JAPAN: ATHLETICS - United States sprint stars assess their major rivals ahead of Osaka World Championships

Record ID: 463661

  • Title: JAPAN: ATHLETICS - United States sprint stars assess their major rivals ahead of Osaka World Championships
  • Date: 24th August 2007
  • Summary: ROSAKA, JAPAN (AUGUST 23, 2007) (REUTERS) SPRINTER ALLYSON FELIX IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINTER ALLYSON FELIX SAYING: "I know that she wants it bad and I want it bad too, and that is going to make it more exciting. We are both very determined. It should be a good race." VARIOUS OF SPRINTER SANYA RICHARDS IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINTER SANYA RICHARDS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING THE 100m SAYING: "11.05 wasn't as hard for me as I thought it would be. I got in the blocks and I was in front and I couldn't believe it and for a second I was like (looking around) and then I went back to my arms and worked hard, but I think that the hardest part about doing two races is warming up two times, not the actual race." RICHARDS IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANYA RICHARDS SAYING: "I think it is, Torri Edwards is going to be running really fast, and Allyson, so I think I'll have to run 10.9 or better... I think I can run 10.9." SPRINTER WALLACE SPEARMAN IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINTER WALLACE SPEARMAN SAYING: "As my main competitor I have to say Tyson, he is the man to beat right now, the fastest in the world. Training partner and main rival." JOURNALISTS SPEAMAN IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINTER WALLACE SPEARMAN SAYING: "I can see what my main competition is doing every day. That's the man who's running 9.7 and 19.6 almost every time he hits the track. So you know, there are no surprises, I see him practising, if I'm not ready it's my fault, I can see it every day. One of the downfalls, sometimes I take our friendship and and mix it up on the track. Sometimes I see him as my friend when I should be seeing him as my rival." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS 100m HURDLER MICHELLE PERRY TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE HAS IMPROVED SAYING: "I would have to say, just learning to be more aggressive at the start, and learning the drive phase. I wouldn't say this isn't the biggest breakthrough in this area of the race has come, but it's on its way." US ATHLETES IN INTERVIEW
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IPOWVDWBV0V8UZFTJLPG86Y9
  • Story Text: STORY : Reigning women's 200 metre world champion Allyson Felix has admitted that fellow American Sanya Richards will be the most likely person capable of stopping her repeating the feat in Osaka. "I know that she (Richards) wants it bad, " she said " I want it bad too, and that is going to make it more exciting. We are both very determined. It should be a good race."
    Felix, who qualified for both the100 metres and 200 metres in Osaka, decided once she arrived in Japan to pull out of the shorter event. She is considered favourite for the 200 metres.
    Richards, who competes in both the100 and 200 metres, has identified Torri Edwards and Allyson Felix as her main rivals in the two events.
    Richards, who won six out of six Golden League 100 metres in 2006, says she doesn't think going for two events would pose a serious problem. " I think that the hardest part about doing two races is warming up two times, not the actual race," she said.
    Richards says she thinks she needs to run 10.9 seconds in order to win the 100 metres. Referring to her winning 100 metres run in Stockholm two weeks ago she said : "11.05 wasn't as hard for me as I thought it would be. I got in the blocks and I was in front and I couldn't believe it and for a second I was like (looking around) and then I went back to my arms and worked hard."
    Reigning world 100 metres hurdles champion Michele Perry admits she is still trying to improve her technique. "I would have to say, just learning to be more aggressive at the start, and learning the drive phase, " she explained " I wouldn't say this isn't the biggest breakthrough in this area of the race has come, but it's on its way."
    In the mens' team 2005 world 200 metres silver medallist Wallace Spearmon Jr. is competing with training partner Tyson Gay and Jamaica's Usain Bolt. "As my main competitor I have to say Tyson, " he confirmed ' He is the man to beat right now, the fastest in the world. Training partner and main rival. I can see what my main competition is doing every day. That's the man who's running 9.7 and 19.6 almost every time he hits the track."
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