Tabarie Henry, Wallace Spearmon reach semifinals at World Champs
Aug 18, 2009 | Track and Field
Aug. 18, 2009
BERLIN, GERMANY - Two more sprinters with Texas A&M ties reached the semifinal stage during the fourth day of the IAAF World Championships. Wallace Spearmon and Tabarie Henry each moved on in the 200 and 400 meters, respectively, during Tuesday's session at Olympic Stadium.
A total of six athletes from the Aggie track and field program have advanced to the semifinals in sprint events during the 12th edition of the World Championships. In addition to Henry and Spearmon, the group includes Jessica Beard (400), Gerald Phiri (100), Tyrone Edgar (100), and Muna Lee (100).
Henry, who will enter Texas A&M this fall as a junior, won his heat of the 400 in a time of 45.14 over Australia's Sean Wroe (45.31) and Martyn Rooney of Great Britain (45.31). Henry, representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, recorded the second fastest time overall among a field of 50 runners in the first round, following a 45.00 from Ramon Miller of Bahamas.
"I was too young last year when I was at the Olympics and I didn't understand running at that time," noted Henry of reaching the semifinals in Beijing. "Now, I think I run much better, but I'm still just 21. So, I would be very glad to get into the final."
In the semifinals, which will be run on Wednesday, Henry will run from lane 4 in the third of three heats. Also in the heat with Henry, who sports a career best of 44.77, is Lionel Larry (44.63) of the U.S., Chris Brown (44.40) of the Bahamas, John Steffensen (44.73) of Australia, Ricardo Chambers (44.62) of Jamaica and Kevin Borlee (44.88) of Belgium. The top two finishers in each heat plus the next two fastest times will advance to the final.
The 200 quarterfinals had Spearmon in the fourth and final heat, running 20.44 for a runner-up finish to the 20.33 produced by Panama's Alonso Edward, who competes collegiately in the U.S. for Barton County in Kansas. Spearmon was also second in the morning heats of the 200, running 20.66 behind a 20.64 from Germany's Robert Hering.
"The first round was tough for me, because I had to get up at 6 a.m.," Spearmon said. "I haven't been up so early in quite some time. And I still nearly missed the bus for the stadium.
"In the second round I was feeling better. I'm giving a little more effort in each round. I feel like I will have a good championship."
In the 200 semifinals, Spearmon is stationed in lane 5 of heat 2 and is the only sprinter (19.65) in that field with a personal best under 20 seconds. The first heat will include Usain Bolt (19.30), Shawn Crawford (19.79) and Alonso Edward (20.00).
Spearmon has two medals from previous World Championships finals in the 200, earning silver in 2005 and bronze in 2007.
Texas A&M sophomore Gerald Phiri did not start his heat in the first round of the 200, joining a few other sprinters - such as Tyson Gay, Dwain Chambers and Churandy Martina - who competed in the 100 and opted not to contest the 200 heats this morning.
The fifth day of the World Championships will also see A&M volunteer assistant Aries Merritt in action over the 110 hurdles as well as Aggie grad Simone Facey in the 200 for Jamaica and Muna Lee.
Players Mentioned
