Americans go 5-1 at USA vs. The World
By Jill Geer, USATF
Posted Monday, 30 April, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Team USA relays mixed it up with a United Nations of relay teams Saturday at USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays, and for the second year they came away with a 5-1 record.
Now in its eighth year, USA vs. The World saw the Americans take on teams from Jamaica, Kenya, Russia, Great Britain, China, Canada, Zimbabwe and the Bahamas, among others.
Sweet sprints
The men's and women's 4x100 relays provided their customary amount of entertainment value and drama.
In the Visa women's 4x100, world indoor champion Lisa Barbara got USA Red off to a sizzling start, and she handed off to world champion 200m runner Allyson Felix with a slight lead over USA Blue, which had been led off by USA indoor champion Hasani Roseby. The two American squads seemed to be even after Felix and former NCAA champion Marshevet Hooker finished the second leg, with Jamaica in third. Still relatively even after Muna Lee's third leg for the Red and Carmelita Jeter for Blue, USA Blue bobbled its handoff from Jeter to Rachelle Smith, leaving world champion Lauryn Williams to run away with victory for USA Red in 42.87. The Jamaican team of Brigitte Foster, Nadine Palmer, Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Aleen Bailey finished second in 43.55.
The Hershey men's 4x100 relay was equally exciting. The world's top 100-200 sprinter, Tyson Gay, led off strongly, leading Jamaica's Michael Frater. After legs by World Outdoor 200m silver medalist Wallace Spearmon and 2003 World Outdoor 200m silver medalist Darvis Patton, Olympic 200m gold medalist Shawn Crawford blew the race open on the anchor leg, winning for USA Red in 38.35. The Jamaican team of Frater, Dwight Thomas, Ainsley Waugh and Lerone Clark was second in 38.89 and the USA Blue team of DaBryan Blanton, Bernard Williams, Leroy Dixon, Rodney Martin was third in 38.97.
Magical "Mile" relays
The Tyson men's 4x400m relay was a see-saw battle that saw the U.S. edged out in the final meters for the second straight year. USA Red led by an eyelash over the Bahamas after World Championships silver medalist Andrew Rock's first leg. At the break, 500 meters in, Chris Brown of the Bahamas led Derrick Brew of USA Red and Jamaica, but USA Blue's Spearmon moved into third past Jamaica by the time the third leg began.
LaShawn Merritt of Team USA overtook Andrae Williams of the Bahamas at the top of the homestretch on the third leg and opened a lead, with world indoor record holder Kerron Clement moving into second for USA Blue. The anchor leg was thrilling as Olympic gold-medal anchor Darold Williamson (3:59.18) held off world champion 400m hurdler Bershawn Jackson of USA Blue (3:00.04) and Michael Blackwood of Jamaica (3:00.44).
Allyson Felix displayed impressive range on the day, providing the critical leg in the AT&T women's 4x400m relay. After a relatively close first leg that saw USA Red holding the lead, Allyson Felix put Team USA Red commandingly in the lead, unofficially splitting sub-50 for her 400m effort. You could see nothing but Red from then on as Team USA remained undefeated in this race in the eight-year history of USA vs. The World. Mary Wineberg, Felix, Moushaumi Robinson and Debbi Dunn together ran 3:24.70, with each athlete besides Felix running roughly 52-second splits, to win emphatically over Jamaica in second (3:29.84) and Russia in third (3:30.43).
Unchained Medleys
The Nike men's distance medley relay was a tactical affair, starting with a slow opening 1200 meters that went through 800m in 2:05. At the end of the leg, U.S. indoor 800m champion Nick Symmonds led by a whisker over Geoffrey Rono of Kenya. The race remained basically even through the 400 and 800 meter legs and was tight heading into the final lap. 2006 USA indoor 1,500m champion Chris Lukezic led throughout the final 1,600m leg, up until the final steps when he was passed by Kenya's Bernard Kiptum of the World All-Stars. Kiptum teamed with Solomon Birir (KEN), Gary Kikaya (Congo) and Courtney Jaworski (USA) to win in 9:29.44, with USA Blue (Symmonds, Jamel Ashley, Sam Burley, Lukezic) second in 9:29.73 and Canada third in 9:30.20.
