Chris Solinsky (Madison, Wis.), Men's 5,000 meters finals
I was in it when it was easy. We didn't know what to expect. We thought the Kenyans were going to take it out on (Ethiopia's Kenenisa) Bekele, or he was going to run from the gun. It worked out to be really slow. I wasn't concentrating enough I don't think in the middle stages when it started to get to a moderate pace. I wasn't running as efficient as I should have. It cost me at the end because when they took off, it just broke my spirit. I never do this, but I looked back on the backstretch and there was nobody really behind me. They crushed my spirits. It was my first worlds. I got a lot of learning to do. It showed today, for sure. I learned a lot today.
Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore. ), Men's 5,000 meters finals
It was a hard push. We got into a pace, but in the first mile and 2K was really slow. We just pushed and pushed, and everyone took a share of the lead. I did everything I could. 13:20 within four days is a huge improvement. That tells me I'm going in the right direction. It's a huge improvement over last year. I'm said it's not going be done all in one year. It will be done over a period of years. Next year, with it being an off year, we are going to focus strictly on what we need to accomplish for 2011 and 2012, which are major championships. We will have a great build in to those two years. I'm disappointed that I was right there to take the medals. It was right in my sweet spot. It just wasn't there today. You can't be disappointed. You have to have it on that day.
Christin Wurth-Thomas (Springdale, Ark.), Women's 1,500 meters final
We talk about experience. I think didn't feel comfortable. It was my first finals. But I can't hold my head. I made some mistakes. I felt like I closed well, which is something I haven't been doing well this year. That was positive. But I wasn't in position to close, and that's a major mistake. This is my first final. I had some nerves, and I needed to shake it out. To be running with the top of the world, I can't be holding my head.
Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colorado), women's marathon
I wanted to break 2:30 today, but with the heat, I had to be a little more conservative. I felt really great, but I just didn't have the turnover.
I felt great from the get-go. I was getting a bit impatient.
Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Michigan), women's marathon
I went out pretty even, and was able to pick it up along the way. A huge pack was sitting in front of me, and as it broke up, I was able to weave my way through. I felt great going into the last lap, and was able to pick people off.
I came in very fit, and having the confidence from the Chicago Marathon, and being able to move through the field was huge.
Kara Goucher (Portland, Oregon), women's marathon
My legs felt great, and I felt really relaxed. It was great to have a loop course where my husband and coach could yell at me. The pace felt comfortable, and it felt like practice.
I had a lot of problems keeping my fluids down. After the second personal fluid station, I started throwing up what I took in. I would start taking it, then a mile later, I'd throw up.
I started to cramp with 13k to go, and then the field started to surge. It wasn't there. I just wasn't good enough today. I thought I hydrated myself well leading up to the race.
When the field made their break, my body wouldn't go.
Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Arizona), women's marathon
It went very well, but the heat got to me. Tera Moody and I pretty much buddied up together and pursued the second chase pack.
We were in it to get a real good team placing.
I liked running on a criterium-style course like this. You can figure out the undulations, and you can break up the course into sections. My coach told me to do a 30k run, and a 12k race. The fans made a huge difference, and that's why I love this course. It's very runner-friendly, and even if you're not a runner, you can see us pass by four times.
Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colorado), women's marathon
It wasn't what I had expected. The first 10k I was right on what I wanted to run, and on the second lap I was feeling th esame thing.
Shortly before the half-marathon, I started feeling some hot spots on the bottoms of my feet. The race was harder than I thought with the blisters and all. I'm glad I finished the race, but I wished I could have done better.
http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2009_08_23_09_07_05