Cassandra Slade, Conifer, Colo., seventh (36:14.96), women’s 10,000m: “It was a little different than I expected. I thought it would go out a lot faster, so it was a little tough for me to go to the lead because I was kind of nervous. I thought, ‘This is a big race. I don’t know if I should go to the lead.’ But I did what I wanted to do and get the race a little faster. Looking back on it I probably should have stayed back a little bit more. Being as hot as it was, I don’t know if I was ready for the heat but I finished. I couldn’t breathe quite and the same, and my legs weren’t ready for it, so I was like ‘I’ve got to finish.’ I’m wearing the USA jersey for the first time and I wasn’t going to give in. I couldn’t give in.”
Anne Bersagel, Greely, Colo., fourth (35:23.31), women’s 10,000m: “I think everyone had some healthy respect for the altitude and the heat, so we went out fairly slow. … There was a lot of bumping and jostling in there. I was trying to concentrate on staying on my feet and keeping it easy. After Cassie had led awhile she pulled out to lane two to see if anyone would take the lead, and that’s when the runner from Mexico took it. A couple of laps later she tried to break away. That’s when I saw her go … and I just thought ‘I want to go for that medal.’ I didn’t know where I was, but I wanted to go for it. So I just tried to hang onto them, and ultimately it was just a little bit too tough for me today. I’m glad I didn’t give up and was able to get the runner from Cuba at the end. I left it out on the track so I can’t be disappointed because that’s where I am today.”
Keelin Godsey, Parker, Colo., fifth (67.84m/222-7), women’s hammer throw: “I wanted to do the best that I could and make it to the finals and I got that. I felt I could have gotten a little bit more out of me, but I’m still very happy with my throw. it’s one of the better marks in my career. This was a once in a lifetime experience for me as my first international meet.”
Russ Winger, Colorado Springs, Colo., seventh (19.11m/62-8.5), men’s shot put
“It’s October and it has definitely been hard to hold onto any sort of peak and also be in shape to start preparing for next year. I try to go into meets like this without any expectations. I gave it everything I had but, for some reason today, I just couldn’t put anything together.”
Without Limits
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