March 10, 2006
MOSCOW, Russia – 2006 Visa Championship winner Terrence Trammell, a Gamecock graduate, is focused on winning gold medals at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow that begin on Friday.
A two-time Olympic Games 110m hurdles silver medalist and the 2001 World Indoor champion in that event, Trammell won his third career USA Indoor 60m hurdles title last month in Boston with his time of 7.46 seconds, which gave him the fastest time in the world this year and the Visa Series Championship.
Trammell nearly won the 60 meters in Boston, finishing second to Leonard Scott in 6.53 seconds, which equals the second fastest time in the world this year. Trammell, who has been battling a stomach ailment in Moscow, faces 60m qualifying on Friday. He says he’ll be ready to compete.
The following is a Q&A’s with Trammell.
TERRENCE TRAMMELL
Q: How do feel about your chances of success here in Moscow?
A: I feel confident because this is what I’ve been training for. I feel like I’m blessed with the ability to do it so my job is to go out there and maximize my potential.
Q: You came very close to winning the 60 at the AT&T USA Indoor Championships, which shows everyone that you’re a serious contender in that event.
A: I wouldn’t even step into it if I didn’t think I could be successful. There are a lot of people who think it’s a joke or don’t take it too seriously, but my mission is to do well in both.
Q: What are your thoughts on winning the Visa Championship Series?
A: That was an added bonus. My focus was just making the team, but when I found out that I had won of course I was excited about that.
Q: Having won a World Indoor title back in 2001, what would it mean for you to do it again this week in either the 60m or the hurdles?
A: I think it would be a major accomplishment. You strive to be a world champion, whether it be indoors or outdoors. The goal is to win two because it hasn’t been done. That’s what we’re striving for.
Q: In both of those races the start plays an important role, are you pleased with how you’ve been starting this season?
A: I’m feeling good about my starts and things have been going well for the most part. My reaction has been pretty good, and more than anything else, my composure has been really good this year. I’m excited about it and just want to see what happens.
Q: We know that your stomach doesn’t feel well right now, but how is everything else with you physically?
A: I’m good as far as everything else goes. I had a bit of jet lag yesterday and I know that will pass before it’s time to compete. Outside of the little stomach thing, everything is going fine.
Q: Do you plan on running the 100 meters much this spring and summer?
A: I don’t know about the U.S. Championships, but I definitely plan on running the 100 meters outdoors.
Q: What are your goals for the 100m hurdles this year?
A: I’d like to break 13 seconds and be really consistent at what I’m doing. If I was to throw a time out there I’d be setting limits. I know I want to run under 13 and just stay consistent and stay healthy.
Q: Running under 13 seconds would put you in a very exclusive club. How would that make you feel?
A: It would be great. There’s a lot of things that I’m still aspiring to do and going under 13 is one of the goals I want to accomplish.
Q: How close are you to your physical peak and being at your best technically in the hurdles? How much better can you get?
A: I can get a lot better. I still don’t think I’ve gotten to my peak. Through time the hurdles have always been a veterans event.
A lot of people get better as they get older, so I’m still just plugging away at it to get where I want to be.
Q: The U.S. has led the world through the years in producing great hurdlers and you’ve joined that group at a comparatively young age. What’s that like for you?
A: I never really looked at it that way until about two weeks ago when I was talking with one of my coaches and he spoke about a lot of the great things that a lot of the great ones and legends have gone through and I didn’t realize where I stood in that company. It really helped put a spark in me and makes me want to continue to excel. U.S. hurdling has been a dominant force through the years and that’s something we want to continue. I look forward to some more years of success.
For more information on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, visit www.usatf.org
