Aug. 15, 2009
BERLIN, GERMANY - Texas A&M had solid results from a trio of Aggies competing in qualifying rounds during the morning session on the opening day of the 12th IAAF World Championships in track and field.
A&M sophomore Gerald Phiri contested the 100 meters for Zambia, placing second in a time of 10.30 seconds behind Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who ran 10.20 in the adjacent lane to Phiri. In the next heat of the 100, Aggie grad Tyrone Edgar of Great Britain produced a runner-up effort of 10.42 to join Phiri in the next round.
In the 400 meters A&M sophomore Jessica Beard clocked a time of 51.72 for second place to a 51.55 posted by Jamaica's Novlene Williams-Mills, the sister of Aggie grad and 2006 NCAA 400 champion Clora Williams.
In Saturday's evening session the 100 quarter-finals will feature Phiri and Edgar both running in the second heat, sandwiching around U.S. champion Michael Rodgers in lanes 5-6-7. The top three finishers from each of the five heats, plus the fastest time qualifier advance to Sunday's semifinal.