8/20/04 - Session 1 Report USAT&F

USA walkers fare well; jumpers and sprinters advance

ATHENS - Team USA's walkers had a solid showing in the men's 20 km race, while all three women's 100m runners and two men's triple jumpers advanced in their qualifying rounds during Friday morning action at Olympic Stadium.

Using a conservative race plan that saw him leave Olympic Stadium at the back of the pack, Olympic Trials champion and American record holder Tim Seaman (Chula Vista, Calif.) posted the fastest time ever by an American in Olympic 20 km race walk competition. His time of 1:25:17 in warm, sunny conditions put him in 20th place overall, after coming through the first 2 km in 47th. It bettered the previous top American Olympic time of 1:25:42 by Marco Evoniuk en route to a seventh-place finish at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Teammate Kevin Eastler was beside Seaman throughout the race and finished one place behind him in 21st (1:25:20). John Nunn (San Diego, Calif.) also moved up, from 38th at 2 km to 26th at the finish line, with a time of 1:27:21. Ivano Brugnetti of Italy won the gold in 1:19.40, with Francisco Javier Fernandez of Spain second in 1:19:45 and Nathan Deakes of Australia third in 1:20:02.

Kenta Bell (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.) advanced to Sunday's final in the men's triple jump, qualifying 10th and 11th, respectively. Bell's best mark was 16.98m/55-8.5, while Davis jumped 16.94m/55-7. Olympic Trials champion Melvin Lister (Fayetteville, Ark.) was 18th in qualifying with 16.64m/54-7.5 and did not advance. Reigning world champion Christian Olsson of Sweden had the best jump of the day with 17.68m/58-0.25.

The women's 100m trio of Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.), LaTasha Colander (Garner, N.C.) and Gail Devers (Duluth, Ga.) all moved on to Friday evening's second round as Williams (11.16 in heat 3) and Colander (11.31 in heat 5) both won their races. Devers advanced automatically by placing third in heat 3 at 11.29. Yuliya Nesterenk of Belarus had the fastest time of the round, winning heat 2 in a personal-best time of 10.95

After two events in the women's heptathlon, Michelle Perry (Los Angeles) was the top American, in sixth place with 2,019 points and two personal bests. Olympic Trials champion Shelia Burrell (Chula Vista, Calif.) was 15th with 1,954, and Tiffany Lott-Hogan (Pleasant Grove, Utah), was 17th with 1,954 points. Reigning world champion Carolina Kluft of Sweden led with 2,212 points.

The U.S. went 1-2-3 in heat 1 of the heptathlon 100-meter hurdles and posted the three fastest times of the day overall. Perry raced to the win and a personal record in 12.74 seconds (1164 points), the only time under 13 seconds among the heptathlon field. Lott-Hogan was second in 13.13 (1,105) and Burrell third in a season-best 13.17 (1,099). Kluft was fourth in the heat in a season-best time of 13.21 (1,093). In the high jump, Perry again set a personal best with a clearance of 1.70m/5-7 (855). Burrell likewise cleared 1.70, with Lott-Hogan at 1.67m/5-5.75 (818).

The American duo of James Parker (Great Falls, Mt.) and A.G. Kruger (Ashland, Ohio) will not be part of the 12-man hammer throw final. Parker was 21st overall in qualifying with a throw of 75.04m/246-2, and A.G. Kruger was 33rd with a mark of 69.38m/227-7.

TEAM USA ATHLETE QUOTES

M 20km race walk Final

Tim Seaman (Chula Visa, Colo.), 20th: "We just had a brilliant plan. Kevin and I were the last out of the stadium. I'm sure at first people thought it was typical Americans, leave the stadium last and finish last. We knew people would go out so hard, they were going to crash. We didn't crash - we came back 10 seconds slower than we went out. That's not crashing. I went out too fast in Sydney, and I learned from it."

Kevin Eastler (Aurora, Colo.), 21st: "It was a great race. Tim Seaman and I started off very conservative. We were at the back of the pack for the fist couple of kilometers. We had to do it at the Olympics. We know they would start fast, and on a hot day, that would affect people. We just moved up so many places - it played right into our hands. I'm happy with the result. Given the conditions, I'm pleased. I know we put in a full effort."

John Nunn (San Diego, Calif.), 26th: "On the downhill, I just let myself go and I was able to stay up in the front of the pack. I just couldn't pull my legs through. I would like to have done a lot better. My time was very slow. My legs just started to get heavy. It just wasn't there for me today. The heat may have been a factor, but the winning time was 1:19. It would be the same in cool conditions."

Men's Triple Jump 1st round

Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.): "I was just looking to qualify for Sunday. Now it will be a whole new day in the final. I felt all right but I wasn't consistent on the runway. On my last jump, I knew this was the Olympic Games and if I didn't get a decent jump I wouldn't be competition on Sunday. So I just had to dig down and get a good jump, regardless of how my run was ... I just had to muster this one out ... Hopefully, my runway is more consistent and my technique is better. Then, there is no telling what will happen on Sunday."

Kenta Bell (Chula Vista, Calif.): "I feel like I'm still alive. It was a rough day, but I get to come back and jump again, and that's what it's all about. It wasn't a power ballet, it wasn't even a dance. It was stepping on toes. It wasn't my best day ever, but I've had a tendency to come back and jump well in the final, and that's what I plan to do."

Melvin Lister (Fayetteville, Ark.): "I couldn't see where my mark was. I had to go by feel. It didn't work for me. I know I should be there. I should have represented my country better."

W 100m 1st round

Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) - "I felt good. I was just nervous."

LaTasha Colander (Garner, N.C.), Gail Devers: No comment

M Hammer Throw qualifying

James Parker (Great Falls, Mt.): "I felt fine. I think I handled the atmosphere mentally pretty well. I just didn't have any zip." [On having intestinal illness in the days leading up to the event]: "I couldn't think about it. I had to go out and do my best. I trained well. I was prepared. It's just disappointing."

A.G. Kruger (Ashland, Ohio): "For a first-time experience, there was plenty to learn from. I was a little nervous - my body was moving faster than I could control. The conditions were perfect. I have to control myself better. I'm only 25, and the youngest competitor here was 24. I think I have 12 to 16 years left, as long as my body holds up."