Cantwell, Williams mine gold, Hoffa brings home silver at 2008 World Indoors

    

    VALENCIA, Spain – Christian Cantwell reclaimed his World tile and Reese Hoffa picked up a silver medal , while Angela Williams added a gold to her medal collection Friday night at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships.

    The men's shot put, the first final of the night, looked to be a duel between the 2004 World Indoor champion, Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), and the 2006 World Indoor champions, Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), and they didn't disappoint. Cantwell took the early lead with his first throw of 21.14 meters/69 feet 4.25 inches only to be passed by Hoffa in the second round with a throw of 21.20m/69-6.75. It was that throw which would eventually earn Hoffa the silver medal. Cantwell bounced back in the third round with a heave of 21.59m/70-10 and followed it up in the fifth round with his gold medal-winning throw of 21.77m/71-5.25. He is only the second shot putter to win two World indoor titles.

    Two-time World Indoor silver medalist Angela Williams (Ontario, Calif.) announced to the world that she is back and better than ever with her win in the women's 60 meters. The second fastest athlete out of the blocks, Williams strong surge in the last 10m propelled her to victory in a world-leading, personal best 7.06 seconds. 2008 U.S. 60m runner-up Alexis Joyce (Denver, Co.) was eighth in 7.37.

    In the last final of the night, the men's 60m, 2008 U.S. Indoor champion Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas) placed fourth in 6.57. Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba won the gold in a world-leading 6.51. Earlier in the night, in the semi finals, Rodgers won his heat in a personal best 6.54 and 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist Leroy Dixon (Los Angeles, Calif.) took seventh in his heat in 6.75 and didn't advance.

    In qualifying action at the track, two-time U.S. Indoor and Outdoor champion Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.) advanced to the final of the women's pole vault with her opening clearance of 4.50m/14-9. 2004 Olympian Jillian Schwartz (Jonesboro, Ark.) cleared 4.35m/14-3.25 and did not advance. Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Aarik Wilson (Lawrence, Kan.) automatically advanced to the men's triple jump final with a hop skip and a jump of 17.13m/56-2.5. It was a season best for Wilson and and the second farthest jump in qualifying. 2004 Olympian Kenta Bell (Kissimmee, Fla.) placed eleventh overall with a mark of 16.66m/54-8 and did not advance.

    The first round of the women's 800m saw American indoor record holder Nicole Teter (Eugene, Ore.) take fourth in her heat in 2:01.73 and advance to the semi final on time, while Nicole Cook (Knoxville, Tenn.) was fourth in her heat in 2:06.67 and didn't advance. On the men's side, both Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.) and Khadevis Robinson (Santa Monica, Calif.) advanced after coming in first and second in their respective heats with Symmonds clocked at 1:49.30 and Robinson in 1:49.33.

    2008 U.S. Indoor champion David Neville (Los Angeles, Calif.) advanced to the semi-finals in the men's 400m after placing second in his heat in 47.43. 2007 U.S. Indoor champion Greg Nixon (Lubbock, Texas) was third in his heat in 47.64 and didn't advance. For the women, 2004 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist Moushaumi Robinson (New Albany, Ohio) and 2008 U.S. Indoor champion Shareese Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) qualified for the next round after placing second and third, respectively, in their heats. Robinson crossed the line in 52.45 and Woods in 52.65.

    Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Rob Myers (Westerville, Ohio) ran a strong, hard-fought race in the men's 1,500m qualifying round, finishing fourth in 3:41.73, but it wasn't enough and he did not advance. Stanford standout Russell Brown (Hanover, N.H.) was seventh in his heat in 3:47.19.

    Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com.

    For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships, visit https://www.usatf.org/events/2008/IAAFWorldIndoorChampionships/.

    ATHLETE QUOTES

    Christian Cantwell – men's shot put gold medalist

    "I'm happy with the win. My training has been going ok so far. There is nobody in the world right now that can compete with us (Americans) in the shot. We're always expected to win."

    Reese Hoffa – men's shot put silver medalist

    "I felt like I was ready to hit a big throw but every time I pushed it just wasn't going anywhere. It is always going to be a battle (between me and the other American shot putters), I just need to make sure I am equally prepared. I really want to peak for the Olympic Games, unfortunately I think I need to peak for the Olympic Trials because we are so strong in the shot."

    Angela Williams – women's 60m gold medalist

    It feels awesome, I'm so excited. Just confirming that working hard and believing in yourself pays off. I was confident but I didn't want to be cocky. I said 'today is the today Angie'. It's about staying calm and focusing on my race. I'm so happy. Now it's a new beginning with the outdoor season."

    Alexis Joyce – women's 60m finalist

    "My calves got tight and it just wasn't there. But I made it to the final and that's what counts. It was my first time (on Team USA). I'm happy to be here."

    Nicole Teter – women's 800m qualifying

    "That was so hard, the fastest I've run all season. I was crossing my fingers. It felt good though, even after the long trip over here."

    Nick Symmonds – men's 800m qualifying

    "It felt good, really easy. I knew I had to make wide moves so that I wouldn't get in to a pushing match. The whole last lap, I knew if I had to drop a 25 I could do it, but thankfully nobody was running that fast."

    Khadevis Robinson – men's 800m qualifying

    "The finish was terrible but I made it through and that is all that counts. I was watching the guys on the outside and I forgot about the guy on the inside and he got me. I'm just going to talk to my coach and get ready for tomorrow."

    Jenn Stuczynski – women's pole vault qualifying

    "Two attempts at one height got me in (to the final). One and done, see ya tomorrow."

    David Neville – men's 400m qualifying

    "My legs are super tight. I just have to get that worked out by the next race."

    Moushaumi Robinson – women's 400m qualifying

    "It was good. I did what I wanted to do, made it back to the next round. I feel great."

    Shareese Woods – women's 400m qualifying

    "I felt great, my race was good. And I made to the next round. That's all I wanted."

    Aarik Wilson – men's triple jump qualifying

    "It felt good, got the (automatic) qualifier on my second jump and shut it down. I just wanted to make sure I made the final. It was a little nerve-wracking in the beginning."

    Rob Meyers – men's 1,500m qualifying

    "I just didn't have much pop. It was a weird race. It was honest at the front but I allowed myself to get pushed to the back and I got tripped up a little and it got me. I just didn't have the pop to catch them."

Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
Vicky.Oddi@usatf.org