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Commentary.......Message from the Publishers: Tyson Invitational and Golden Spikes Meet

2/11/2001

Just like two weeks ago the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayettevillle continues to be THE place to be for hot indoor track races. The Tyson Invitational consisted of a collegiate meet Friday night (2/9/01) and a collegiate and Golden Spike Tour meet on Saturday (2/10/01).

Terrence Trammell of Team USA broke his own Tyson Track Center record set last March in the NCAAs with a swift 7.49 clocking in the Golden Spike Men's 60 meter hurdles. Trammell's mark was only .13 off the American record of the great Greg Foster set in 1987.

In the Golden Spikes Women's 800 meter run, and with a $10,000 bonus at stake for setting a new American record, a great field led by Jearl Miles-Clark of Team USA gave the record a solid effort. Miles-Clark, tall and muscular, led from the outset and crossed the first 400m in 59.13 (27.85-31.28) and showed no signs of fatigue as she held the lead through 600 in 1:30.53 (31.40) although falling off record pace. While the remainder of the field, led by Hazel Clark and Jen Toomey of Team USA, fought hard to close the gap, Miles-Clark was simply too strong the last 100 meters as she set a new Tyson Track Center record at 2:01.00 while Hazel closed fast at 2:02.89 and Toomey was in hot pursuit in 2:03.02. Miles-Clark's time erased the record set by Chantee Earl of Pittsburgh during last year's NCAAs. In the post-race interview with 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Phillips, Miles-Clark told the appreciative crowd she was trying for the American record and simply lost concentration in the third 200 (30.47) and could not make up the lost time in the finish. She thanked the crowd for their loud support throughout the race. Miles-Clark's time was the 5th fastest indoor 800 meter ever for an American women.

The Golden Spikes Men's Mile Run promised to be exciting and it was that and more. Laban Rotick of Kenya with a personal best indoor of 3:52 smashed the Tyson Track Center record with a superlative 3:53.64 which is the fastest indoor mile so far in 2001. Rotick's time bested the record of 3:56.48 set by fellow Kenyan Bernard Lagat in last year's Golden Spike Meet. Rotick's splits were 29-57-1:27(30)-1:56(29)-2:27(31)-2:56(29)-3:29(29)-3:53.64(24.64). But Rotick was not the whole show. Former Hog great Sennica Lassiter running for Nike set a personal best at 3:54.21 while taking 2nd and Jason Pyrah of Team USA also set an indoor PR at 3:56.33. But that was not all! Clyde Colenso, the former SMU star now running for Brooks, grabbed 3rd in a swift 3:54.27 with Hudson de Souza of Brazil taking 4th in 3:56.26. Current Hog All-American Sharif Karie automatically qualified for the upcoming NCAAs by taking 6th in 3:59.60. The first five finishers all broke the Track Center record!

Not to be outdone by the milers, Baylor's excellent 4x400m relay team cruised to a Track Center record and automatic NCAA qualifying time of 3:04.50 breaking the old mark set by TCU at 3:06.69 in last year's NCAAs. Baylor's team posted splits of 46.14-46.15-46.48-45.73. The next four teams (South Carolina, LSU, Auburn and TCU) all provisionally qualified for the NCAAs while Baylor time easily beat the automatic mark. Baylor's time was the fastest in the World so far in 2001 and is the 4th fastest time ever for a USA collegiate team.

Several former Arkansas high school tracksters competed as below:

Brian Baker, New Balance (Arkansas, Batesville) 3000m 7:54.95 (1st) Golden Spike Meet

Andrew Beasley, Arkansas (Rogers) 800m 1:51.33 (7th)

Dee Dee Brown, Arkansas (LR Hall) 60m hurdles 8.63 (8th); 8.58 prelims High Jump 1.73m (5' 8") (4th)

Long Jump 5.62m (18' 5.25") (11th)

Jennifer Culp, Arkansas (Fayetteville, 2000) Pole Vault 3.83m (12' 36.75") (4th) (PR)

Dawnyell Fletcher, Arkansas (Atkins) 800m 2:12.26 (8th)

Blake Jorgenson, Arkansas (Fayetteville) Pole Vault 4.80m (15"9") (13th)

Evan Kirkconnell, Arkansas (Russellville) Pole Vault 4.80m (15"9") (14th)

Daniel Lincoln, Arkansas (Fayetteville) 3000m 8:03.18 (5th) Golden Spike Meet; NCAA prov

Doniehsa Williams, Arkansas (Forrest City) 400m 62.66 (48th)

Kenny Evans, Arkansas (Pine Bluff) High Jump 2.24m (7' 4.25") (2nd) Golden Spike Meet

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