Wallace Spearmon Sr.
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1987 Zagreb 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1987 Zagreb 4×100 m relay
Goodwill Games
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Moscow 200 m
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Indianapolis 200 m

Wallace Spearmon Sr. (born September 3, 1962) is an American former sprinter.[1] He is the father of Wallace Spearmon Jr.

He attended the University of Arkansas and competed collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks under coach John McDonnell. While there he became a two-time All-American at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships and helped the team to the overall title in 1985. He set bests of 10.23 seconds for the 100-meter dash and 20.36 seconds for the 200-meter dash while at Arkansas.[2] At the 1985 Penn Relays meet, he was the anchor leg for the 4×100-meter relay and 4×200-meter relay and took the Arkansas Razorbacks to their first titles in those events at the carnival, in its then 90-year history.[3][4]

Spearmon represented his country internationally over 200 m several times.[5] His first international medal came at the 1986 Goodwill Games, where he was a bronze medallist close behind fellow American Dwayne Evans, making it a sweep for the United States as Floyd Heard topped the podium.[6] A year later he won two gold medals at the 1987 Summer Universiade in Zagreb. First, he defeated Heard to win the 200 m title, and then the pair teamed up with Lee McRae and Lorenzo Daniel to secure the 4×100 m gold medals. The relay win was the start of a long winning streak for the United States in that event, which lasted until 2001.[7]

Returning to the United States, he was chosen for the team for the 1987 Pan American Games held in Indianapolis. A run of 20.53 seconds brought him the 200 m bronze medal, with Heard and Brazil's Robson Caetano da Silva getting the better of him.[8] That year he set a personal best of 20.27 seconds for the 200 m in Rhede, Germany.[9] He competed for his nation at the global level, reaching the 200 m semi-finals at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics.[10]

He had a son – Wallace Spearmon Jr. – in 1984 and encouraged him to also take up track sprinting. He coached his son for a long period and continued on as mentor.[11][12] His son ultimately bettered his father's achievements by winning three individual medals and a relay gold at the World Championships in Athletics, in addition to a national record indoors in the 200 m.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Profile". iaaf.org. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  2. ^ Maloney, Andrew & McDonnell, John (2013). John McDonnell: The Most Successful Coach in NCAA History, pg. 241. University of Arkansas Press. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  3. ^ 2005 College Men's Relay Preview. University of Pennsylvania (2005-04-26). Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  4. ^ Denman, Elliott (2008-03-19). Track Summit/Wallace Spearmon JR.. National Scholastic. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  5. ^ Wallace Spearmon Jr. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  6. ^ Goodwill Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  7. ^ World Student Games (Men). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  8. ^ Pan American Games. GBRAthletics. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  9. ^ Wallace Spearmon Personal Bests. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  10. ^ Wallace Spearmon Honours. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  11. ^ BSO Interview: Sprinter Wallace Spearmon Jr. Focused On 2012 Olympics. Black Sports Online (2011-09-13). Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  12. ^ Lee, Kirby (2008-01-02). Spearmon Looking to Father for Inspiration in 2008. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  13. ^ Wallace Spearmon Junior Honours. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
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