Veronica Campbell-Brown beats Shelly-Ann Fraser and Carmelita Jeter in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic (© Kirby Lee)
Several athletes met with the media earlier today on the eve of the Weltklasse Zürich - Samsung Diamond League meeting. Here's what was on their minds:
Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM), who will be running only her third 100 of the season:
"I haven't run as many races as I had hoped this season as I said in my online diary last week. This is my last 100 of the season and I just want to execute a really good race and finish the season healthy and be cool and get ready for next year which is very important."
"I was here five years ago and I not only won but ran a personal best and I'm looking to go fast tomorrow night."
"I'm very confident, I've run 10.78 so far this year. I'm not sure it will happen tomorrow night. The objective is to have a really good race because I know the competition is there to run fast."
The Olympic 200m champion, recalling her best Samsung Diamond League appearances this year, added: "I would have to say New York - the 200m clash with Allyson (Felix). I was very excited with the times and the atmosphere was great. I also enjoyed my competition in the Prefontaine and the competition with Shelly (Fraser) where I ran that personal best. Those are my two favourites of the season so far."
Carmelita Jeter (USA), who has already secured enough points to win the 100m Diamond Race:
On her loss to Marshevet Myers in the London 100m last weekend:
"I have really tough skin, it doesn't bother me at all. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. Talk doesn't faze me. Yes she did she ran very well she executed a great race in London and she beat me. But I'm a competitor first so I'm always ready to line up and run, and with the calibre of women we have in this race tomorrow night it's going to be a great race. It's definitely not going to be a run where you can go out and just think that it's going to happen - I'm going top have to execute this race. I'm trying to look for something special."
Lolo Jones (USA), who'll compete in a non-Diamond Race 100m Hurdles contest but still a Samsung Diamond League title contender in Brussels next Friday:
"This year I just wanted to come back on the scene and prove myself as one of the top hurdlers in the world and I think I've done that especially after having won the indoors and a good outdoor season. I'm just looking to finish that off with a nice accomplishment."
"I'm not on vacation yet. If I think about it like ... I don't know. Right now I want to stay focused - no more questions about vacation because if you do that, what's going to happen is I'll come out on the starting line and I'll be wearing my bikini. I'll be confused like being on vacation already."
"I have four or five more races - here, Berlin, Brussels Zagreb then I'll go to Split for the Continental Cup. And then vacation!"
David Oliver (USA), like Jeter, has already secured enough points to win the 110m Hurdles Diamond Race, reflecting on the global competition after the Golden League:
"I don't know who made the rules, everything's just a little bit more structured now. In the past when we used to be Golden League in the hurdles we'd go to one meet and be a premium event, then we go to the next and be like a classic or promotional. Now it's just straight across the board flat out, everything is structured and the people have done a very good job with the Diamond League and I hope that it continues."
"In the non-championship years you'll probably get more of the fun and the rivalries or the head-to-head things because everybody's getting ready for the Worlds or Olympics in the coming years."
"World record? I just have my own motivation I want to go out there and have great performances, that's a thing nobody can add in the extra motivation or extra pressure or extra expectations or anything like that. I have my own set of expectations, I don't let outside factors distract or change what it is I want to accomplish. I don't go out to chase records because like I said before, if you try to chase times you fall short."
"In 2006 I wanted to run 13.1 but I just kept kept running .20, 22, 23 24 - always running 13.20. The time I ran 13.1 was at a meeting where I wasn't thinking about running any particular time. You just relax, handle your business, if the times come, if the records come, that's fine. If not, so be it. It's not like my career's over today so I can just go back train harder and run faster in the coming seasons."
David Martin for the Samsung Diamond League
Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM), who will be running only her third 100 of the season:
"I haven't run as many races as I had hoped this season as I said in my online diary last week. This is my last 100 of the season and I just want to execute a really good race and finish the season healthy and be cool and get ready for next year which is very important."
"I was here five years ago and I not only won but ran a personal best and I'm looking to go fast tomorrow night."
"I'm very confident, I've run 10.78 so far this year. I'm not sure it will happen tomorrow night. The objective is to have a really good race because I know the competition is there to run fast."
The Olympic 200m champion, recalling her best Samsung Diamond League appearances this year, added: "I would have to say New York - the 200m clash with Allyson (Felix). I was very excited with the times and the atmosphere was great. I also enjoyed my competition in the Prefontaine and the competition with Shelly (Fraser) where I ran that personal best. Those are my two favourites of the season so far."
Carmelita Jeter (USA), who has already secured enough points to win the 100m Diamond Race:
On her loss to Marshevet Myers in the London 100m last weekend:
"I have really tough skin, it doesn't bother me at all. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. Talk doesn't faze me. Yes she did she ran very well she executed a great race in London and she beat me. But I'm a competitor first so I'm always ready to line up and run, and with the calibre of women we have in this race tomorrow night it's going to be a great race. It's definitely not going to be a run where you can go out and just think that it's going to happen - I'm going top have to execute this race. I'm trying to look for something special."
Lolo Jones (USA), who'll compete in a non-Diamond Race 100m Hurdles contest but still a Samsung Diamond League title contender in Brussels next Friday:
"This year I just wanted to come back on the scene and prove myself as one of the top hurdlers in the world and I think I've done that especially after having won the indoors and a good outdoor season. I'm just looking to finish that off with a nice accomplishment."
"I'm not on vacation yet. If I think about it like ... I don't know. Right now I want to stay focused - no more questions about vacation because if you do that, what's going to happen is I'll come out on the starting line and I'll be wearing my bikini. I'll be confused like being on vacation already."
"I have four or five more races - here, Berlin, Brussels Zagreb then I'll go to Split for the Continental Cup. And then vacation!"
David Oliver (USA), like Jeter, has already secured enough points to win the 110m Hurdles Diamond Race, reflecting on the global competition after the Golden League:
"I don't know who made the rules, everything's just a little bit more structured now. In the past when we used to be Golden League in the hurdles we'd go to one meet and be a premium event, then we go to the next and be like a classic or promotional. Now it's just straight across the board flat out, everything is structured and the people have done a very good job with the Diamond League and I hope that it continues."
"In the non-championship years you'll probably get more of the fun and the rivalries or the head-to-head things because everybody's getting ready for the Worlds or Olympics in the coming years."
"World record? I just have my own motivation I want to go out there and have great performances, that's a thing nobody can add in the extra motivation or extra pressure or extra expectations or anything like that. I have my own set of expectations, I don't let outside factors distract or change what it is I want to accomplish. I don't go out to chase records because like I said before, if you try to chase times you fall short."
"In 2006 I wanted to run 13.1 but I just kept kept running .20, 22, 23 24 - always running 13.20. The time I ran 13.1 was at a meeting where I wasn't thinking about running any particular time. You just relax, handle your business, if the times come, if the records come, that's fine. If not, so be it. It's not like my career's over today so I can just go back train harder and run faster in the coming seasons."
David Martin for the Samsung Diamond League