Conley, Walder, Lawson

LONDON – Six-time NCAA champion Jarrion Lawson joined two Razorback legends, Mike Conley (1983) and Erick Walder (1997) in the history books on Saturday evening in London, becoming the third Hog to ever medal in the long jump at the world championships.

“Finally I am on the podium,” Lawson said. “I am feeling good. Just to come to this track, it would have been a hard season for me. I was just saying to myself, ‘Have fun and have fun from the first jump to the last jump.’ I enjoyed myself and thank god for the silver medal. I have known him [Luvo Manyonga] since last year. We have become good friends and good competitors. I am just glad for what we did. Definitely it was a good competition for the fans and we supported each other. I will definitely remember London thanks to the crowd.”

Lawson finished in second place in front of a sellout crowd. His best mark of the day (8.44m/27-8 1/4) was a mere four centimeters behind South African world champion Luvo Manyonga.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Jarrion,” assistant Arkansas men’s track and field coach Travis Geopfert said. “He’s a champion in every way. He’s always done the right things socially, academically and athletically. He gravitates towards excellence in everything he does and that’s why he’s now going to be honored as one of the best in the world.”

Arkansas World Championships Medalists (Chronological)

• 1983: Mike Conley (Long Jump – Bronze)
• 1987: Mike Conley (Triple Jump – Silver), Roddie Haley (4-x-400m Relay – Gold)
• 1991: Mike Conley (Triple Jump – Bronze)
• 1993: Mike Conley (Triple Jump – Gold)
• 1997: Erick Walder (Long Jump – Silver)
• 2005: Wallace Spearmon Jr. (200m – Silver)
• 2007: Tyson Gay (100m – Gold, 200m – Gold, 4-x-100m Relay – Gold), Wallace Spearmon Jr. (200m – Bronze, 4-x-100m Relay – Gold)
• 2009: Tyson Gay (100m – Silver), Wallace Spearmon Jr. (200m – Bronze)
• 2017: Jarrion Lawson (Long Jump – Silver)

Jarrion Lawson, currently second in the long jump (GETTY) https://t.co/HkMv3kJyvR pic.twitter.com/DPi20dxTfM

— Joe Fleming (@ByJoeFleming) August 5, 2017

Lawson was arguably the most consistent jumper in the field with five out of six attempts in the mid 27-foot range. The world silver medalist will close out his season in Europe later this month at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham, England (Aug. 20) and at the final Diamond League meeting in Zurich, Switzerland (Aug. 23).

“Jarrion, his family, Texarkana and the Razorback nation all need too be proud of this very special night,” Geopfert said.

Up Next
ProHog Stanley Kebenei will lead off for the Razorbacks tomorrow morning, competing in the preliminary round of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. In addition to Kebenei, Arkansas will also have Andrew Irwin (pole vault), Kemar Mowatt (400-meter hurdles) and Omar McLeod (110-meter hurdles) all looking to qualify into the next round of their respective events

World championships coverage will begin at 4:05 a.m. CT on NBC Sports. Fans can also follow the live results HERE.

Date: Aug. 4-13
Venue: London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Important Link: Meet Central (Schedule, Live Results, IAAF Radio and Athlete Stats)
Broadcast Schedule: NBC (see table below)

Arkansas Entries (12)
• Bahamas – Tamara Myers (Triple Jump)
• Jamaica – Kemoy Campbell (5,000), Omar McLeod (110mH), Kemar Mowatt (400mH) and Clive Pullen (Triple Jump)
• Slovenia – Tina Sutej (Pole Vault)
• Trinidad & Tobago – Sparkle McKnight (400mH)
• USA – Daina Harper (4-x-400m Relay), Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault), Stanley Kebenei (Steeplechase), Jarrion Lawson (Long Jump) and Sandi Morris (Pole Vault)

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.