Südtirol 2009 - Flash Interviews - 12th July 2009

14:30 / 800m / Girls


Winner - Cherono KOECH, KEN

I expected to win but am still thrilled. I didn't even know that i can run this fast (setting the CR of 2:01.67s). I am from Kericho and have 8 siblings. I also won for my team colleagues who missed out on the gold in the 800m yesterday.


Second - Ciara MAGEEAN, IRL

I came all this way to Italy to win a medal. I'm more than happy now! I was first after the semi final despite going into the initial competition being the underdog. It is only the second medal for Ireland in the WYC history. Now I will also take part at the EYOF in Finland over 1500m.


Third - Rowena COLE, GBR

My coach's strategy worked. I am overjoyed and my twin sister Davina will celebrate this with me. She also runs. This race was very fast. I had a good start and was able to keep up the pace. I love to dance, to shop and to go out with my friends.

14:35 / POLE VAULT / Boys


Winner - Minsub JIN, KOR

I am thrilled to win gold for my country. Bressanone has been wonderful. The hospitality was exceptional and this city is so beautiful. I am looking forward to compete in Daegu in Korea at the upcoming World Championships in 2011.


Second - Carlo PAECH, GER

I was initially disappointed because I hoped to be able to beat the Korean. But now I am happy with my medal. I did never expected to see here in Bressanone/Brixen an event that was so large and well organized. I don't have a role model but know that I can learn a little something from everyone. But let's just say, what Sergey Bubka has achieved is certainly impressive. I love sport in general, music and movies.


Third - Daniel CLEMENS, GER

Wow, a medal at the WYC is incredible. I already expected the Korean to jump so well. It is unbelievable how much money is spent for this event. I never expeced this. I am most impressed by Sergey Bubka among all the former pole vaulters. My hobby? The pole vault.

14:45 / 200m / Girls


Winner - Jodie WILLIAMS, GBR

This is my first international competition and now I am two-times world champion. I only realized that I had won when i saw it on the display. I thought I was second. This is the best feeling ever. I am speechless and shocked. Tonight I will celebrate.


Second - Allison PETER, ISV

I missed gold by a tiny margin but am nevertheless thrilled with my second silver. I started very fast and pushed all the way to the finish. Unfortunately my coach could not be here but my father came instead. Now I want to attend university to study Sciences and English. But more than that i want to become a professional athlete.


Third - Ashton PURVIS, USA

I am happy but dissapointed at the same time. I was third over the 100m and now really wanted to win this competiton. I am from California where I have my own coach. I have two older sisters who run as well, but I was the first to start running. My role model is Allyson Felix, U18 World Champion and Olympic gold medal winner.

15:00 / JAVELIN THROW / Boys


Winner - Shih-Feng HUANG, TPE

I truly enjoy this success. I just wanted to give my best. I never thought to have a shot at winning. I am shy and like basket ball. It is very unusual for me that it is light so late at night. I'm having a hard time to fall asleep. In Taiwan, the sun sets at 6 pm.


Second - Killian DURECHOU, FRA

I didn't know any of my competitors and had no idea what their levels are. Great to win the Silver. In addition to sports I also love to surf the net and photography. I attend a graphic school and train in the little stadium in my town which is close to Tours. My mother and my sister are here with me today. I will continue to train hard, as everyone else here, hope to compete at the Olympics.


Third -  Braian TOLEDO, ARG

My team from Argentina is very small - 9 people - which is why I am even happier about my medal. I am 15 and live closeby to Buenos Aires with my mothre and a sister who is 13 years old and who just started in athletics as well as an 11-year-old brother. I started in athletics when I was 9 thanks to my coach Juan Gustavo Osorio who gave me the chance to try all the different cateogires before deciding on the javelin. This is my first time outside south America and i think Europe is so different. But I like it. My role model is the Czech athlete Jan Zelezny but the Norwegian Thorkildsen is the one I like the best among currently competing athletes.

15:05 / 3000m / Boys


Winner - Isiah Kiplangat KOECH, KEN

God bless the organizers of this race. This WYC is wonderful. I am proud and extremely happy. The success of my team mate cherono just prior to my start has given me a lot of encouragement. We are focused on team work in Kenya and for it we have been rewarded with gold and silver. At home I have seven siblings. I am from Kericho just like Edwin Soi. He won the bronze in Beijing and I train with him (Editorial comment: Soi is also two-times winner of the Sylvester run in Bolzano/Bozen, the BOclassic)


Second - David Kiprotich BETT, KEN

I am so happy for Kenya and for the fact that we have won two medals. After the second round I pushed hard and lead the race but then I felt tired and gave my team colleague a sign to take over. This strategy worked. Now I have to think about the next age category and the next title. I have four sisters and four brothers. My father is a driver, we live in Kerigo and at school I excel in mathematics, physics and English.


Third - Goitom KIFLE, ERI

I come from Ertra' in Eritrea. In addition to the 3000m I also run 5000m and 10000m, and sometimes I've also tried cross country. My place back home lies on a very high altitude, so the mountains here dont really impress me.

15:25 / LONG JUMP / Girls


Winner - Minjia LU, CHN

I dreamed to win this gold. And it is still incredible that this dream has come true. The countryside here is beautiful. This has been an entirely new experience for me. i am from zhejang which is at the ocean. I used to be a 100m runner. My brother is also a long jumper. My hobby is dancing.


