Contact: Tom Surber Media Information Manager USA Track & Field (317) 261-0500 x317 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 27, 2003 World record holder Jacobs to double at USA Indoors BOSTON – Women’s world indoor 1,500m record holder Regina Jacobs on Thursday announced at a USATF press conference that she will run both the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters at the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Boston. The 1,500 will be contested Saturday, with the 3,000 on Sunday. Also at Thursday’s press conference, defending world indoor men’s 60m hurdles champion Terrence Trammell revealed that he is considering a double in the hurdles and 60 meters at the USA Indoor Championships. Both events, including qualifying rounds, take place on Saturday; Trammell could run up to six races in a single day. In addition, two-time defending women’s U.S. indoor 60m champion Chryste Gaines discussed her hopes of earning a three-peat in that event on Saturday. Events begin Friday afternoon, February 28, with the finals of the women’s and men’s weight throws and the first rounds of the 400 meters. A full schedule of competition begins Saturday, with the conclusion of the meet Sunday afternoon. The 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Eastern Time on Saturday, March 1. Sunday’s events will be broadcast via the Internet, with a webcast from 1-5:30 p.m. on March 2 that can be viewed at www.i2sports.com. Cost is $10. Excerpts from Thursday’s press conference follow. For more information on the 2003 USA Indoor Championships, including the current list of entries and complete bios of Regina Jacobs, Terrence Trammell and Chryste Gaines, visit www.usatf.org. REGINA JACOBS Q: What’s it like for you to compete here again in Boston, where you’ve had so much success? A: I’m really happy to be back in Boston. It’s one of my favorite places to run. The Reggie Lewis Center has provided me with many great experiences and lots of records. It’s a fabulous track with an incredible crowd. The nice thing about being here is that people really understand the distances and they make it fun. I’d have to say that it’s the audience and people who come to watch who’ve spurred me on to some really great performances. Q: What events will you run this weekend? A: I am going to double in the 1,500 and 3,000. I’m obviously not going to go for it on both days, but on one of those days I’m planning something special, so you’ll just have to buy tickets for both Saturday and Sunday so you can find out. Q: How are you physically right now? A: Very good, very good. I’m ready to rock and roll. I’ve had some very good training sessions at home and it was unseasonably warm at home, and the last time we were here the weather was actually really nice. But wow!! It’s gotten really, really cold. Q: What are your plans for running at the World Indoor Championships? A: For World Indoors I’m definitely running the 1500m and leave it open after that. TERRENCE TRAMMELL Q: Do you plan to run both the men’s 60m and 60m hurdles this weekend? A: Right now we’re just playing it by ear. Just talking to my coach and saying how I’m feeling on a daily basis. I am entered in both and I did declare in both, and you know we’ll just have to see how things go. Q: How likely is it that you’ll compete in both events? A: It’s possible. The schedule is feasible to do. I don’t think that it is impossible. I’ve set my mind to do both, and that’s pretty much it. I’m not going to go out here and kill myself by any means, but I still know that there is still a lot of track and field left in the season. I’m taking full advantage of the opportunity that I have. Q: Talk about how well your first full professional season has gone to this point since earning your college degree from South Carolina, and how your fitness is. A: My fitness is going well. We’ve kind of tapered off the last week and a half. We’ve been doing a lot of heavy training and I’ve doubled up a couple of times this season. Right now the emphasis is to keep my body fresh so I can compete well on Saturday. I feel that a lot of things have gone differently for me since I have more time during the day to focus more so on track than on say 21 credit hours like I did last semester. I’m happy and I feel like I’m free, I’m loose and I have a chance to take advantage of my ability and the opportunities that are presented to me. CHRYSTE GAINES Q: By winning the last two U.S. women’s indoor 60m titles, it appears that you’ve really come into your own. A: Actually I’d like to differ on that point. I came into my own in 1998 when I ran 10.89. If coming into my own is winning national championships, then I have come into my own the last couple years. Am I in the best shape of my life right now? I don’t know, we’ll see Saturday. Q: What challenges do you face in the 60 at USA Indoor Nationals? A: Indoor Nationals is always a challenge, especially for me. I’m not a quote/unquote indoor runner. Being from Texas and going to Stanford, we never really had an indoor season. This year is very indicative of that. I’ ve run two indoor meets and now at the national championships, so it’s always a challenge because I’m definitely taller than everyone else and my start is not always as great as some of the other runners. So indoors is a challenge for me and I’m always basically up for a challenge, so on Saturday we’ll see. Q: What would a three-peat mean to you? A: A three-peat would be great for me. Actually just defending the championship last year was a feat and I’m definitely going to go for the three-peat. I guess I can put myself in the same light as the Lakers or the Bulls, or somebody like that. Q: Chryste, we’re in Boston, you better say Celtics. A: The Celtics….(laughter). # # #