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BOSTON - Adam Nelson lost the national title but won the Visa
Championship, while Lolo Jones took the women's Visa title Sunday at the
2008 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis
Center, on the campus of Roxbury Community College.
The final event of the Visa Championship Series, the meet served as the
qualifying event for Team USA's roster for the 2008 IAAF World Indoor
Track & Field Championships, to be held March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain.
The top two finishers in each event qualified, provided they have met
IAAF performance standards.
2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won the much-anticipated
showdown in the Visa men's shot put. 2005 World Outdoor Champion Adam
Nelson entered the meet as the favorite, having posted the #3 mark of
all-time just one week ago at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville
(22.40m/73-6). But on Friday, Cantwell , the defending Visa Champion,
had a competition in Warrensburg, Mo., in which all six of his throws
exceeded 70 feet, including a personal best of 22.18m/72-9.25. That put
him on a roll of his own.
Sunday afternoon, Cantwell set the standard with his first-round toss of
21.51m/70-7. Nelson sat in second place after two rounds with a best of
21.25m/69-8.75, but reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Reese
Hoffa surpassed Nelson in round three with a mark of 21.40m/70-2.5,
putting Cantwell and Hoffa on the roster for World Indoors. Although
Nelson missed qualifying for Valencia, he remained atop the Visa
Championship Series standings with his throw from Fayetteville (1265
points on IAAF scoring tables), netting him the men's Visa Championship
and a $25,000 paycheck.
Lolo Jones won two titles on Sunday. On the track, she won her second
straight indoor national crown in the Nike women's 60m hurdles. She
finished strong over the final two hurdles to win in 7.88 seconds,
earning 1194 points on the IAAF scoring tables to take the women's
$25,000 Visa Championship prize. Candice Davis was second in the race in
7.90.
Jones had a scare for the Visa title, however. Two-time World Indoor
silver medalist Angela Williams ran an impressive race in the Visa
women's 60m, dashing to a time of 7.11. Her effort was worth 1183
points, just shy of Jones' total, causing Jones to do a celebratory jig.
Alexis Joyce was second in 7.21, winning the second spot on Team USA in
a photo-finish over 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter,
who also was timed in 7.21. Joyce got the nod by three-hundredths of a
second, 7.203 to 7.206. Miki Barber was fourth in 7.22.
New blood in the sprints
Two-time NAIA 60m champion Michael Rodgers made his first professional
imprint by winning the AT&T men's 60m in 6.54 seconds, the fastest time
by an American this year. Leroy Dixon, who ran anchor on Team USA's
gold-medal 4x100m relay team at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships,
was second in 6.56. The final was run without the defending world
champion, Leonard Scott, who suffered a pulled right hamstring in the
semifinal round.
Young and not-as-young will combine to make a potent lineup for the
Americans in the men's hurdles in Valencia after 25-year-old David
Oliver won his first AT&T men's 60m hurdles national title in 7.47
seconds, the fastest time by an American this year. 1996 Olympic gold
medalist Allen Johnson, just shy of 37 years old, earned a chance to go
after his fourth career indoor world title by placing second in 7.53.
Hot half-miles
The men's 800 was one of the most exciting events of the day. Karjuan
Williams set a scorching early pace, but over the final lap the expected
battle between veteran U.S. outdoor champion Khadevis Robinson and
defending U.S. indoor champion Nick Symmonds played out. Robinson had
the advantage entering the final turn as Symmonds dug for his signature
kick. At the line, it appeared Symmonds may have nipped Robinson, but
the official results showed Robinson the winner at 1:46.95, and Symmonds
.01 back at 1:46.95.
The women's 800 marked the return to top form for 34-year-old Nicole
Teter. The American indoor record holder and 2004 Olympic Trials
runner-up won her third career USA Indoor title in 2:02.65, holding off
Nicole Cook in second at 2:02.86. Alisa Harvey once again lowered her
American masters record, placing sixth in 2:05.75. 2004 champion Rob
Myers returned to the winner's podium in the Nike 1,500m, running a
strong final 400 to win in 3:40.89 over Russell Brown in 3:41.20.
Amber Campbell won her second consecutive title in the Gill women's
weight throw with a best mark of 23.23m/76-2.75, with Kristal Yush
second with 22.62m/74-2.5. In the men's WT, Kibwe Johnson won his first
Gill men's WT national indoor title with a mark of 25.12m/82-5 over
four-time champ A.G. Kruger, who was second with 24.07m/78-11.75. Also
in the field, Trevell Quinley won the men's long jump with a mark of
7.82/25-8, over Joe Allen (7.71m/25-3.5).
Vaill victorious for seventh time
Teresa Vaill won her seventh career indoor title in the women's 3,000m
race walk in 13:08.40, putting her one shy of a record eighth win. Her
other titles date back more than 20 years, to 1984-'86 and and '89-'91.
Joanne Dow was second in 13:09.61.
The women's triple jump saw Shakeema Welsch jump 13.94m/45-9 to defeat
two-time indoor champion Shani Marks (13.87m/45-6.25). Shareese Woods
won the second heat of the women's 400m to take her first U.S. title in
52.03, with heat 1 winner Moushaumi Robinson, a 2004 Olympic 4x400m
relay gold medalist, second in 52.33. David Neville won the Hershey
men's 400 in 46.34, with Greg Nixon second in 46.72.
