| Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand at WCSN.com |
VALENCIA, Spain - Christian Cantwell reclaimed his World tile and Reese
Hoffa picked up a silver medal , while Angela Williams added a gold to
her medal collection Friday night at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track &
Field Championships.
The men's shot put, the first final of the night, looked to be a duel
between the 2004 World Indoor champion, Christian Cantwell (Columbia,
Mo.), and the 2006 World Indoor champions, Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.),
and they didn't disappoint. Cantwell took the early lead with his first
throw of 21.14 meters/69 feet 4.25 inches only to be passed by Hoffa in
the second round with a throw of 21.20m/69-6.75. It was that throw which
would eventually earn Hoffa the silver medal. Cantwell bounced back in
the third round with a heave of 21.59m/70-10 and followed it up in the
fifth round with his gold medal-winning throw of 21.77m/71-5.25. He is
only the second shot putter to win two World indoor titles.
Two-time World Indoor silver medalist Angela Williams (Ontario, Calif.)
announced to the world that she is back and better than ever with her
win in the women's 60 meters. The second fastest athlete out of the
blocks, Williams strong surge in the last 10m propelled her to victory
in a world-leading, personal best 7.06 seconds. 2008 U.S. 60m runner-up
Alexis Joyce (Denver, Co.) was eighth in 7.37.
In the last final of the night, the men's 60m, 2008 U.S. Indoor champion
Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas) placed fourth in 6.57. Nigeria's
Olusoji Fasuba won the gold in a world-leading 6.51. Earlier in the
night, in the semi finals, Rodgers won his heat in a personal best 6.54
and 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist Leroy Dixon (Los Angeles,
Calif.) took seventh in his heat in 6.75 and didn't advance.
In qualifying action at the track, two-time U.S. Indoor and Outdoor
champion Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.) advanced to the final of
the women's pole vault with her opening clearance of 4.50m/14-9. 2004
Olympian Jillian Schwartz (Jonesboro, Ark.) cleared 4.35m/14-3.25 and
did not advance. Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Aarik Wilson (Lawrence,
Kan.) automatically advanced to the men's triple jump final with a hop
skip and a jump of 17.13m/56-2.5. It was a season best for Wilson and
and the second farthest jump in qualifying. 2004 Olympian Kenta Bell
(Kissimmee, Fla.) placed eleventh overall with a mark of 16.66m/54-8 and
did not advance.
The first round of the women's 800m saw American indoor record holder
Nicole Teter (Eugene, Ore.) take fourth in her heat in 2:01.73 and
advance to the semi final on time, while Nicole Cook (Knoxville, Tenn.)
was fourth in her heat in 2:06.67 and didn't advance. On the men's side,
both Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.) and Khadevis Robinson (Santa
Monica, Calif.) advanced after coming in first and second in their
respective heats with Symmonds clocked at 1:49.30 and Robinson in
1:49.33.
2008 U.S. Indoor champion David Neville (Los Angeles, Calif.) advanced
to the semi-finals in the men's 400m after placing second in his heat in
47.43. 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Greg Nixon (Lubbock, Texas) was third
in his heat in 47.64 and didn't advance. For the women, 2004 Olympic
4x400m gold medalist Moushaumi Robinson (New Albany, Ohio) and 2008 U.S.
Indoor champion Shareese Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) qualified for the next
round after placing second and third, respectively, in their heats.
Robinson crossed the line in 52.45 and Woods in 52.65.
Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Rob Myers (Westerville, Ohio) ran a
strong, hard-fought race in the men's 1,500m qualifying round, finishing
fourth in 3:41.73, but it wasn't enough and he did not advance. Stanford
standout Russell Brown (Hanover, N.H.) was seventh in his heat in
3:47.19.
Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com.
For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships,
visit USATF.org.
Athlete Quotes
Christian Cantwell - men's shot put gold medalist
"I'm happy with the win. My training has been going ok so far. There is
nobody in the world right now that can compete with us (Americans) in
the shot. We're always expected to win."
Reese Hoffa - men's shot put silver medalist
"I felt like I was ready to hit a big throw but every time I pushed it
just wasn't going anywhere. It is always going to be a battle (between
me and the other American shot putters), I just need to make sure I am
equally prepared. I really want to peak for the Olympic Games,
unfortunately I think I need to peak for the Olympic Trials because we
are so strong in the shot."
Angela Williams - women's 60m gold medalist
It feels awesome, I'm so excited. Just confirming that working hard and
believing in yourself pays off. I was confident but I didn't want to be
cocky. I said 'today is the today Angie'. It's about staying calm and
focusing on my race. I'm so happy. Now it's a new beginning with the
outdoor season."
Alexis Joyce - women's 60m finalist
"My calves got tight and it just wasn't there. But I made it to the
final and that's what counts. It was my first time (on Team USA). I'm
happy to be here."
Nicole Teter - women's 800m qualifying
"That was so hard, the fastest I've run all season. I was crossing my
fingers. It felt good though, even after the long trip over here."
Nick Symmonds - men's 800m qualifying
"It felt good, really easy. I knew I had to make wide moves so that I
wouldn't get in to a pushing match. The whole last lap, I knew if I had
to drop a 25 I could do it, but thankfully nobody was running that
fast."
Khadevis Robinson - men's 800m qualifying
"The finish was terrible but I made it through and that is all that
counts. I was watching the guys on the outside and I forgot about the
guy on the inside and he got me. I'm just going to talk to my coach and
get ready for tomorrow."
Jenn Stuczynski - women's pole vault qualifying
"Two attempts at one height got me in (to the final). One and done, see
ya tomorrow."
David Neville - men's 400m qualifying
"My legs are super tight. I just have to get that worked out by the next
race."
Moushaumi Robinson - women's 400m qualifying
"It was good. I did what I wanted to do, made it back to the next round.
I feel great."
Shareese Woods - women's 400m qualifying
"I felt great, my race was good. And I made to the next round. That's
all I wanted."
Aarik Wilson - men's triple jump qualifying
"It felt good, got the (automatic) qualifier on my second jump and shut
it down. I just wanted to make sure I made the final. It was a little
nerve-wracking in the beginning."
Rob Meyers - men's 1,500m qualifying
"I just didn't have much pop. It was a weird race. It was honest at the
front but I allowed myself to get pushed to the back and I got tripped
up a little and it got me. I just didn't have the pop to catch them."
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
