Smooth 200s in Berlin for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Former Razorback NCAA Champions Veronica Campbell-Brown and Wallace Spearmon, Jr. fared well in their respective rounds of the 200 meters at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin on Wednesday.

Campbell-Brown competed in the 200-meter qualifying round. She won her heat in a time of 23.01. She will run in lane five of heat one in Thursday’s semifinals.

Spearmon, Jr. ran the 200-meter semifinals on Wednesday. He won his heat with a time of 20.14 and clocked the second-fastest qualifier overall. He will run in lane four in Thursday’s finals.

"(On leading off the turn) I’ve been really working on that," Spearmon, Jr. said. "I’ve been trying to go out and finish in the top two in every race and do it as easily as possible. I don’t want to use all I have before the finals. I know it’s going to take everything I have to try to beat Usain Bolt in the final. Leading up to this final, everyone is talking about Bolt. I just want to go out there and run to the best of my ability. If I run a personal best, I’ll be happy with that."

Also on Thursday, Alain Bailey will compete in the opening round of the long jump, Jeremy Scott will compete in the opening round of the pole vault and Alistair Cragg will run the qualifying round of the 5,000 meters.

NBC, Versus to broadcast meet

The 2009 World Championships will be broadcast in the United States daily on NBC and Versus. The broadcast schedule is as follows. All times Eastern; subject to change; check local listings.

August 20: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Versus

August 21: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Versus

August 22: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. NBC

August 23: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. NBC

For more information on Team USA at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, visit: www.usatf.org.