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Team USA men 2nd, women
4th at World Cup
Afrrican
Men takes fourth straight - Russian Women Win their Side!! - Complete
Results
MADRID, Spain – On the strength of four second-place finishes Saturday
night, Team USA’s men had its finest World Cup showing in 13 years,
placing
second at the 9th IAAF World Cup in Athletics. The U.S. women, led by
World
Cup champion Gail Devers, were fourth.
It was the best finish by the American men since they won the World Cup
in
1989, having placed fifth in 1992, sixth in 1994 and fifth in 1998.
Africa defended its men’s team title with 134 points. Team USA
was second
with 119, Europe third with 115 and the Americas fourth with 111. In women’s
competition, Russia won with 126 points, beating Europe (123), the Americas
(110) and Team USA (105). Team points among the nine teams competing were
earned in each individual event with nine points for first, down to one
for
ninth.
For the American men, silver was the order of the day. Walter Davis came
through on his last jump with a mark of 17.23m/56-6.5, which moved him
past
Christian Olsson of Europe into second place in the triple jump. A beaming
Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain won the event with a best of
17.34m/56-10.75.
Allen Johnson seized an early lead before being overtaken by Anier Garcia
of
the Americas in the 110m hurdles, running 13.45 to place second behind
Garcia’s 13.10.
Jeff Hartwig and the rest of the pole vault field did battle with other
competitors as well as a strong wind, finishing second in 5.70m/18-8.5
behind winner Okkert Brits of Africa (5.75m/18-10.5)
The men’s 4x400m relay team of James Carter, Leonard Byrd, Godfrey
Herring
and Antonio Pettigrew ran to second place in a time of 2:59.21. Pettigrew,
a
former world champion running in the final race of his career, was nipped
at
the line by Michael Blackwood of the Americas. The Americas team of Felix
Sanchez, Alleyne Francique, Michael McDonald and Blackwood ran 2:59.19
for
the win.
David Krummenaker capped off the finest season by an American distance
runner in years by placing third in the men’s 800m in 1:45.14. Spaniard
Manuel Antonio Reina won the race in a national- and World Cup record
of
1:43.83.
Anthony Famiglietti turned in a strong performance in the 3,000m
steeplechase, seizing a big early lead in pursuit of the American record.
He
eventually succumbed to the field and finished fourth in 8:32.72; Wilson
Boit Kipketer of Africa won in 8:25.34.
Ramon Clay struggled with his lane 2 draw in the 200m and was fourth
(20.32). Francis Obikwelu of Europe won the race in 20.18.
Adam Setliff was sixth in the discus (61.52m/201-10) behind Robert Fazekas
of Europe (71.25/233-9). Bolota Asmeron was eighth in the men’s
3,000m
(8:10.66) behind Craig Mottram of Oceana (7:41.37); and Chris
Clever placed
ninth in the javelin with a throw of 65.73m/215-7 behind Sergey Makarov
of
Europe (86.44/283-7).
In women’s competition, Devers overpowered the field and
finished one of her
finest seasons, leading the 100m hurdles from start to finish and breaking
the tape in 12.65 seconds. Bridgette Foster of the Americas was
well back in
second in 12.82.
The 4x400m relay team of Michelle Collins, Crystal Cox, Suziann Reid
and
Monique Hennagan earned the women’s only runner-up finish of the
night,
running 3:24.67. The U.S. had a very slight lead entering the last leg,
but
Hennagan’s strong effort couldn’t hold off world #1 Ana Guevara
of the
Americas, who led her team of Sandie Richards, Daimi Pernia and Christine
Amertil to the win in 3:23.53.
Tisha Waller had a fine performance in the high jump, clearing a season
best
1.96m/6-5 to finish fourth behind Hestrie Cloete of Africa (2.02m/6-7.5).
Anna Norgren couldn’t recover from a foul on her first throw and
placed
fourth in the hammer with a throw of 65.94m/216-4. Regina Jacobs
(4:10.78)
was fourth in the women’s 1,500m in a race that saw winner Ayhan
Sureyya of
Europe (4:02.57) take an 11-second lead on the rest of the field within
the
first two laps of the race.
Teri Steer was fifth in the shot put with a throw of 18.63m/61-1.5. Irina
Korzhanenko of Russia won the event at 20.20m/66-3.25.
