Sanya Richards after her performance at the US Championships (© Getty Images)
After her fourth place finish in the 400m at the U.S. Championships – and failing to qualify for the World Championships in her primary event – 2006 World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards talks about the race, her reactions, and what’s coming up next.
The race at Nationals just came at the wrong time for me. I was under-raced and it affected me more than I thought it would. I backed off my training for four weeks to compete in the meet, then Pre, Oslo and Nationals. My tank was just on E. However the top-three all ran their best races and definitely deserve to be representing the U.S. I'm happy that we have so much depth. We'll have a great team.
On how the race went and her initial reaction to finishing fourth:
I executed the race well, believe it or not. I came through the first in 23.5 which is exactly right for me, but when I went to make my move around the turn I just didn't have it. I knew it was over mid way through the turn.
I was shocked, depressed and hurt. I didn't realize that the consequence of my first bad race in a year would mean I wouldn't get a chance to run in Osaka. That was my number one goal for 2007 and when I realized it wasn't going to happen I was really, really disappointed.
This was my first loss where I really felt as though I didn't make any mental errors. All of my losses in the past were usually because I was too emotional and ran too hard the first half and faded. This time I was poised and mentally prepared. I just feel as though it wasn't meant to be this year and my interrupted training caught up with me.
The rounds felt good to me. I think in the rounds my objectives were a bit different than most. I was still trying to figure out my race and get back on pace and after the semi round I was really optimistic. I don't feel as though the 50 flat took it out of me so much as I believe that the fifth race in three weeks just left me flat.
Coach Clyde hart's reaction:
He told me it was ok. He said we just didn't have anything left in the tank. He told me that I should be proud of myself because I knew what I had been through and I was still able to come out and compete with some of the best in the world the way I did. He said don't worry we'll be ready for the rest of the year.
On qualifying for Osaka in the 200m:
The 200 was a very emotional race for me. I didn't get a wink of sleep the night before that race but I wanted so badly to be on the team that I just ran from my heart. All my best friends, Bershawn Jackson, Lauryn Williams, Walter Davis and Wallace (Spearmon) were on the team and they also helped encourage me to go out and make the team because they didn't want to go without me.
On any changes in her season plan now that she'll be competing in the 200 in Osaka:
I think running the 200 will be great. I'll get to compete in all the Golden League 400's and then use all the other meets to run 200's. We're not going to adjust my training much but with the break between Stockholm and Worlds I will work on improving my speed.
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ENDS