by Larry EderPre Classic press conference is always a good place to reach some of the top athletes in the world. This year, we have Pamela Jelimo, La Shawn Merritt, Dawn Harper, Sanya Richards, Anna Willard, Andrei Silnov and Jesse Williams….
These are the shoes that Sanya Richards will wear tomorrow, and she also wore them in Beijing in the 400 meters and 4 x 400 meters.
La Shawn Merritt is here to run the 300 meters. ” I think I have a good shot at Michael Johnson’s record of 30.85. The 300 meters is tough. I think I ran one two years ago here in Eugene…My training has been going well. Before that 200 meters at adidas, we had a false start, so I cramped a little. I focused on getting out well, coming off the turn and I knew I was making a break and I continued that break…the 400 meters at Rbk was windy, I had wanted to run faster, but the wind was tough on the backstretch…I know that I can not rest on my previous performances…I love to compete and I am having a lot of run right now. I ran the first leg on the 4 x 400 in Beijing because I knew I got more TV time ( smiled).”
Photo by Photrun.net.
Dawn Harper is running the 100 meter hurdles. ” In Beijing, Coach Kersee told me to wear blinders in the race, he did not want me to do anything but run fast. I got to the start and I was relaxed. I asked myself, Is something wrong? I just remember running fast, and when I got to the finish, I thought I might have taken second, then, I thought, maybe third, then someone came up and told me I had won! ”
Photo by Bob Ramsak, TrackProfile.com
Anna Willard is running the 1,500 meters, ” I had trouble this winter in Mammoth with the altitude, but now that I am down at sea level in San Diego, all is good. I ran the first 300 meters in New York as a steepler running an 800 meters, then I got my self together and ran the last lap as an 800 meter runner. With 150 to go, I told myself I could win, but (smiling), I had some luck as well! In the nationals, I am running the 1,500 and steeplechase….and yes, I did run 4 x 400 meters in college…”
Photo courtesy of PhotoRun.net.
Jesse Williams, high jumper, jumped 7 -8 3/4 this year, : ” I was not serious in high school–I long jumped, ran the 200, the hurdles and relays, but high school was really about sitting on the mats, checking out the girls…(smiling), now, I own the weight room, and that make me compete better, it is all about the training… I do some visual technique a bit with Matt Hemingway, and I figured out I had been doing some already..writing down my goals for the next day.. I love to compete, and I love my sport, it is all about the individual and that drives me….last year’s performance in Beijing, where I did not do well, motivates me this year!”
Andrei Silnov, Russia, high jump: ” I have jumped since I was seven or eight. I did long jump and 200 meters before. I am sorry about my English ( to which I told him some people can’t figure out my English so not to worry)..I live in Moscow and after this meet, will go back to train hard…I like Pre, I like the US, competing against Williams (Jesse), and others..and I want to be better high jumper..”
Sanya Richards has focused on training this past Winter, : ” I have only raced twice, once at 200 meters and once at 400 meters. I want to have fun here tomorrow and
then go home and work with Coach Hart for the US championships…last year in Beijing, in the 4 x 400 meters, the Russian girl was running very well, I took off after her on the last straight, and surprised her. I wante to win so much for my teammates!”
Photo courtesy of Photorun.net.
Sanya added, ” As for Nutrilite, my sponsor, along with Nike. I was never a vitamin person before, but I use their vitamins and I can feel it. They are also such nice people and that makes it really great.”
When queried about her coach, Sanya noted, : “I am happy to be with Coach Clyde. He is the best 400 meter coach in the world. Now that Jeremy Wariner is back, it is like the old days. I love to compete and I want to do well this year, I have goals and I am healthy again, and I will do well! ”
Special thanks to Tom Jordan, Lewellyn Starks, John Capriotti.
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