June 27, 2010
DES MOINES, Iowa - Texas A&M senior sprinter Porscha Lucas placed third in the 200 meter final, running 22.57 seconds, on the final day of the U.S. Championships hosted by Drake University.
Meanwhile, Aggie volunteer assistant Wallace Spearmon won the men's 200 title in a wind-aided 19.77.
Lucas ran in a black outfit with orange lettering from Saucony in her first professional race since concluding her collegiate career with Texas A&M by defending her NCAA title in the 200 at Eugene two weeks ago.
"I'm really excited, this is the best I've ever finished as this meet," stated Lucas, who ran her second fastest time of the season behind a collegiate leading 22.49. "I feel like I'm starting a new chapter in my life running for Saucony now and being a professional athlete.
"It feels different being in a new uniform color. I've been wearing maroon for eight years, since my high school in Plano was maroon as well. It's definitely different to run in black and orange."
During the prelims Lucas won the first of three semi heats in 23.07 with Oregon's Amber Purvis second in 23.22 with a 0.2 tailwind.
The semifinal performance earned Lucas lane four in the final on the inside of eventual champion Connie Moore, who won the final in a career best of 22.40, with Shalonda Solomon inside of Lucas in lane three. Solomon placed second in 22.47.
Purvis placed fourth behind Lucas with a 22.74 PR while Alexandria Anderson finished fifth in 22.83.
"My main objective in the semifinal was to get a good lane for the final," noted Lucas. "I didn't want to press it too much in the semi, I just wanted to do well enough to get a preferred lane. "
The final marked the 15th race in the 200 meters for Lucas this season and she made her first final at the U.S. Championships after reaching the semifinals in 2008 at the Olympic Trials and last season when the national meet served as the selection meet for the World Championships.
"I was kind of nervous going into today's races, since they are my first as a professional," said Lucas. "I didn't know if it was going to feel different or what. I'm just really happy that I was able to finish third and win some money. I'm real excited about that. I'm really blessed and happy right now."
Spearmon won his second U.S. title after claiming his first in 2006. The wind-aided 19.77 is the second fastest ever by Spearmon under any conditions. For the 2010 season the time is second only to Usain Bolt's 19.56.
Running in lane seven Spearmon had to deal with Walter Dix, the 100 champion, who was stationed in lane one. Spearmon cruised to the lead once the field was in the homestretch as Dix placed second in 20.14 with Xavier Carter third in 20.29.
Another Texas A&M volunteer assistant, Noah Bryant, placed seventh in the shot put with an effort of 66-3.75 (20.21). Aggie grad Bashir Ramzy finished ninth in the long jump with a leap of 25-3.25 (7.70).