University of Tennessee Athletics
FORMER VOLS MAKING IMPACT ON PROFESSIONAL CIRCUIT
August 03, 2006 | Men's Track
Aug. 3, 2006
Tennessee continues to build an outstanding tradition in track and field. The Vols have been known for producing top-flight competitors on the national and global scene, and the 2006 season has been no different. Aries Merritt, Leonard Scott, Gary Kikaya, Jebreh Harris, Anthony Famiglietti, Tim Mack, Tom Pappas and Leigh Smith have each enjoyed success during the outdoor portion of the professional season.
"Tennessee Vol alumni have competed well all over the world this season," head coach Bill Webb said. "Aries, Leonard and Gary have had some outstanding performances this summer. There are still some big meets left this season, and we expect our guys to continue to perform well.
Merritt broke the NCAA meet and school record in the 110-meter hurdles June 9 with a time of 13.21 seconds and has run four races under that time since turning pro. His personal-best time of 13.12 is the third-fastest in America and fifth-fastest in the world this year. After finishing the collegiate season undefeated, Merritt earned his first win as a professional July 25 in Stockholm, Sweden, with a time of 13.17.
Scott owns the third-fastest time in the country and sixth-fastest in the world this year in the 100. His time of 10.01 is tied with fellow Americans Marcus Brunson and Shawn Crawford on both lists. Scott recorded his season-best time July 28 on his way to a second-place finish in London. Scott won the 200 April 22 at the Kansas Relays in a season-best time of 20.48 and is ranked third in the world by the IAAF, which combines indoor and outdoor performances in its ranking system.
Kikaya has the fifth-fastest time in the world this year in the 400 and is ranked fifth in the world by the IAAF. The native of Congo tied his own national record, finishing the 400 in 44.53 on his way to a second-place finish July 25 in Stockholm. He has won six of the eight races he has competed in this year, including three in a row during May to start the season. Kikaya holds four Congo records, also topping the country's list in the indoor and outdoor 200 and the indoor 400.
Harris, a volunteer assistant coach for the Vols, boasts the fifth-fastest time in the nation in the 800. He ran to a third-place finish and personal-best time of 1:45.91 at the USA Championships June 25. Harris has won three 800 races this season, finishing first at the Drake Relays April 29, the Memorial Leon Buyle in Belgium July 1 and the EWE in Germany July 7.
Famiglietti has the third-fastest time in the nation in the mile and the steeplechase and the fourth-fastest time in the 10,000. He also boasts the 13th-fastest time in the world in the mile and 10,000. Famiglietti won the steeplechase May 5 at the Jesse Owens Classic in 8:24.22 and finished third in the mile June 3 at the Reebok Grand Prix in a personal-best time of 3:55.71. He finished third in the 10,000 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in a personal-best time of 27.37.74 and finished fourth in the 10,000 at the USA Championships.
Mack's season-best clearance of 18-10 1/4 in the pole vault ranks sixth in the nation and 17th in the world this year. The 2004 Olympic champion and Olympic record holder won the pole vault at the Reunion Internacional in Spain June 3 after vaulting over his season-best height.
Pappas currently has the third-highest decathlon score in the nation and the sixth-highest score in the world this year. He collected 8,319 points on his way to winning the USA championship by more than 400 points June 23-24.
Smith is currently fourth on the U.S. list in the javelin. He won the Tucson Elite Classic May 20 with a season-best throw of 254-10.
The professional season continues through August and concludes with the IAAF World Athletics Final Sept. 9-10 in Stuttgart, Germany.
