Spearmon wins 200m title at Olympic Trials

EUGENE, Ore. – On the final day of competition at the 2012 USA Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, Wallace Spearmon, Jr., capped the nine-day meet with a victory at 200 meters. The former Razorback standout charged down the final straight and crossed the finish line in a wind-aided time of 19.82. Spearmon is now part of his second Olympic team, previously representing the USA at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

“When the gun went off, my main goal was to maintain or catch up to Shawn Crawford,” Spearmon said in the post-race press conference. “I wanted to get to the straight as quick as possible. When I get there, I just do what I do. It’s hard enough to make one Olympic team so it’s special being able to have a second chance at redemption. I don’t take my second chances lightly.”

Running in the final of the 400 meters at the Jamaica Championships, Akheem Gauntlett ran to an eighth-place finish. He crossed the line in a time of 46.24. Through the first two rounds of the meet, Gauntlett had times of 47.44 in the first round and 45.35 in Saturday’s semifinal.

The victory marks the third national title at 200 meters for Spearmon, coupled with his wins in 2006 and 2010. A product of Fayetteville High School, Spearmon is joined on the 200-meter team by Maurice Mitchell (20.14) and Isiah Young (20.16). The final of the 200 meters was the final event of the meet. Spearmon heads to London as the only American to dip below 20 seconds this season.

The track and field competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will be contested Aug. 3-12. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Sunday Results
400 Meters (final – Jamaica Championships)
8. Akheem Gauntlett – 46.24

Former Razorbacks
200 Meters (final)
1. Wallace Spearmon, Jr. – 19.82w