The AT&T women's sprint medley relay played out somewhat anti-climactically. The first 200-meter leg saw the World All-Stars, led off by 2000 Olympic 4x100 relay Chandra Sturrup of Bahamas, and Jamaica, led off by Nadine Palmer, leading well. But the handoff from Palmer to world #1 100m runner Sherone Simpson never materialized, with Palmer falling to the track. The Jamaicans in the crowd quickly fell silent, leaving Christine Amertil of the All-Stars in the lead through the second 200-meter leg. USA Red was in second after USA Blue's Miki Barber had to leap over Palmer as she began the second leg.
USA Blue led the Red team through the first three legs, behind the strength of Ginnie Powell (200m), Amandi Rhett (200m) and Dominque Darden (400m). But the U.S. Red team of Rachelle Smith, Miki Barber (200m) and Monica Hargrove (400m) was close behind. When three-time U.S. champion Hazel Clark easily gave Red the win in 3:38.89, with USA Blue, anchored by two-time U.S. 1,500m champion Treniere Clement, second in 4:42.30.
For complete coverage of The Penn Relays, visit thepennrelays.com
Athlete Quotes - USA vs. The World
Women's sprint medley
SHERONE SIMPSON (JAM): Nadine ran the fist leg. I never got the baton. She tried to pick it up but then she hit the second leg of the U.S. team. It's unfortunate that we never got the chance to run, but we will be back next year.
HAZEL CLARK: I was really looking forward to racing Jamaica. I thought they were the ones to beat. I was looking forward to racing Kenia (Sinclair, scheduled to run anchor) specifically. They were our main competition. At that point I went into the mode to run a good leg. I was very in control and smooth and excited to run with the team. I get very nervous for this race, moreso than the Olympic final. I feel a lot of pressure, with other peoples' fate in my hands. I don't get to run for the U.S. very often. I have to admit it was a little disappointing (not to face Jamaica). Last night I was tossing and turning, so so excited to race them. My coach, J.J. Clark, came out to the infield to give me the pep talk, and Jamaican fans are so great and so funny. They start dancing in the stands as soon as they think you're going to get caught. They'll be there next year. As soon as the Jamaicans dropped the baton, the stands hushed. I could feel that. I tend to go out really hard at this meet and just die. Something about the Jamaican fans here almost make you lose your mind. This year I was much more in control, it's a different feeling. For me, it's so much more than the Penn Relays. I grew up running this meet ... it means a lot to me. I take it really, really seriously. Where else do you get these kinds of fans?
MIKI BARBER: There was a lot of confusion going on. Rachelle Boone (Smith) gave me a great leg to go off of. Nadine got pushed into my lane, so I had to jump over her. I almost fell but I made it. I ran into her head. Hopefully she's OK because I ran into her head, and my leg is a little sore.
Women's 4x100m relay
LISA BARBER: I just wanted to give my team a good start. Me and Allyson had a good handoff. This is my first race since last year. I love coming to Penn Relays, I'm from Jersey. This is as loud as it gets.
ALLYSON FELIX: I felt like we had a good handoff. My leg was OK. This really is the starting point to the rest of our season.
MUNA LEE: This was my first time running third leg, ever. So it was interesting.
LAURYN WILLIAMS: I saw Muna coming in and got a little overexcited. We still had a great handoff. I took it home. You can never tell, the stadium is so loud and rowdy that you can't tell if it's a woo or a hoo. It's a good rivalry with Jamaica. It's a great thing to hear people going 'USA, USA.' The crowd is so close to you, it adds to the excitement. I like to use all the relays as pre-season. The Penn Relays are the grand finale before you start your regular season. It's a good judge of fitness for how we might be at a world championships, with the extra adrenaline.
On the USA vs. Jamaica difference between men and women: "The men have a little more opinion and swagger. It's more competitiveness, but there's never trash talking with us. We want to beat Jamaica passionately, but when we cross the line, we hug each other."
On her fitness this year: "I am definitely doing a lot better than last year. Last year this time, I was very fit. I actually got sick at Penn Relays, then the injuries (left hamstring) came after that. It was all downhill from there. I'm excited about being 100 percent for Osaka in August. I think I'm on pace to be 100 percent healthy and put my best foot forward. I caught pneumonia [at 2006 Penn Relays]. I thought it was the flu, but I found out I had walking pneumonia.
