Courtesy of USATF

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Gail Devers won her third career world indoor title in the 60 meters Friday at the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships, and Shawn Crawford added a silver in the men's 60m to cap a successful day for Team USA at Budapest Sportarena.

The 37-year-old Devers raced to the finish line - and to victory - in 7.08 seconds, her fastest time of the year and the second-fastest time in the world in 2004. Her time put her ahead of Kim Gevaert, the European champion from Belgium, and Yuliya Nesterenko of Russia, both of whom were clocked in 7.12 seconds. American Torri Edwards was fourth in 7.16, a time that was .01 faster than her bronze medal-winning time at this meet in 2003.

"I feel blessed and very thankful for the victory," said Devers, who will compete in the 60m hurdles on Sunday. "To be honest, it was a relief to be able to concentrate on one race, instead of going back and forth between the hurdles and the sprint. I don't believe I had the best start, but I was relieved I didn't panic and ran all the way through the finish line."

Devers, who also won 60m world titles in 1995 and 1997, was in rare form throughout the day. Despite arriving in Budapest Thursday afternoon, the two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist showed no jet lag and posted the fastest first-round time of 7.15, while easing up at the end of her race. She then matched that time in winning her semifinal.

Edwards got steadily faster throughout the rounds, running 7.29 in the first round and 7.21 in the semifinals, where she advanced to the final by virtue of a photo-finish.

"I had a hard time recovering from nationals," Edwards said. "Each round was a challenge for me. I just gave it my all."

Also giving it their all were Shawn Crawford and Mickey Grimes in the men's 60m. The 2001 World Indoor 200m champion, Crawford placed second on Friday in a time of 6.52, behind winner Jason Gardener of Great Britain (6.49). Theodoridis Yeoryios of Greece (6.54) narrowly held off Grimes for third.

"I'm happy, but I'm also disappointed," Crawford said. "I'm happy because people though of me as a 200-meter specialist, and I came out, won the U.S. title and won the silver medal. But I'm disappointed because I wanted to win here."

Like Edwards, Grimes improved throughout the day. Running with stitches in his right eyebrow after a weightlifting mishap in Budapest earlier in the week, Grimes recovered from a horrendous start in round 1 (6.66, .216 reaction time), then improved all the way through the final, where he tied his personal best.

"I thought I got third," Grimes said. "This is my first World Championships, and I'm happy. I wish I could have run better. The day got better as it went on. The first round, I sat in the blocks. I came back and reacted so well in the second round I kind of tensed in my shoulders."

In Friday's pentathlon competition, Kim Schiemenz ran 8.85 in the 60m hurdles, but ceased jumping in the high jump after a successful clearance of 1.67m/5-5.75, straining her left ankle while warming up for the event. She continued in the competition, however, throwing 13.15m/43-1.75 in the shot put, jumping 5.58m/18-3.75 in the long jump, and running 2:22.27 in the 800 for 4,012 points and an eighth-place finish. Naide Gomes of Portugal won the event with 4,759 points.

Both Team USA women's vaulters will compete in Saturday's final after Jillian Schwartz (4.40m/14-5.25) and Stacy Dragila (4.25m/14-3.25) easily qualified as among the top eight vaulters. Neither woman needed to attempt a higher height in order to advance.

Savante Stringfellow was the class of the field in men's long jump qualifying. The 2004 world leader in the event, Stringfellow jumped 8.31m/27-3.25 on his first attempt, and made it look easy, to automatically advance to Saturday's final. His jump surpassed everyone in the field by 3.5 inches and was better than any other competitor's personal, season best in 2004. Brian Johnson had a best mark of 7.65m/25-1.25 and did not advance.

Jen Toomey survived an early-race scare to advance to Saturday's semifinals of the women's 800 meters. Toomey was tripped up from behind just 100 meters into the race, nearly falling and trailing by several meters by the time she regained her footing. But the American record holder in the 1,000 meters quickly returned to the lead pack and took over the lead with 400m to go, winning the first heat in 2:04.84. Heat 2 was run in much different fashion, with world indoor record holder Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia setting a fast pace. Mary Jayne Harrelson placed fifth in the heat, in 2:05.16, behind Ceplak's 2:01.48, and did not advance.

