Day 4: Mens 400, 200 Runners Breeze in Qualifying + QUOTES

Augusts 18, 2008 from USATF press release (BEIJING China) Team USA's long sprinters breezed through qualifying rounds Monday morning at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium, while the men's 110 rounds saw two medal favorites fall to injury. As expected, Americans had no trouble advancing through the first round of the men's 400 and 200 meters. In the 400, defending gold medalist Jeremy Wariner (Waco, TX) won heat 7 in 45.23, LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, VA) won heat 5 in 44.97, and David Neville (Valencia, CA) was second in heat 1 in 45.22. In the 200, gold medalist Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles, CA) easily won heat 1 in 20.61, 100m bronze medalist Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was second in heat 4 (20.77), and Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, AR)won heat 7 in 20.46.

Men's 110 hurdles drama
The first round of the men's 110m hurdles brought mixed results. Olympic Trials champion David Oliver (Kissimmee, FL) won heat 2 in 13.30 and World Outdoor bronze medalist David Payne (Hampton, VA) won heat 4 in 13.42 to advance to Tuesday's semifinals comfortably. But Team USA lost another past medalist to injury when in heat 5, two-time silver medalist Terrence Trammell was barely able to come out of the blocks, clearing the first hurdle and hobbling to a halt with an apparent left leg injury. Trammell is being evaluated by USOC medical staff.

Even more stunning, the packed Bird's Nest that roared with the announcement of 2004 gold medalist of Liu Xiang in heat 6 groaned just as loudly when Liu withdrew, badly hobbling after coming out of the blocks during a false start called on the field. Liu's pre-existing, chronic foot injury was cited as the cause of the withdrawal.

Field events reap no finalists
In field event qualifying, Amber Campbell (Myrtle Beach, SC) was the top U.S. athlete in the women's hammer, standing in 20th place overall with a mark of 67.86m/222-8. Loree Smith (Eugene, OR) had a best mark of 63.60m/208-8, and Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills, CA) fouled on all three of her attempts. None made the final.

Rafeeq Curry (Tallahassee, FL) had the best mark among America's men's triple jumpers in Monday qualifying. His jump of 16.88m/55-4.75 put him 18th and shy of making the final. Kenta Bell had a best mark of 16.55m/54-3.75 and Aarik Wilson went 15.97m/52-4.75.

Day 4 Team USA Quotes - morning session

Men's 400m, 1st round

Jeremy Wariner (Waco, TX): "I'm used to that (being in lane 9). I was there in 2004. My goal was to run the first 200 and then see where I'm at. Hopefully get a good lane in the semi final.

We have a chance to get top three. It will take a lot of work but anything is possible.

I'm very impressed with the fans here. We had a 9:00am start and the stadium is almost full."

David Neville (Valencia, CA ) " You know I thought I'd be able to run a little slower. I did what I had to do to make it through. Trainings been going well. I've had some pretty good training sessions. USA is always considered the number one track team. For me, I'm just going out there and doing the best I can do. I'm representing the U.S. to the best of my ability."

LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, VA) : " It's time to go, time to showdown and throw down. I went home, got my confidence up and mentally got ready to perform. I train to win and when I do it gives me a good boost. Win or lose, I feel good when I get off the track. Eight men are going to line up in the final. On any given day, anything can happen.

Men's 110 Hurdles, qualifying

David Oliver (Kissimmee, FL): " It was a good run. I'm just surviving and advancing like at the Trials.

I'm pretty relaxed. I trust in my training and everything I've put in to get here."

David Payne (Hampton, VA): I'm real disappointed (about Trammell not qualifying). He's a vet and me and D.O. will just have to pick it up. First and foremost, I hope he's okay.

I felt good, I think I can do better. I'm not in the best shape, but I think I can medal.

Women's hammer throw qualifying

Jessica Cosby (Mission Hills, CA): "It was just one of those days. I knew what I had to do and I was prepared but unfortunately I just didn't do it today."

Loree Smith (Eugene, CO) " My training went well, I felt good technically. I knew going in that my number one thing was to be technically sound. I didn't want to get over excited. I knew there'd be 90, 000 people out there watching. I talked myself down and unfortunately it didn't work out."

Amber Campbell (Myrtle Beach, SC): "I made it through the competition. It was actually a good day for me even though it doesn't look like it on paper. My second throw would have qualified me for the final but it was out of the sector. I know I competed well."

Men's Triple Jump, qualifying

Eric Wilson (Bloomington, IN) " It's been a rough year. I don't know what happened. I couldn't pull it out today."

Kenta Bell (Gainesville, FL): " I'm not disappointed. They jumped really good today and I didn't. I can't say anything negative about today. I trained and prepared and executed. It just didn't work out. I'd rather have been here. There are 18-20 people at home who'd love to have my credential."

Rafeeq Curry (Tallahassee, FL): "It was horrible. It just wasn't there."

For more information on Team USA at the Olympic Games, including athlete quotes, event schedule, TV schedule and complete results, visit www.usatf.org