University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols and Alums Highlight USA Championships
June 18, 2002 | Men's Track
June 18, 2002
Tennessee will send a mixture of current Vols and alums who have successfully joined the professional ranks to compete with the nation's best this week at the USA Track and Field Championships in California. Athletes with Volunteer ties wil compete in three meets over the course of the week to determine the U.S. national outdoor champion, including amateurs and professionals.
A trio of decathletes starts things off for the Tennesseee contingent Wednesday and Thursday with the USA Decathlon Championships at California's Edwards Stadium in Berkeley. Current Vol Stephen Harris, coming off a lifetime best 7,955 points to take fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, ranks as the sixth American this year in the event. Harris will have quality company who have also donned the orange in the two-day spectacular. 2000 Olympian Tom Pappas' lifetime-best score of 8,583 currently ranks top among Americans and second in the world this year. Meanwhile, former Vol Chad Smith's personal-record score of 8,133 places him second behind Pappas on the American list and ninth in the world. Harris, Pappas and Smith will be competing for a spot on the American team in the USA vs. Germany decathlon later this summer and a spot on the IAAF World Cup in Athletics in Madrid, Spain in September.
The majority of athletes with Tennessee ties will compete in various events of the USA Track and Field Championships Friday through Sunday on Stanford's Cobb Track in Palo Alto, Calif. While 2002 is not an Olympic or World Championship year, the winner of each event will advance to form the American team for the USA vs. Great Britain dual meet this summer and the IAAF World Cup in Athletics in Madrid, Spain in September.
Long jumper Camron Howard, pole vaulters Tim Mack and Lawrence Johnson, steeplechasers Anthony Famiglietti and Tony Cosey, high hurdler Dawane Wallace, 800M man Jebreh Harris, distance specialist Todd Williams and discus thrower Kevin Fitzpatrick comprise the orange-hued contingent for the USA Championships. Although qualified in the 400M hurdles, outgoing senior Hassaan Stamps did not make the trip because of a foot injury.
Outgoing senior All-America long jumper Howard will compete in his specialty Friday. Howard, a Tullahoma native ranked 10th in the nation this year, will take his turn in the sandpit with a group of leapers leading the American long jump resurgence.
Former Vols Tim Mack and Lawrence Johnson give their alma mater a strong pair in the pole vault. Mack currently stands second in the U.S. and third in the world this year. Additionally, Johnson has been sidelined with injury this season but owns a silver medal from the 2000 Olympics and a World Indoor title.
On the track, steeplechasers Famiglietti and Cosey have a chance of taking the title. In a strong start to his professional career, Famiglietti stands second in the U.S. and 15th in the world this year. Additionally, Cosey ranks as the 14th American but was a member of the 2000 Olympic team in the event.
Wallace stands in the thick of the world scene in the 110M hurdles with the fourth-fastest time by an American and fifth-fastest time in the world this year. In the 800M run, Harris, a member of Tennessee's 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championship team, is ranked eighth among Americans in his event. Meanwhile, in the 10,000M run, Williams, arguably the best distance runner in school history and two-time Olympian, will try to recapture his winning form. Finally, Fitzpatrick brings an 11th-place ranking among American discus throwers into the meet.
Rookies Frank Francois and Jim Sexton wrap things up with the USA Junior Championships Friday through Sunday at Stanford. Francois is a freshman from Burke, Va., who holds a career-best 800M run time of 1:51.63. Sexton is a 2001 graduate of Knoxville's Central High. While Sexton was redshirted this year, the freshman threw the hammer 159-7 for his lifetime best while competing unattached. The Junior Championships are for athletes 19 years old and younger. Winners will advance to form the U.S. team for the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica July 16-21.
