The Arkansas Razorbacks went 4 for 4 advancing in the 200 meters Thursday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
Former Razorbacks Tyson Gay (20.36 seconds), Wallace Spearmon Jr. (20.39) and Jarrion Lawson (20.54) and Arkansas sophomore Kenzo Cotton were all among the 21 sprinters who survived first-round heats to make tonight's semifinals.
"We actually had talked about it prior to the race, what are the odds of all four of our guys making the semis?" Arkansas sprints coach Doug Case said. "It was pretty dang cool when it happened."
Lawson, a senior for the Razorbacks this year, had the slowest time among the four, but he won the second heat to automatically advance.
"Jarrion got out in front the first 100 and pretty much cruised the last 100, which is what you're supposed to do," Case said. "We had talked about that, 'Run a good turn, get yourself in position and just maintain control of the race,' and he did a great job with that."
Lawson, who took second in the long jump Sunday to make the Olympic team and was seventh in the 100 final, told the media after the 200 heats that it wasn't as easy for him as it looked He said his legs still felt some fatigue four days after he long jumped a world-leading legal best 28 feet, 1 3/4 inches.
"I felt pretty bad, actually," Lawson said. "I'm still recovering from the great long jump competition we had.
"That's what I get from my first time jumping 28 feet. So [the 200] was a good shake out for my legs right there."
Gay and Spearmon advanced automatically by taking second and third in heat four.
"Tyson and Wallace both ran real easy," Case said.
Cotton took sixth in the first heat, but he was among three qualifiers who advanced on time.
"Kenzo was last, but his heat was really fast," Case said. "We kept watching the times in the other heats and it was pretty exciting when he made the semis. That's impressive for a guy that's just a sophomore in college."
Gay has made his third Olympic team by being in the pool for the 400 relay after taking fifth in the 100 last week. Spearmon is trying to make his third Olympic team.
Michael Tinsley, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 400 hurdles from Pulaski Robinson High School, advanced to the semifinals, running 50.34 in his first-round heat.
Neil Braddy, a former Razorback from Fort Smith, also advanced in the 400 hurdles, running 50.86.
Sharika Nelvis, an NCAA champion at Arkansas State, ran 12.79 in the first round of the 100 hurdles to advance to the semifinals.
Former Razorback Stephanie Brown advanced in the 1,500, running 4:17.98.
Arkansas sophomore Payton Stumbaugh, from Springdale, was entered in the 100 hurdles but didn't run because of a shin injury, Razorbacks Coach Lance Harter said. The injury also will keep Stumbaugh out of the heptathlon.
Alex Gochenour, a senior for the Razorbacks this year, ran 13.38 in the hurdles and didn't advance, taking 26th. She will compete in the heptathlon along with Arkansas sophomore Taliyah Brooks.
Lauren Paquette, who attended Little Rock Christian and was an All-American at Baylor, finished one spot out from advancing to the 5,000 final. She was 17th overall in 15:44.57.
Arkansas State junior Erin Farmer threw 50-2 1/4 in the shot-put and and failed to advance to the final, ranking 23rd in the qualifying round.
Sports on 07/08/2016