Adam Perkins
Adam Perkins is a fighter; there is no denying that. After almost losing his
junior outdoor season because of an Achilles' tendon injury, the Liberty,
Mo. native has battled back for his senior campaign and is ready to take on
the top milers on the collegiate and professional scenes at the Tyson
Invitational Friday night.
"There's a great field this weekend and Tyson always does a good
job of putting the meet together," Perkins said. "I'm just really excited
for our guys because there will be great competition."
Perkins, in his first appearance in the mile this season, will be
battling some of the best Friday night and is prepared for whatever might be
thrown at him.
"This will be my first time running the mile and I'm looking
forward to getting out there," Perkins explained. "The Tyson meet is a big
meet so expectations are high. I've worked my way up and feel like I've
gotten to the point where I'm capable of running with the professionals."
In this season's invitational mile, some of the faces will be
familiar to the spectators and to Perkins. Athletes scheduled to compete in
the event are Mark Fountain, Christian Smith, Rob Meyers, Leonel Manzano,
Nick Symmonds, Scott Overall and Tom Lancashire.
Manzano who runs for the Texas Longhorns, Overall of Butler and
Lancashire of defending NCAA Outdoor Champion Florida State join Perkins as
the group of collegians competing.
Manzano ran the season's fastest collegiate mile at the New
Balance Collegiate Invite at the Armory last weekend (3:59.08) while Overall
broke his own Butler school record in the 3,000 meters (7:55.36). Perkins, a
five-time All-American, has clocked NCAA provisional times as a member of
Arkansas' distance medley relay and individually in the 3,000 meters.
Lancashire was picked by Track and Field News to take the NCAA Outdoor title
in the 1,500 meters.
The Australian National record holder in the mile (3:54.77),
Fountain did not run at the collegiate level. He currently trains in
Fayetteville, Ark. under John McDonnell. He also holds the Australian
National record in the 1,000 meters (2:20.3). He was a bronze medalist at
1500 meters at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and holds a 1,500-meter
personal best at 3:33.68.
Smith, running for Nike, is in his first season as a professional
after a stellar career with Kansas State. Smith won the NCAA Indoor mile
title in 2006 with a clocking of 4:12.75.
Symmonds, formerly of Willamette University, is a four-time NCAA
Div. III Champion and most recently won the 800 meters at the Boston Indoor
Games with a clocking of 1:48.15. He was also the runner-up in the event at
the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships. He currently holds the best time in the
USA and the eighth-best time in the world in the 800 meters.
With a stiff field and the pressure on, Perkins is ready to
perform, knowing that a successful race at Tyson will likely punch his
ticket to the NCAA Championships. Unlike the rest of the field, Perkins has
the luxury of training on his own backyard and sleeping in his own bed in
preparation for the race.
"This is a huge weekend for the team to get marks so I'm excited
about it," Perkins said. "I know Coach (John McDonnell) is expecting big
things because our performance in New York was sub par. I definitely think
staying home will be a big advantage."
Perkins' high hopes stretch beyond his own performance. He is also
expecting big things of his teammates as they hunt for Arkansas' 43rd
national title.
"I'm expecting the distance guys and the jumpers to put up great
marks and Peter (Kosgei) to do well in the 5000 meters," Perkins explained.
"I'm also excited to see Colin (Costello) and Daniel (LaCava) run, and I
know there will be a lot of great individual performances."
Many of the Razorbacks will be fighting for their chance to
compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships and bolster the Hogs' line up. The
Tyson Invitational has been a successful meet in the past for the Cardinal
and White and Perkins expects nothing less in 2007.
"We don't like taking qualifying down to the wire but sometimes
that's the way it happens," Perkins added. "Whenever Coach (McDonnell) puts
the pressure on us, it drives us and we've been successful with it so far,
but it's something you don't want to wait around for."
Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest
| 
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?