No time to slow down: Lawson shifts from collegian to pro quickly

FAYETTEVILLE -- It's a quick turnaround for Jarrion Lawson from collegiate track and field superstar to professional rookie.

Three weeks after Lawson became the first athlete in 80 years to win the long jump and 100 and 200 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to cap his senior year at Arkansas, he'll begin his pro career at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The Trials begin today and run through July 10 at the same venue as the NCAA Championships -- Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. -- to determine the U.S. team for the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janiero.

The top three finishers advance to compete in Rio provided they've met the Olympics' qualifying standard, which Lawson has in his three events.

Lawson, who signed an endorsement contract with Asics this week, will begin his Olympic quest Saturday when he competes in the first round of the 100 and the long jump qualifying. He'll go in the first round of the 200 Thursday.

"Jarrion is going straight into the fire as a pro because our college season ended so late and now the Olympic Trials already are here," Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said. "Generally speaking, in other sports, there's a transition period.

"But in track, there's no D-League or Single-A or Double-A type of stuff. That quick transition can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the athlete, and I think it's a blessing for Jarrion because he's on a roll coming out of the NCAA Championships."

Before Lawson did it, Jesse Owens had been the last athlete to win the long jump and 100 and 200 at the NCAA meet in 1936 when he competed for Ohio State. Owens went on to win four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

"Jarrion's got a lot of confidence coming off some big wins," Bucknam said. "He just did something extraordinary."

Track & Field News has Lawson on the cover of its latest issue because of his performance at the NCAA Championships, but it projects him at the U.S. Trials to finish fifth in the long jump and eighth in the 100 and 200.

"I can't make a prediction for how Jarrion is going to do," Bucknam said. "All I can tell you is I've got a lot of faith in the guy that he'll take it to another level.

"There's a learning curve for him now, as there is with everybody doing something that's new, but he's got the right temperament, he's got the right work ethic, and he's got the right amount of talent to get it done."

Wallace Spearmon Jr., a former Arkansas NCAA sprint champion and two-time Olympian, said Lawson will be motivated by predictions he won't make the U.S. team.

"Jarrion's just one those kids where if you tell him he can't do something, that's exactly what he's going to go do," said Spearmon, who trains at Arkansas. "He's going to go out and do his best to prove you wrong.

"After nationals, he came back and told us that before the meet ESPN was doing all these interviews with other kids. They had, 'These are the guys to watch,' and they didn't have anything about Jarrion, and now look who's standing on top."

Former Razorback NCAA champion hurdler Omar McLeod, who will compete at the Jamaican Olympic Trials this weekend, cheered on Lawson at the NCAA Championships from Fayetteville, where he lives and trains.

"Jarrion is an amazing athlete," said McLeod, who won the 60 hurdles at this year's World Indoor Championships. "Watching him was inspiring to me to be honest with you. He's got something great going on.

"He's very humble, and he has a lot of willpower. For him, he's always trying to prove a point. It's not an arrogant thing, but I think that's the attitude you've got to have to be great in this sport.

"He's super talented, too. That helps a lot."

Lawson, 22, said he's feeling fresh and strong despite his heavy workload the past few weeks at the SEC Championships, NCAA West Regional and NCAA Championships.

"Of course I embraced and enjoyed every moment at the NCAA meet, but then I got back to Fayetteville and went back to work to get ready for the Olympic Trials," Lawson said. "I'm feeling very confident right now.

"I think I'm a little bit more at peace with myself, knowing that I can do well at the Trials after what I've just done. I do realize it's a different level competing against the professionals, but I'm looking forward to it."

Arkansas assistant coaches Travis Geopfert (jumps) and Doug Case (sprints) have worked together to make sure Lawson would be at this best for the NCAA Championships and Olympic Trials.

"The way we approached the season, it didn't really start for him until the SEC Championships," Geopfert said. "Everything before that was focused on training.

"So that's allowing him to mentally and physically feel pretty fresh right now considering everything he's been doing. He's looked sharp in practice and doesn't seem fatigued at all. I think he's energized and excited."

Case said Lawson's season has gone as planned -- and maybe even better -- leading into the Trials.

"You have to feel great mentally about what you've done and where you're going, and Jarrion does," Case said. "As long as his mental toughness holds up -- and I know it will because he's a very mentally strong individual -- I don't think he's going to have any trouble. I think he's ready to do it."

Arkansas' coaches and Lawson said it's tough to pick his best event right now. He won three NCAA long jump titles, but also three titles in the sprints, including running on the 400 relay as a junior.

Lawson's personal bests are 10.04 seconds in the 100, 20.17 in the 200 and 27 feet, 6½ inches in the long jump.

"I'm feeling kind of equal in all my events," Lawson said. "I know I'm probably expected to do better in the long jump, but right now I think I have a great chance in the 200 and the 100 as well."

The schedule figures to be a challenge for Lawson with the long jump and 100 on the same day with little or no time between them. The first rounds of the 100 are scheduled for 3 p.m. Central on Saturday, with the long jump qualifying at 3:45 p.m.

If Lawson advances in both events, Sunday has the long jump final at 6:15 p.m., the 100 semifinals at 6:20 p.m. and the final at 7:55 p.m.

"You hope for the best with the schedule, that you've got your events spread out so it gives you a better chance, especially the Olympic Trials," Lawson said. "With the 100 and long jump being so close together, it's tough, but I dealt with the same thing at the NCAA meet, so I'm used to it."

Geopfert said Lawson may have to miss a long jump attempt today to be able to run the 100.

"You hate doing that, because it's the Olympic Trials and nothing is going to come easy," Geopfert said. "It'll be like a game-time decision."

The 200 sets up well for Lawson from a scheduling standpoint with the first round four days after the long jump and 100 finals. The 200 semifinals and final are July 8 and 9.

Lawson didn't begin running the 200 on a regular basis at Arkansas until this year.

"Jarrion's good at everything he does, but our staff has always thought the 200 ultimately could be his best event," Case said. "He looks like a 200-meter guy and he has a nice stride.

"If you look at how he's developed in the 200 in a very short time, the potential to be great is there. He's still learning how to run the turn. He hasn't run a great turn yet. When he does, he could improve even more."

Bucknam said Arkansas' coaches stress to the Razorbacks winning at whatever level they're competing.

"We always tell our guys, 'Beat your peers,' " Bucknam said. "That means if you're a collegiate athlete, be an SEC champion. Be a national champion. Be an All-American. Have success at that level.

"Jarrion has done all that consistently and he really opened up a lot of eyes this year and now he's going to the highest level. The NFL of track, I guess you could say.

"I think he's on a great platform to go and compete in that next group of elite athletes."

Sports on 07/01/2016