Brown Trafton wins first national title

2008 Olympic Games women's discus gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton, who ended the 2008 season ranked #1 in the world, won her first U.S. national title in that event with a best throw of 64.25m/210-9. Brown Trafton, who posted the farthest throw in the world this year of 66.21m/217-2 in San Mateo, Calif., on May 24, will be joined on the Team USA roster for Berlin by runner-up and four-time Olympian Aretha Thurmond (62.51m/205-1), and two-time World Outdoor Championships team member Becky Breisch, who finished third with a toss of 62.08m/203-8.

Stephanie Brown Trafton – Winner Women’s Discus

On the last throw:
It wasn't a tough throw. It was just a throw to get the crowd into it. I've been a lot better this year. I've allowed the crowd to participate a little bit, because they are the reason that we are here. If the crowd wasn't there, there would be no excitement, especially in Eugene where the crowd knows a little bit about track and field. I'm really appreciative to the crowd here. I'm really excited to go to Berlin. Hopefully I throw far for another medal.

On her goal:
“My goal is to throw 210 on a bad day every single time. If I can do that on a bad day, I can medal on a good day. If I don’t feel quite right or the wind is strong like today, it doesn’t matter, if anything is making it a bad day I still want to throw 210.”
 
On her motivation:
“You know (laughs), my favorite food is corn dogs and my family said I wasn’t allowed to eat them until I won the US Championship. So today I was picturing corn dogs at 210 and just trying to knock them down. Some people win a title and say they’re going to Disneyland – I’m going to a hot dog stand.”

Rowbury wins Nike Women's 1,500 meters

2008 Olympic Trials champion and Olympic Games finalist Shannon Rowbury trailed Christin Wurth-Thomas until the final stretch before overtaking her and reaching the finish first in 4:05.07.

Wurth-Thomas made a mad dash in an attempt to steal the race, at one point leading by 30 meters, but ran out of gas over the final 200 meters and finishing as the runner-up in 4:06.00.2008 Olympic Trials 3,000m steeplechase champion and former national record holder in that event Anna Willard secured her place in Berlin by finishing third in 4:07.70.

Shannon Rowbury – Winner Women’s 1500M
 
On her championship race:
“We were working on sharpening the last couple of weeks. I think they said it was 2:02 for the last 800, 60 seconds for the last lap. I was really happy with the result.”

On coming from behind for victory:
“It is a little bit different when you have something to go after. My main focus was on the finish line. I was just trying to reel Christin in – she did a fabulous job.”