USATF.ORG – USATF on Wednesday hosted a press conference with Tom Pappas, Nicole Teter, Justin Gatlin, Inger Miller, Tim Montgomery and Maurice Greene in advance of the 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by Verizon. Below are excerpts from the press conference.
JUSTIN GATLIN
I’ve just been training, like I did indoors. I’m just trying to stay healthy, from the injury I had in Mexico (May 4). It was just a twinge in my hamstring, and I’ve been taking care of that and staying focused in training.
Q: Are you healthy now?
Coming into this, I didn’t want to come in 80 percent. I feel I’m coming in ready.
Q: You haven’t raced much this year. Is that a concern?
I didn’t have a lot of races indoors, but I came out strong. Not a lot of races, but quality races.
This is my rookie year. I watch what mistakes other people make and what they capitalize on.
Q: Do you favor the 100 or 200?
I think I’m more mature in the 200, but I’ve learned a lot in the 100.
Q: What are your goals?
I train for the gold. I don’t train for second or third.
Q: Why did you go pro?
I felt that I did everything I could do in college. I’ve done it twice, and there was nothing more for me to do. I felt it was time for me to leave.
INGER MILLER
I think that things are going quite well for me. It’s been a couple of down years for me with injuries and dealing with the mental and physical aspects of that. I think that this could be the comeback year for me. Training is going very well. I’m in shape this year and I’m very, very pleased with that. This weekend will be interesting, to say the least.
Q: Is it anybody’s game this weekend?
It is a national championship that determines the team for the Worlds, so I think everyone feels that everyone’s in the way. Everyone’s going to bring their best Friday night, and we’ll see who’s on the team. My goal this year is to be on that team and be successful at the World Championships.
Q: Did the injuries hurt your confidence?
Right now I’m doing very well. I’m healthy, I’m fit and I’ve been able to put some really good fall, winter and spring training in. For me to get my racing shape back, as I showed (June 7), I’m coming toward that. As far as confidence, it’s been one injury after another since 2000. First you have to deal with the mental aspects of that. Sometimes we don’t realize how mentally we’re affected by a physical injury, and it’s something I had to work through the last few years. I’ve come back to a point where my aura, my spirit and my being are much, much better than it’s been in the past. I’m excited, and I’m having a good time with it. I’ve taken an inward look at what this is all about, and I’m really enjoying it again.
Q: With all the young people coming up in the sprints, what is the value of experience?
Experience obviously is a great asset. I’ve been through rounds, doubled in many major championships. You know what it feels like to go through 3 rounds, 4 rounds, and how to gauge yourself – how it should feel at certain points in races and rounds. It’s great to see, though, that there is a talent pool coming up. I think at the World Championships, the U.S. women could actually have all three spots on the podium in Paris in the 100 meters. It shows some greatness in the sprints for the United States, and I’m happy about that.
Q: What injuries have you had since 2000?
I’ve pulled my left hamstring three times, I’ve had problems with my knee, sciatic (nerve), it was incredible. I’m just happy not to be feeling any of that right now.
Q: What kind of support did you have?
The best kind. The kind that says you’re washed up and you’re finished. I got that as well. But I do have the encouragement of my coach, my H.S.I. family, my family at home. It’s tough, especially when you’re at the point where you say, “I’m sick of this. I’m tired of being hurt. I can’t get the training I need.” That was very difficult for me. This is my 10th season as a professional. I’m back to that point where I feel like this is a lot of fun, and I’m excited about it. As you get older, your goals change. Every time you step on the line, the goal is to win, but you see the bigger picture.
TIM MONTGOMERY
I sit back and I saw Maurice the last six years and what he was under. It’s like the Matrix. The world record and all this other stuff comes, but it’s been fun. I’m very excited right now. I look forward to coming out here this weekend. A few months ago, I thought about calling it a season. But I came out and ran three races, 10.04, 10.04 and 10.11, and I’m pleased. I’m able to see the bigger picture, like Inger says. It’s the World Championships and the Olympic Games. I’m in the process of getting my life together on the track. My life off the track is wonderful.
Q: Update us on Marion.
She’s great. The baby is due July 21, and she’s looking forward to having it tomorrow (laughter). Any time now. Every day I’m asking her, “are you feeling anything? Is it moving?”
Q: You mentioned what Maurice goes through. What role does Marion play for you in dealing with things?
It’s like we have a team. Maurice has teammates, and that’s a lot better for you. With Marion and I going through the same things right now, we help each other.
Q: Are you ready for this weekend?
No excuses. I’m 100 percent. I’m glad to hear Justin is 100 percent. Let’s do it. … I preferred to run the indoor season and prepare the way I wanted to prepare, but it just wasn’t there. When you have someone who’s helping you, then you’re on your own, it’s something new. I just go out there now and say, let’s get back to when you’re 19 years old, let’s get out there and run. Now, with my future, the rain and clouds are starting to spread and the sun is coming back out. We’re out there, banging it every day. I want to be able to run 9 seconds.
MAURICE GREENE
It’s going pretty good. I’m very prepared to come out here and to run a very good time and to win. Those are my goals. Pretty simple.
Q: What is the difference between running the 200 vs. the 100?
It’s longer! (laughter) The most difficult part of the 200 is the curve. You’re trying to run at a top-end speed, but the forces you’re moving with is so great it’s trying to push you out on the curve, and you’re trying to stay in. You have to find that one even place where you’re not trying to force your body to go in or out. Then you have to negotiate coming off the turn, which is something different. The straightaway, I know the straightaway. That’s no problem. It’s just the first part that gives me a little trouble. I’ve run the 200 correctly maybe twice.
Q: Analyze the 100 here.
It’s going to be exciting. I can’t wait to watch it. The 100 field this year is very competitive. You don’t know what’s going to happen. You might have some newcomers you haven’t seen before make the team. Me and my friends have been talking about what’s going to happen, and nobody can say they are automatically on the team. Except me. (laughter – Greene gets an automatic berth as defending world champion)
Q: (Asked by Tim Montgomery): Would you like to have the world record back?
I will get it back, very soon.
Q: You’ve had an up and down season with your times. How would you describe your season?
I think my season is going very good. At the beginning of the year, we were concentrating more on the 200 meters. After I ran at Mt. SAC, I had to start preparing myself for the 100 meters. We hadn’t done much speed work, and I didn’t prepare myself. I started getting ready for the Home Depot Invitational (June 1). I wanted perform well, and I ran a very good time there (9.94). Now we’re here. Two weeks ago I ran the 200 meters here at Stanford. I ran it easy. Now it’s time to win.
Q: When will you race Tim?
Whenever he wants to.
Q: How long until you get the world record back?
The world record will come to me. I’m not a person who will pick a place where I’m going to go and break the world record. When I execute the right race, it will come.
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