Teter falls but makes final on appeal
EUGENE, Ore. - Nicole Teeter was in 3rd position after 200 meters in heat 1 of the women's 800 meter semifinals. Then there was some jostling and Kameisha Bennett and Becky Horn fell, with Latavia Thomas next to hit the track and American indoor record holder Teter also taking a tumble.
"I just couldn't get it back together after falling," Teter said. "I really don't know what happened, but I think somebody pushed me and I couldn't hurdle the girl on the ground. I'm just going to have to regroup and come back for the 1500."
By the time the Eugene runner recovered she was 10 meters behind and came in 5th.
"It happens, but this is devastating. We signed up for both the 800 and 1500 and at that time it was kind of a fall back, but now it seems like a blessing in disguise."
Alice Schmidt won the race in 2:03.27.
"I heard people go down and I heard the crowd go oh, but I was luckily out of the mess," Smith said. "It was kind of weird running alone, being a spectator on the Jumbotron. I was kind of like what happened back there? Should I be concerned? Do I need to back off? Is this an advantage? But then you just need to make sure you are in the top four and going to the next round. A lot was entering my mind after I heard that, like people are going to appeal and this is going to be a huge final. A waterfall and that didn't go so well last time."
Teter, Becky Horn, Latavia Thomas and Kameisha Bennett were added to the finals on appea. That race is scheduled for 8:15pm on Monday.
"I just couldn't get it back together after falling," Teter said. "I really don't know what happened, but I think somebody pushed me and I couldn't hurdle the girl on the ground. I'm just going to have to regroup and come back for the 1500."
By the time the Eugene runner recovered she was 10 meters behind and came in 5th.
"It happens, but this is devastating. We signed up for both the 800 and 1500 and at that time it was kind of a fall back, but now it seems like a blessing in disguise."
Alice Schmidt won the race in 2:03.27.
"I heard people go down and I heard the crowd go oh, but I was luckily out of the mess," Smith said. "It was kind of weird running alone, being a spectator on the Jumbotron. I was kind of like what happened back there? Should I be concerned? Do I need to back off? Is this an advantage? But then you just need to make sure you are in the top four and going to the next round. A lot was entering my mind after I heard that, like people are going to appeal and this is going to be a huge final. A waterfall and that didn't go so well last time."
Teter, Becky Horn, Latavia Thomas and Kameisha Bennett were added to the finals on appea. That race is scheduled for 8:15pm on Monday.
