Razorbacks Excel in European Competition

UA Sports Information- Thursday, July 21, 2005 --- FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The lazy days of summer do not apply to several of Arkansas former track athletes this year as they are gearing up for the World Championships by competing all over Europe during July and August. For sprinters Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon Jr., they are getting their first taste of international competition before Helsinki, Finland plays host to the world meet on Aug. 6-14. Omar Brown, a member of Jamaicas 2000 Olympic team, is also entered in a variety of meets and has been putting his prior experience to use. Each former Razorback has excelled in their 2005 European debut and will hope to keep that momentum going through the World Championships after a lengthy collegiate outdoor campaign. Gay and Spearmon wasted little time in proving themselves on the global scene when they both picked up the their first victories this week. On July 17, Gay finished first in the 100-meter dash at the Athletica Leggera Meet in Italy. Gay clocked a 10.30, edging out fellow American Ray Edwards (10.30) at the line. It was the first 100-meter dash Gay has run since the prelims at the NCAA Mideast Regional on May 27. Spearmon, the current world-leader in the 200-meter dash (19.91), took the tape in Liege, Belgium with a time of 20.56. With a late surge the Fayetteville, Ark., native beat out USAs 2004 Olympic silver medalist Bernard Williams (20.62). "It felt fast, but 20.56 is not the kind of performance that I traveled to Europe for," Spearmon said. "I guess the jet lag was putting a burden of todays race. Also, the school season has lasted long, but now Ive become a professional. This should make things easier and from now on I will fully concentrate on the 2008 Olympics. My aim is to set a 200-meter personal best in my first European campaign." Brown has come very close to victory in his past two races, but had to settle for runner-up honors on both occasions. At an IAAF Grand Prix II meet on July 17, in Thessaloniki, Greece a photo finish determined his second-place finish (20.51) to countryman Christopher Williams (20.51). On July 11 at an IAAF Grand Prix meet in Zagreb, Croatia Brown recorded a 20.62, behind Australian Daniel Batmans 20.60. During Gay and Spearmons next stop they will have the opportunity to go head-to-head in a loaded 200-meter dash at the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix in London on July 22. They will be joined by former world 200-meter champion John Capel of the United States, Jamaican phenom Usain Bolt, who is ranked fifth in the world (20.03) and Europes fastest man, Christian Malcolm who is seventh (20.15) on the descending order list. Spearmon and Gay are the only two sprinters in the world to run under 20 seconds this year. Spearmon is on top with his 19.91 and Gay is close behind with 19.93. The speedy duo is also scheduled to run in the Helsinki Grand Prix, a precursor to the World Championships, on July 25. The Golden Leagues Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway will follow on July 29. Spearmon is slated to run in the 400 meters. Spearmon never ran an outdoor 400 during his remarkable career as a Razorback. The only time he ran the event was at the Arkansas Invitational in January and at the time he matched the school record with a clocking of 46.16. Americas top steeplechaser, Daniel Lincoln, is another former Arkansas standout who is competing abroad this summer. He has his sights set on the American record (8:09.17) and recently set a personal best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:12.65 at Rome, Italys Golden Gala on July 8. Lincolns next competition is the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium on July 26.