Posted: August 29, 2007

Athletics: Americans Load 200 Meter Finals at IAAF World Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Team USA will have three sprinters, including former Razorbacks Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon, compete in the finals of the 200 meters at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. In the semis, Gay won heat two with a time of 20.00, the fastest semifinal time. Spearmon, running in heat one, finished second with a 20.05, behind Jamaica's Usain Bolt (20.03). Rodney Martin, the third American running in the event, finished third in heat one with a 20.18. All three Americans automatically advanced to the finals. "My hamstring could be a little bit better", Gay said. "I didn't have quite the pop coming out of the blocks. I'll give whatever I have left in the tank in the finals." In the finals, the three members of Team USA will be joined by three members of the Jamaican team. Gay will run out of lane four, Bolt out of lane five, Spearmon out of lane six and Martin from lane eighth. "I just went out once again and tried to use the least amount of energy as possible to make it to the finals," Spearmon said. "I'm fine and I'm right where I need to be for the finals." Results from the 200-meter finals will be posted as soon as they are available. Former Razorbacks Alistair Cragg (5,000 meters) and Eric Brown (javelin) will also be competing at the IAAF World Championships later this week. For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit USATF.org. Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.wcsn.com. For complete TV listings, visit USATF.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest