5.90. I'm satisfied with
how I did, it was fine but it was frustrating. There were three field
events going on at one time and it took a long time."
Shareese Woods - women's 400m bronze
"I'm my own worst critic. The first part of my race was just ok but I
was able to hold it together at the end and win a medal. Hopefully I
won't have to work at the bookstore anymore and I can pick up a sponsor
and get an agent."
Moushaumi Robinson - women's 400m final
"I'm disappointed, but I ran well so that's good. We got a medal for
Team USA. My time today was horrible compared to yesterday but I'm happy
for Shareese (Woods).
Shareese Woods - women's 4x400m bronze medalist (3rd leg)
"During the team meeting, Allen Johnson told us to make it as simple as
possible when getting ready for the race and during the race and it
worked."
Moushaumi Robinson - women's 4x400m bronze medalist (anchor leg)
"It's been a long weekend, I'm glad to be going home. Considering the
people that came (from other teams) and the young athletes that we
brought, I think we did a really good job."
Angel Perkins - women's 4x400m bronze medalist (1st leg)
"Every medal you get is a good one but I'm still going for that gold."
"I was the first one done and the last one off the track."
Donovan Kilmartin - men's heptathlon
"Who puts stairs at the end of my race?"
"It (my performance) was ok, solid. I messed up in the hurdles, was flat
in the pole vault but my 60 was great. This was my first international
competition like this. It was a good experience for me. These guys are
great athletes."
Jonathon Riley -11th in men's 3,000m
"I'm disappointed but anytime you don't have anything left in the last
400m it's unfortunate. The pushing and surging really takes it out of
you. I tried to go with the leaders and didn't have any kick left with
1,000m to go."
Nick Symmonds - 6th place in men's 800m
"It was just too fast."
Amy Acuff - 6th place in women's high jump
"I got sixth. I was just trying to conserve my energy (by passing
heights). I was tired from yesterday. I'm generally pleased with my
performance. I felt my attempts at 2.01 were pretty good. Now I know
what to go home and work on."
Aarik Wilson - 11th in men's triple jump
"I'm mad. It was a bad day at the office."
Team USA medal table - 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships
Gold (5):
Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), MSP
Anglea Williams (Ontario, Calif.), W60m
Lolo Jones (Baton Rouge, La.), W60mH
Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.), MHeptathlon
M4x400m relay, James Davis (Houston, Texas), Jamaal Torrance (Raleigh,
N.C.), Greg Nixon (Lubbokc, Texas), Kelly Willie (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Silver (5):
Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), MSP
Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.), WPV
Candice Davis (Culver City, Calif.), W60mH
Allen Johnson (Columbia, S.C.), M60mH
Brad Walker (Mountlake, Wa.), MPV
Bronze (3):
Andra Manson (Austin, Texas), MHJ
Shareese Woods (Charlotte, N.C.), W400
W4x400m relay, Angel Perkins (Cerritos, Calif.), Miriam Barnes (Ruston,
La.), Shareese Woods (Charlotte, N.C.), Moushaumi Robinson (New Albany,
Ohio)
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