Samuels Gay Advance in 100 meters at USA Championships

Indianapolis, Ind. – Current and former members of Arkansas track and field completed day one of competition at the AT&T USA Championships at Indianapolis’ Michael A. Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.

Expect to be a heated event with the nation’s best competing, J-Mee Samuels and Tyson Gay both advanced to the semifinals of the 100 meters. Samuels, a 2007 All-American in the event, clocked a 10.14 and took fourth in his heat.

Samuels’ heat, the fifth of five, was called back four times for false starts. In addition to the unexpected delay, dark clouds also came through the Indianapolis area.

“This is a whole new meet,” Samuels said. “I really didn’t take Nationals into account. I just wanted to come out and race well. They did call us back about four times so I just was just trying to get a good start out of the blocks. I think I had a good race but there is always room for improvement. I’m happy with the time also. It was the second time this season I hit 10.1.”

Gay, entering the event with the fastest seed time, came out of the prelims with the fastest prelim time, a 9.98 with a legal wind. Gay’s clocking led the pack by .05 seconds.

“My time was just what I was looking for in the prelims,” Gay said. “I’m feeling really good. I’m looking forward to tomorrow because I am feeling so good. Coming out of my drive, I felt a little sluggish but other than that, I’m ready to go.”

The semifinals of the 100 meters will be held at 6:10 p.m. on Friday. The finals will take place more than two hours later at 8:52 p.m. Former Razorback Wallace Spearmon, Jr. was scheduled to run the 100 meters but opted out in order to concentrate on the 200 meters.

Former Hog Eric Brown competed in the javelin finals while the sprints events were contested. Advancing to the finals with a prelim-best throw of 242-3, he finished eighth in a packed field including American record holder Breaux Greer. Greer re-set his American record with a huge toss of 299-6 to win the event.

Many future Hogs also competed on Thursday. Eric Thompson finished second in the junior high jump with a clearance of 6-10.75. Chris Bilbrew clocked a 1:51.90 in the junior 800-meter prelims and narrowly missed advancing to the finals. Bryant, Ark. native and prep leader Spencer McCorkel was third in the junior pole vault with a clearance of 16-4.75. Lane Boyer ended the evening with a sixth-place finish in the junior 5,000 meters with his time of 14:46.00. They will al be joining the Razorback squad in the fall as freshmen.

For complete results, schedule and details of the AT&T USA Championships, visit www.usatf.org.