Kelli White finished seventh in the 200m (23.51) behind
winner Debbie
Ferguson of the Americas (22.49). Colette Liss placed ninth in the women’s
5000m in 15:59 and Brianna Glenn suffered with two fouls and was ninth
in
the long jump (5.91/19-4.75).
Team USA quotes – 2002 World Cup
Gail Devers, 1st, women’s 100m hurdles (12.65): “I
don’t know what the wind
was doing, and my form showed it. This is my first World Cup, and to come
out with a victory, I’m really pleased. After yesterday (2nd in
the 4x100
relay) I wanted to redeem myself and get some points for the team. I’m
pleased with my season. It’s my first year coaching myself. I made
a couple
of mistakes, but I learned to listen by my body. I’ll be better
next year. I
think I learned a lot about myself and about hurdling.”
Walter Davis, 2nd, men’s triple jump (17.05m/55-1.25): “It
was a good day,
being with the wind coming on and off. Going into the last jump, I thought
I
have nothing to lose; it’s the last meet of the season. It’s
been a good
year.”
Jeff Hartwig, 2nd, men’s pole vault: “It was crazy out there
(with the
wind). This is the first time we’ve had a big tailwind all season.
It was
really strong and really swirling. Brits had some time off in Africa.
He was
strong and the rest of us were weak. When I came in (entered the
competition), only three guys were left. (The weather) has been the story
of
the pole vault all year – we’ve never had good conditions.
My main goal at
the start of the year was to return to the consistency I haven’t
had in a
few years, and I think I did that. I’m excited to get ready for
next year.”
Monique Hennagan, 2nd, women’s 4x400m relay (3:24.67, anchor leg):
“It was a
good race. I wasn’t afraid (of Guevara), I was just going to go
out there
and try to hold her off. I think we did a great job.”
Antonio Pettigrew, 2nd, men’s 4x400m relay (2:59.21, anchor leg):
“I should
have won it, but I didn’t. Our guys ran well; I just couldn’t
win the race.
I started my move too soon. I hate to lose the last race I am running.”
Allen Johnson, 2nd, men’s 110m hurdles (13.45): “It’s
(the race) been the
story of my season – a great beginning and terrible ending. I honestly
don’t
know what happened. All year I’ve had a good four or five hurdles,
then in
the last five hurdles I fall apart.”
David Krummenaker, 3rd, men’s 800m (1:45.14): “I’m
happy to get a medal.
Hopefully I’ll improve on that in years to come. I’m pretty
happy about the
way things ended up. A bronze medal is pretty good. It’s been a
dream season
for me … I think the guy from Brazil took it out quick, and nobody
really
expected that. (Nils) Schumann, (Andre) Bucher and I were slow to cover
the
move on the last lap. You can’t let guys get that gap.”
Tisha Waller, 4th, women’s high jump (1.96/6-5): “I’m
really pleased. I
jumped 6-5, which is my season best. I’ve been teaching since August
1, so
it was good to see my training hold up and to jump a season best in my
last
meet of the year.”
Anthony Famiglietti, 4th, men’s steeplechase (8:32.72): “They
kind of
figured out my plan early. I was hoping they’d wait a little longer
to cover
the ground. My plan was to go out and try to get the American record,
and if
it didn’t happen I’d still be able to get third or fourth.
I’m really fit, I
knew I was ready. I felt great and it was the pace I wanted.”
Ramon Clay, 4th, men’s 200m (20.32): “It was rough running
in lane 2, but
you have to take what you’re given. Mentally, I was prepared to
go out and
do what I needed to do. In general, I really felt good.”
Anna Norgren Mahon, 4th, women’s hammer (65.94m/216-4): “It
was my worst
meet of the year by about a meter – it wasn’t a good day.
I fouled on my
first throw, which screwed me up.”
Teri Steer, 5th, women’s shot put (18.63m/61-1.5): “I felt
good. I needed
more competitions this year – I’ve thrown but once since nationals.
It was
good to be up there with the top 4 ranked women in the world.”
Colette Liss, 9th, women’s 5,000m (15:59.44): “I ran a PR
in London on
August 25, and I’ve had really great workouts. I got out there and
just
tightened up. They went out in 62 (seconds for the first 400m), which
is
1500m pace for me. I just wanted to be in the race. I’m really happy
I got
the experience because I really need it.”
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