Former Razorbacks Lead Team USA to Relay Titles at Penn Relays

November 7, 2014

PHILADELPHIA – Former Razorbacks Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon Jr. helped Team USA rack up titles in the 400-meter and the 1,600-meter relays against world-class fields at the 112th Penn Relays at Franklin Field on Saturday afternoon.

Spearmon anchored the Team USA Red squad to an impressive victory in a time of 3:00.09. The Fayetteville, Ark. native teamed with Tyree Washington, Derrick Brew and Otis Harris for the win. Spearmon ran a 45.0 split in his first-ever USA 1,600-meter relay anchor leg to hold off a late charge from Olympic gold medalist and USA Blue anchor man Darold Williamson. USA Blue finished second in 3:00.12.

“I’ve got to give it to my teammates they put me in great position,” Spearmon said. “I was more afraid of my teammates if I would have gotten caught or I lost. It is a whole lot different then when you come out here with a team in college. You may have two great guys and another guy that is pretty good. In this, you have four great guys on your team and then four great guys on the other USA and world teams. You are running against the best of the best.”

Gay, Spearmon’s former college teammate, came away with a championship of his own on Saturday. Gay ran a solid leadoff leg to help the USA Blue team of Gay, Leonard Scott, Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin to a win in the 400-meter USA vs. the World relay on Saturday afternoon.

Gatlin anchored the team to a seemingly easy victory in a time of 38.33. However, following the race the red team was disqualified after it was ruled Scott and Crawford passed the baton outside the exchange zone. An appeal was filed and upon review, the red team’s victory was re-instated once again giving Gay and his teammates the victory.

In the same race, but a different heat Spearmon anchored the USA Red team to a third-place finish in the 400-meter relay in a time of 38.78.

Both former Razorbacks were in attendance to watch their former team on Saturday. “They did their thing today too,” Spearmon said. “I’m proud of them.”