In exhibition events, Timothy McCrossen won the masters men's 60m in
7.19, Charmaine Roberts won the masters women's 400m in 1:00.29, and the
Central Park Track Club won the women's DMR in 11:32.89. The University
of Wisconsin overtook Oregon over the final 400m to win the men's DMR in
9:33.29, with the University of Oregon second in 9:34.06.
For more information, including complete results and athlete quotes, visit USATF.org.
2008 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Athlete Quotes - Day 2
Men's Weight Throw winner, Kibwe Johnson
"This is my first Indoor Championship title, it feels great. It was a huge p.r. (personal record). (Going into the last throw) it's pretty common for me that I can muster one up, but I had no idea that it was that far. I was really happy, it was my last throw, a p.r. and now I'm done with Indoors (for this season).
Women's weight throw winner, Amber Campbell
"Both were great (winning two Indoor titles back-to back). I can't ever complain about a win. There were some great competitors and it went really well. Everybody brings their "A" game to Nationals."
Women's triple jump winner, Shakeema Welsch
"I've been out of the scene for a while, so this was a sweet way to come back and win my first individual championship. There were some great competitors in the event, but I feel like I had really great execution and came in with a great approach. I was able to do this off some good rest and recovery and being here is a great way for me to tune-up for Beijing. I am very happy to be back on the scene."
Women's 400m winner, Shareese Woods
"I always try to remain focused when I'm in races like this. Before heading into the championship I talked to my parents and they always tell me to ignore the hype, just treat the race like its practice. I think that laid back attitude helped me execute and allowed me to run a personal best."
Men's 800 Meters winner, Khadevis Robinson
"To be honest , I'm a little upset that everyone was sitting on me. I like to lead but off that pace I thought there might have been a little help. I had to dig from the heart today. My legs were shot on the last lap. I'm happy with the win and the fast time, but sometimes it hurts more to run from the lead. When I lead if someone is going to get by me they will have to hurt themselves trying."
Men's Shot Put winner, Christian Cantwell
"I'm going to be honest and say that I was very disappointed by my winning throw. I actually threw my best last week at a small meet in Missouri. I was coming in here thinking I could rip off the world record, but just couldn't get a good grip on the throw. The ball was too small and I know I do better with an outside-sized ball."
Women's 3,000 Meters Race Walk, Teresa Vaill
"The pace felt very comfortable. I was just trying to maintain contact and see what I had left. I raced at Millrose, but haven't done a whole lot of other racing this season. My legs felt good. I wasn't going for time today, I just wanted to win here in Boston."
Men's 400m winner, David Neville
"I think this was the most nervous I've ever been going into a race. But I had faith that I trained well and was very prepared for the competition. I came back from battling injury to do this, so I know always to remain faithful in God and myself. The overall feeling is great and I am so happy to have the ability to now continue to train for Beijing."
Women's 800m winner, Nicole Teter
"I haven't been competing indoor for awhile, so I'm first happy to be back. I was able to sit on the front-runners shoulders for awhile and then opened it up a little in the last 200. It felt really good to get ahead like that. I'm finally feeling 100% again, so this is just the start of me enjoying racing again and having fun."
Women's Pole Vault winner, Jenn Stuczynski
"I felt pretty nervous going into this meet. The expectations were a lot different and a very competitive field. It's always disappointing to not be able to break a record, but it's a huge accomplishment to win a championship and qualify for worlds."
Men's 60m hurdles winner, David Oliver
"I knew this was going to be a close race and you always have to remember to not be afraid of falling (over the hurdles). I felt good going into this after I had a strong first round. My warm-up was good and I had great instruction from my coach. As for the record, I feel like it's always impressive to represent the elite group of American."
Men's 1500 Meters winner, Rob Myers
"The game plan was to get out in front and stay out of trouble. I run best that way. It feels good to get a win under my belt. I've been running some fast time, but very few wins. I knew I was strong heading into the race. I've gotten in a lot of strength training and that has helped a great deal. That probably what I was lacking in the past. I haven't sacrificed any training in preparation for outdoors. So this win proved to be a good indicator of where I'm at."
Men's long jump winner, Trevell Quinley
"I think the weather and disruption in travel threw off the competition. Even though I won, I didn't feel I competed that well. I think that goes for many of the other jumpers. I've pretty much been training on my own rightg now. Once I get back from the worlds I'll hook back up with my coach. I was glad to get the win today. I took the lead on my 5th jump."
Men's 60m dash winner, Michael Rodgers
"This was my first U.S. finals race, so my nerves were killing me going into it. I had some great competitors in the race, but I knew that I needed to hold on to my top U.S. time and I did that. It's just so exciting to be here."
Women's 60m dash winner, Angela Williams
"I was blessed to have such a good start to this race. I felt the need to zoom right off the block. I had to be a top competitor and I proved that. I'm very pleases with myself after coming back from a lot of set-backs. I want running to be fun now, to just take it back to the basics. I was able to do that today. I'm back to where I need to be."
Women's 60m hurdles winner, Lolo Jones
"I felt really good going into the race. I felt that it was a sloppy race overall, but I was still able to pull ahead and win out. I knew what I needed to do and just kept on with my speed at the end of the race. There was a lot of focus on technique instead of time, because as a runner you shouldn't focus on the time."
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