Posted: July 29, 2005

Athletics: UA's Spearmon Named USA Track and Field Athlete of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wallace Spearmon Jr., was named USA Track and Field’s Athlete of the Week after setting a world-leading time in the men’s 200 meters last Friday in London. Spearmon won the race in a personal-best and school record time of 19.89 at the Norwich Union Grand Prix, giving him three of the four fastest times in the world this season, including a 19.91 victory at the NCAA Championships on June 11 and a 19.97 win at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. in April.

In London, Spearmon defeated, among others, world junior record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica. This marks the second time this year that Spearmon has been named USATF’s Athlete of the Week. The American record holder indoors (20.10), Spearmon was fourth at the USA Outdoor Championships.

The Fayetteville, Ark., native’s fourth-place finish left him one place out of an automatic berth for the 200 meters at the World Outdoor Championships. Fortunately, it was recently announced that Spearmon was given a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 200 after Shawn Crawford withdrew from the half-lap event because of a nagging foot injury. Spearmon will compete at the World Outdoor Championships August 6-14 in Helsinki, Finland.

Now in its fifth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.