EUGENE, Ore. — Some of the biggest names in American sprinting were on the sideline and not in the starting blocks for the opening round of the 200 meters as Wallace Spearmon Jr. turned in the best time Friday at the Olympic trials.
Spearmon (Fayetteville, Arkansas Razorbacks) finished in 20.17 seconds. That’s even with pulling up early to conserve energy and take it easy on his left Achilles tendon, which has been giving him some trouble.
“It’s the first round. You’re not supposed to run that hard,” Spearmon said. “It was a good run.”
As expected, Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay (Arkansas Razorbacks) didn’t run at all.But the absence of Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix was a bit of a surprise. Dix was hampered by a sore left hamstring that slowed him in the 100, but he thought he might be ready for the 200.
Now, Dix’s only option for making it to the London Games will be as a member of the 400 relay team, should he be selected. Dix was expecting big things, too, especially after getting bronze in both the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gatlin said after winning the 100 he would focus on one event, just to save wear and tear on his body. Same with Gay, who finished second in the 100 despite a surgically repaired hip that limited him to just one meet in the last year before taking the stage at the trials.
“We’re missing Tyson, Walter and Justin - that’s U.S. best right there,” said the 34-year-old Doc Patton, who easily advanced. “The door is open for anyone in the field right now.”
Possibly unfamiliar sprinters such as Calesio Newman or Isiah Young. Newman and Young both won their heats. They may be the sprinters up next to challenge world-record holder Usain Bolt and his training partner Yohan Blake, who are trying to earn spots to the Olympics at the Jamaican trials.
Shawn Crawford is in the running, too, to take on the Jamaicans. Crawford won the 200 title at the 2004 Olympics and got silver in Beijing.
In that race, Crawford originally finished fourth, only to move up two spots when Netherlands Antilles sprinter Churandy Martina and Spearmon were disqualified for running outside their lanes.
Feeling Martina had won the medal fair and square, even though the rules said differently, Crawford gave it to Martina.
Eye on Arkansans
How athletes with Arkansas ties are doing at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Ore.:
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
MEN WALLACE SPEARMON (ARKANSAS/FAYETTEVILLE) Finished with the top qualifying time of 20.17 seconds in the 200 meters. Advanced to semifinals.
LASHAWN BUTLER (ARKANSAS) Finished the 200 meters with a time of 20.62 seconds.
Advanced to semifinals.
TYSON GAY (ARKANSAS) Did not run in the 200 meters.
DORIAN ULREY (ARKANSAS) Finished the 1,500 meters with a time of 3 minutes, 52.15 seconds, good for seventh in the first heat of the semifinals. Failed to advance.
MICHAEL TINSLEY (PULASKI OAK GROVE) Finished 2nd in his semifinal heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 49.05 seconds.
Advanced to final.
WOMEN LASHAUNTE’A MOORE (ARKANSAS) Finished 10th overall in the 200 meter semifinals with a time of 22.85 seconds. Failed to advance.
ON TAP TODAY MEN ATHLETE EVENT ROUND M. Tinsley (Oak Grove) 400 hurdles final N. Balumbu (UA) triple jump final LaShawn Butler (UA) 200 semis Wallace Spearmon (UA) 200 semis WOMEN None
Sports, Pages 26 on 06/30/2012