Second - Alina ROTARU, ROU

Look how happy I am. This is the sixth national record I am setting for indoor and outdoor events. I started at 7 yeas of age with athletics on suggestion of my mother who plays handball. I love this sport and Tatyana Lebedeva is my role model. I am also good in other categories and won several combined events on a national level. I love music and dance.


Third - Jennifer CLAYTON, USA

I had a great jump yesterday but unfortunately today I ended up with the bronze. But all in all, I am so happy to have won this medal for the USA. I am from New York where high schools offer every kind of sport. I train for sprint and long jump but was too slow to make the team here in Brixen in the 100m. My sister was here in Europe before i went and told me all about it. She was right: it is amazing here.

15:30 / 200m / Boys


Winner - Kirani JAMES, GRN

I was disappointed with my win in the 400m because I missed setting a new WYL. But today I am thrilled and totally happy. I wanted to do my best. Now I am a two-time World champion. I don't have a role model although Michael Johnson was a great runner. I am honored to be compared to Usain Bolt but I want to take my own path and write my own history. I am proud to have won as a runner from the Caribbean because we don't have a lot of resources. We have significantly less opportunities than the US athletes. I think Bressanone/Brixen is too cold and I still have to get used to the altitude. But I still won. I would love to come back as a skier.


Second -  Alberto GAVALDA, ESP

I did not expect a medal. I knew how to use my international experience. I'm 16 years old and am from Saragoza. My parents were both athletes of the national Spanish team. Last year I participated at the Junior World Championships in Poland in the 4x100m. And this year I also competed as a member of the Spanish seniors national team at the European indoor championships in Torino.


Third - Keenan BROCK, USA

It didn't go that well but it feels good to win a medal. I am from Alabama where i live with my parents, two brothers and one sister. They are all very sporty. My parents, for instance, used to run as well. Tyson Gay is my role model.

15:50 / 1500m / Boys


Winner - Gideon Kiage MAGEKA, KEN

I am overjoyed with my win and at home in Kisii everyone will be thrilled. I come from a very simple home. I want to have a career and my very own manager. This is my first proper international track meet which has motivated me even more. Food here is excellent and that is very important when you aim at the gold. I could see myself living here - it is beautiful. The race was very difficult because team colleague really pushed me.


Second - Caleb Mwangangi NDIKU, KEN

I am from Medogu where I live with my parents and 3 sisters and 7 brothers, but I am the only running. I like competing in long distances. Before coming to Europe I finished first in Kenya ahead of Mageka, my team colleague, but now he beat me. We always take turns, sometimes he wins and sometimes I do but I don't mind taking silver this time.


Third - Girma BEKELE, ETH

I started my career in 2006. I would like to be famous and popular at the same time. I have 7 brothers and 2 sisters but i am not related to the famous Bekele family which is also in athletics. I am thrilled with my medal also because I worked hard to earn it.

16:10 / 2000m STEEPLE CHASE / Boys


Winner - Hillary Kipsang YEGO, KEN

This was a very hard race but I wasn't nervous at all. the environment is great here and people so friendly. I definitely want to come back to Bressanone/Brixen because it is so beautiful here. Trainings conditions are wonderful: altitude is just right, air is fresh and temperatures comfortable. If i had these conditions at home I would be even better. I am an only child, which is unusual for my country. I am from Kericho and train with my famous fellow country men Edwin Soi and Patrick Terer.


Second - Peter Kibet LAGAT, KEN

I am overjoyed that two Kenyas are at the lead again. I have worked very hard for this medal and fought hard, but the race wasn't really that competitive. We did't have any true rivals. I think we would be even better if we had better trainings conditions. I am from Nadisaud where I also train. I have two sisters and four brothers and now am just so happy.


Third - Desta ALEMU, ETH

I am very happy but I am lacking words to describe my feelings because my english is not that good. I have 5 sisters and 8 brothers and have been a runner since 2007. I want to become an elite athlete but at the same time stay popular and down to earth. My home town is Guji.

16:35 / MEDLEY RELAY / Girls


Winner - Team USA

To run a medley is always something special. We are very proud to have won this medal for the USA. Two of our runners already had medals so we knew that we could capture this as well. The transfer of the relay batton went smoothly, which is critical in this race. Bressanone/Brixen was great because we could train for the medley here. We love South Tyrol's apples.


Second - Team Hungary

We are so excited. We took an extra victory lap to celebrate. You can see how the smiles are still printed on our faces. We are so thrilled. We are all still in high school and now will go home and enjoy our summer holidays.


Third - Team Roumania

A.G. Alungoiae: This was great team work. We are so happy. Our team member A. Pasto is crying because she is not happy with her performance. Now we'll go to comfort her. She has not reason to be sad, because winning a WYC medal is the biggest thing ever. We still can't believe it. This is the second medal for Roumania here in Bressanone/Brixen.

16:55 / MEDLEY RELAY / Boys


Winner - Team USA

It is a great feeling to win the relay and to set a new WY. Qualifications in the US are very hard and obviously only the best are picked for this race. We understood from the start that we are leading the race. Back home we all live and train in different places so we came to Bressanone/Brixen on Monday, July 6th ahead of the competition to train for this category.


Second - Team Brazil

We are screaming in joy. This is our first world championship medal and the feeling is truly magnificient. This was our first time in Europe. Two of us placed sixth in the 200m and the 110m.


Third - Team Japan

We're all happy and totally satsfied with our bronze. Two of us competed in the 400m, the other two in the 100m. This was great.