Men's 4x100m relay
TYSON GAY: As I was coming to run the curve, Dwight Thomas of Jamaica looked like he was close to my lane. I was a little bit scared. Then I think I ran up on Wallace a little, but we had a decent exchange. I'm privileged to come out here and run at USA vs. World. It feels the same as I did in college. The reason I enjoy coming here is the fun of track and field. All the relay meets, I run them just so I can have fun. My coach uses these races to prepare me for speedwork. I come out here just to get some rhythm. It was practice as well for the curve. To be honest, I was the fastest 100m guy on my college team, and my coach came up with the plan to put the fastest guy on third. Once we did that, other teams (schools) changed their teams around, putting their fastest guy on third to stay in the race. I'll run any leg.
DARVIS PATTON: With three superior athletes, it was my job just to maintain and get the stick around. This is the closest thing we have to an international meet on this side of the ocean. To have Jamaica come, the Ukraine, Great Britain, it's great coming here.
SHAWN CRAWFORD: I thought I maintained the lead. I have a history at past Penn Relays of messing up baton passes, so I just wanted to maintain. When you're in the front, you don't know what you're doing to the people in the back.
Men's Distance Medley
SAM BURLEY: It was good being able to run the relay and have the lead going into the final leg. The pace was a little slow the first 400. I'm not used to leading. When he passed me, I was a little surprised and it took a while for me to respond.
CHRIS LUKEZIC: I took a quick glance at Boaz (Cheboiywo of Kenya), and I could tell he had no intention of leading. I knew with Sully (Sullivan) I had to keep the pace honest. I didn't want those guys in it the last lap. I wanted to keep just enough in the tank to kick off it. My plan was to gradually pick it up. I gave it everything I had. Bernard ran a great last leg and I've got to hand it to him.
NICK SYMMONDS: I was content to let someone else lead. I saw the wind out there and I knew if I saved myself for that last 100, turn that switch with 100 to go, I could outkick anybody out there.
COURTNEY JAWORSKI, World All-Stars: It was really great to come back. I graduated in 2006. The meet is awesome and you love to come back. Sam and I were originally in the OD mile together. It was interesting to be with Burley and my teammates in Oregon. It was a little bit awkward. Great experience
BERNARD KIPTUM, World All-Stars. I haven't done speed yet. It was really, really good for me to see the crowd. Very, very, very good. In 2005, I was training with training with Shalane Flanagan. This year I am coming back from a hamstring injury.
Women's 4x400 relay
MARY WINEBERG: Coning to the Penn relays is always very exciting. Just being here representing the USA was a great privilege. It was my first time and I hope I can do it again.
ALLYSON FELIX: I haven't run that many 4x400s so I was happy to come out and run a good leg. The 4x100 is a good warm-up for this, so I didn't have to do too much to get ready. I'm going to run two more 400s the rest of the year.
MOUSHAUMI ROBINSON: When I saw we had a good lead, my job was to maintain and give it to Debbi with a good lead. This was probably the most fun I have had at the Penn Relays.
DEBBI DUNN: As Moushaumi said, these girls went out there and did there job. I thought they were coming at the end, so I put my all out there.
Men's 4x400 relay
ANDREW ROCK: For a lot of us, I think it was one of the first races of the year, so we're excited to break 3 minutes. It was my job to give us the lead and to put us in a good positive. We were fortunate to have some good weather out there.
DERRICK BREW: My leg is usually second leg. I run it all the time. My job is to get to the break first and if I'm not, to put us in good position.
LASHAWN MERRITT: The reason they said they put me in the third leg was because of my speed. I haven't run many 4x400s. This is actually my first 4x400 victory. I felt good. It was good weather, nice day.
DAROLD WILLIAMSON: I felt pretty confident. I'm known for being a relay runner. I just knew that if I got a lead or if I was in striking distance, I had the confidence that I could win. I just kicked off the curve and was able to pick up the win for the team.
Contact:
Jill Geer
Director of Communications
USA Track & Field
317-713-4663
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