Team USA's men's 400 meter runners both won their heats to advance to Saturday's semifinal round. 2001 world indoor silver medalist Milton Campbell won heat 1 in 47.35, while Joe Mendel won heat 3 in 47.33.

Michael Stember advanced to the men's 800m semifinals by placing third in his heat in 1:48.66, qualifying on time. Derrick Peterson was third in his heat in 1:50.05 but did not advance.

Jamie Nieto will be one of nine men in Saturday's high jump final. After missing once at 2.24m/7-4.25, Nieto passed the height and then cleared 2.27m/7-5.25 on his second and final attempt. Tora Harris made 2.24 but had three close misses at 2.27 and did not move on.

2004 U.S. champion Julian Clay advanced to the women's 400m semifinals, placing second in her heat in 53.04. GiGi Miller was fifth in her heat in 53.71 and did not advance.

Shayne Culpepper will compete in Sunday's final of the women's 3,000 meters after placing eighth in the first heat on Friday. Culpepper clocked 8:57.48 to place 8th in her race. The second heat was tactical and was won by Meseret Defar of Ethiopia in 8:57.39, making Culpepper the final qualifier on time. Teammate Carrie Tollefson placed eighth in heat 2 in 9:08.64 and did not advance.

In the men's 3,000 meters, Bolota Asmerom was seventh in heat 1 (7:53.86) and Jonathon Riley was eighth in heat 2 (7:55.58); neither qualified for the final.

Other athletes competing in qualifying rounds Friday but failing to advance were: Kristin Heaston in the women's shot put (17.86m/58-7.25); Yuliana Perez in the women's triple jump (13.50m/44-3.5), LaMark Carter (16.47/54-0.5) and Allen Simms (16.49/54-1.25) in the men's triple jump; and Jenelle Deatherage in the women's 1,500m (4:20.21).

Competition for Team USA on Saturday includes finals in the women's pole vault (Stacy Dragila), women's 400 (semis and finals - Julian Clay), and the men's 400 meters (semis and finals - Milton Campbell and Joe Mendel), long jump (Savante Stringfellow), high jump (Jamie Nieto) and 60m hurdles (1st and 2nd rounds and final - Allen Johnson and Duane Ross).

Qualification rounds will be held in the men's pole vault (Toby Stevenson and Jeff Hartwig), women's (Crystal Cox and Rachelle Boone) and men's (Jimmie Hackley and Coby Miller) 200m, and women's long jump (Grace Upshaw). Men's heptathlon (Bryan Clay) competition enters its first day.

For Team USA coverage, rosters and athlete quotes, visit www.usatf.org . For a complete schedule and results from the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships, visit www.iaaf.org.

TEAM USA QUOTES
Friday, March 5

Gail Devers, women's 60m (1st, 7.08): "I feel blessed and very thankful for the victory. To be honest, it was a relief to be able to concentrate on one race, instead of going back and forth between the hurdles and the sprint. I don't believe I had the best start, but I was relieved I didn't panic and ran all the way through the finish line. ... I wasn't as pleased with my second round race, but I just wanted to make it to the final. ... the sprints and hurdles both present a challenge. I can't say I've ever been afraid of a challenge. The key for me will be to clear the hurdles. I can't hold back my speed. This race allowed me to get extra speed work that I can't get in practice. Now I have to concentrate on the hurdles."

Torri Edwards, women's' 60m (4th, 7.16): "It was OK, I guess. I had a hard time recovering from nationals. It was a combination of a short time between nationals and worlds, and I didn't have too many races this year. Each round was a challenge for me. I just gave it my all."

Shawn Crawford, men's 60m (2nd, 6.52): "I'm happy, but I'm also disappointed. I'm happy because people though of me as a 200-meter specialist, and I came out, won the U.S. title and won the silver medal. But I'm disappointed because I wanted to win. [On working with coach Trevor Graham]: Trevor focuses a lot on technique. I've learned a lot from him. I used to run on raw talent, now I'm putting some technique into it."

