Posted: August 5, 2005

Athletics: Former Razorbacks Ready to Take on World Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas will be well represented at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland as five former Razorbacks are aiming to capture a medal with a top three finish at this year’s IAAF World Track and Field Championships. The meet will begin on Aug. 6 and conclude on Aug. 14.

Wallace Spearmon Jr., is headlining the group with the world’s fastest time in the 200-meter dash and gained a spot on the roster after Olympic gold medalist Shawn Crawford withdrew from the event in July because of an injury. Spearmon is ready to take advantage of this opportunity and on July 22 he improved his personal best to an impressive time of 19.89 at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix.

Tyson Gay is right behind him with the world’s second-fastest time of 19.93 and is also eligible to run the third leg of Team USA’s 4x100-meter relay. Between the two of them they own 10 of the top 21 times in the world for 2005 and are two of only three athletes that have run under 20 seconds this year. Gay and Spearmon have also both had successful European campaigns, picking up one victory each. Spearmon’s came in London, while Gay’s was earned in Italy in the 100-meter dash.

“We’re shooting to get a medal,” Arkansas sprints coach Lance Brauman said. “The odds are pretty tough, but both of them have been running consistently all year. They’re excited and somewhat nervous, but they’re anxious more than anything and ready to get started.

“I’m excited about the fact that they’ve been able to maintain (their speed) for the entire year,” Brauman said. “It just seems like every time they step on the track and it matters, they run fast. I just hope it continues.”

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt posted a 19.99 in London and will challenge the former Hogs for a spot on the award stand. USA champion and Olympic 100-meter gold medalist Justin Gatlin will also be a tough competitor, but will have to run four rounds of the 100-meter dash before he takes to the track for four more rounds of the 200. Brauman is hoping that will serve as an advantage for his athletes.

“In my mind they think they’re ready to beat these people, as long as they keep that mindset I don’t see us having any problems,” Brauman said. “Everybody that they’re going to race they’ve raced sometime before, so it’s just a matter of locking horns and handling the rounds and going at it. They’re as ready to run as they have been all year.

“They’ve both run faster than Justin Gatlin this year, so I don’t think they’re intimidated by him at all,” Brauman said. “Tyson ran him to the line and barely got nipped at USA’s and Wallace could have run by him in the semis, but sat back. The fact that Justin Gatlin has to run four rounds of the 100, before the 200 starts should play into our hands a little bit.”

Arkansas’ third entry in the 200-meter dash is Jamaica’s Omar Brown. He has a top personal best time of 20.43 that he recorded in Belgium on July 23. Even though Brown’s time is in the middle of the pack Brauman is confident he can make his way through the rounds and find a spot in the finals.

“Omar (Brown) has raced three times in Europe and he got two second places and one third,” Brauman said. “He’s running very consistently. I’m expecting him to really drop a time at Worlds. It’s looking like it’s about to happen.”

The first and second rounds of the 200-meter dash are on Aug. 9. The semifinals are set for Aug. 10 and the finals will be on Aug. 11.

Daniel Lincoln is America’s top runner in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and is knocking on the door of the America record time of 8:09.17 set by Henry Marsh in 1985. Lincoln registered 8:12.65 in Rome on July 8 and is prepared to run faster in his quest for the record. The qualifying round of the steeplechase is scheduled for Aug. 7, with the finals being run on Aug. 9.

Matt Hemingway is entering the high jump competition as the 2005 U.S. champion and experienced tremendous international success last year after he won the Olympic silver medal. His best performance in 2005 came at the USA Championships when he cleared 7-5.25. The qualifying flight of the high jump is on Aug. 12 and the finals will follow on Aug. 14.

The World Championships will be available to view on a live webcast through www.wcsn.com for $4.95 and daily one-hour highlight shows will be broadcast on the PAX national television network.