Mickey Grimes, men's 60m (4th - 6.55): "I thought I got third. This is my first World [Indoor] Championships, and I'm happy. I wish I could have run better. The day got better as it went on. The first round, I sat in the blocks. I came back and reacted so well in the second round I kind of tensed in my shoulders."

Kim Schiemenz, women's pentathlon (8th - 4,012 pts): "My day was rough. I had surgery on my right patella tendon in October, and this was my first competition. My hurdles race was kind of average for what I've been doing right now. In the high jump, it hurt to run on the curve. On my third attempt, I just put my foot down and jumped. I've never had to jump with tears in my eyes before. The shot put went surprisingly well - I'm really happy with that. My 800 is fine for right now."

Savante Stringfellow, long jump (8.31/.27-3.25Q): "I'm feeling great - probably better than I've felt in a long time. We jump Saturday at 6 p.m. It's a perfect time for my body. This is early - I'm going back to bed."

Julian Clay, women's 400m (53.04Q): "It was not my greatest, but I did enough to get in. I know I'm strong, I just need to trust my fitness."

Milton Campbell, men's 400 (47.35Q): "I really wanted to control the race, get to the front, and then run as easy as possible."

Joe Mendel, men's 400 (47.33Q): "I felt great. I just wanted to stay relaxed. I haven't run very relaxed all season. I'm very excited."

Jen Toomey, women's 800m (2:04.84Q): "I don't know how I tripped, I think somebody clipped me from behind. It totally caught me by surprise. I was just glad I was able to get back into it - basically I came to a complete stop. After that it was really easy. It's really a relief."

Jamie Nieto, men's high jump (2.27m/7-5.25Q): "I wasn't realizing how fast the surface was - I blew past my mark. When I had my first miss, the crowd made some noise - blowing horns and stuff ... I should have stopped the jump but I kept going. When I saw that nine guys had made 2.24 on their first attempt, it didn't make sense for me to jump again at that height. I felt confident I could make 2.27."

Tora Harris, men's high jump (2.24m/7-4.25): "Three times [close misses]. Once, I hit it with my elbow. I just couldn't get any break today. It wasn't that bad - I'm developing this year. But it's definitely a shame."

Stacy Dragila, women's pole vault (4.35m/14-3.25Q): "I felt good. I felt like Old Stacy, New Form."

Jillian Schwartz, women's pole vault (4.40m/14-5.25Q): "It went pretty good, it just took a long time with so many vaulters. It took a couple more jumps than I wanted, but I got through."

Kristin Heaston, women's shot put (17.86/58-7.25): "It wasn't that bad, I was just hoping to do better. I've been in international competition since I was 15, and I've gotten better and better each time. Hopefully I'll continue getting better, until I start making finals, then make it to the medal stand."

Shayne Culpepper, women's 3,000m (8:57.48Q): "I just didn't feel good."

Carrie Tollefson, women's 3,000m (9:08.64): "I ran this way all season [kickers' races] but today wasn't my day. Last week I closed in 61 [seconds for the final 400]. This time I just didn't have it the last 600. ... People were stepping on each other because the pace was slow in the beginning."

Bolota Asmerom, men's 3,000m (7:53.86): "It was just back and forth. I just couldn't get around the outside - I tried to stay away from traffic. It was back and forth, back and forth, and it just killed my kick."

Jonathon Riley, men's 3,000m (7:55.58): "It wasn't that fast. I needed a better finish. The last 500 was really bad. There's no reason for it. I'm in better shape than that."

LaMark Carter, men's triple jump (16.47/54-0.5): "I'm a little flat. I just got in last night. I really have no complaints. I'm coming back after two years [off due to Achilles tendon surgery], trying to get ready for the Olympic Trials. I'm working from a short approach right now - 10-12 steps, and I'll be working back up to 20 steps."

Derrick Peterson, men's 800m (1:50.05): "It was just tough. I never really got in the race. I was never relaxed. This meet became better than it should have been for me. I like the moniker 'World Championships' get to me."