Twelve set to represent Razorbacks at Olympics Friday, August 3 - Sunday, August 12
By: Scott Marshall
Updated: August 3, 2012
Nearly a week into the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, the track and field competition begins Friday with twelve Razorbacks representing their respective countries and the University of Arkansas. The list of Razorbacks in London includes Raymond Higgs, Marek Nitt, Alistair Cragg, Tyson Gay, Jeremy Scott, Wallace Spearmon, Jr., and Samuel Vazquez. Lady Razorbacks competing in the Olympics include Veronica Campbell-Brown, Regina George, Ivanique Kemp, Kerri-Ann Mitchell, and Tina Sutej.
Higgs and Vazquez are scheduled to begin their experiences on day one of competition at Olympic Stadium in London. Higgs will be competing in the second group of qualifying for the long jump, while Vazquez will run in the opening round of the 1,500 meters.
Making his first appearance at the Olympics, Higgs will be representing the Bahamas in the long jump. Having already secured an Olympic 'B' standard, he won the national title at the Bahamas Championships in June to qualify for the Summer Games. During the 2012 season, Higgs was the SEC outdoor champion in the long jump and finished in third place at the NCAA Championships. With his wind-aided jump of 8.36m/27-5.25 at the conference meet, Higgs has the top jump in the world under all conditions.
Niit, a native of Estonia, is also making his first appearance at the Olympics and is scheduled to compete at 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the Estonian record holder in both events with times of 10.19 and 20.43, respectively. Niit was a four-time All-American in 2012 and was part of Arkansas' NCAA indoor title in the 4x400-meter relay.
Representing Ireland for the third time at the Olympics, Cragg will be competing at 5,000 meters. He is a two-time Olympic finalist in the event with a 12th-place finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Gay is making his second appearance at the Olympics as part of Team USA. He qualified for the 100 meters with a second-place finish at the Olympic Trials in June. Gay owns the American record of 9.69 in the event.
In the pole vault, Scott is making his first appearance at the Olympics after a runner-up showing at the Olympic Trials in June. He was the 2011 Pan American Games silver medalist in the event. Spearmon is on his second Olympic Team for the United States. He won the Olympics Trials title at 200 meters and is the seventh-fastest performer in history at 200 meters with a personal-best of 19.65.
Vazquez will represent his native country Puerto Rico in his first Olympic appearance. He turned in a personal-best performance of 3:37.60 in June to qualify for the 1,500 meter event in London.
Five Lady Razorbacks are also set to compete in the Olympics. Veteran Olympian Veronica Campbell-Brown represents Jamaica. This makes her fourth appearance at the Olympics. Veronica is a Five-time Olympic Medalist and defending Olympic champion at 200m. Regina George is running for Nigeria and makes her first appearance at the Olympics. George won the Nigerian Championships at 400m and is a School-record holder at 400m (51.11).
Ivanique Kemp will compete for the Bahamas. She also makes her first appearance at the Olympics. Kemp won the Bahamas Championships in 100mH and is the Bahamian record holder in 100mH (13.13). Kerri-Ann Mitchell will run for Canada. Mitchell was third in the 100M Canadian Olympic Trials (11.34) and is a 2004 indoor All-American (4x400m). Tina Sutej
rounds out the list of Lady Razorbacks making their Olympic debut and will compete in Pole Vault for Slovenia. Tina is a two-time NCAA champion in pole vault and a NCAA record holder in pole vault (4.61m/15-1.5)
Track and Field events begin Today Friday, August 3 and conclude Sunday, August 12. Several Razorbacks are also part of the relay pool for their respective countries. Relay competition at the Olympics begins Aug. 9.
For a list of all Track and Field events CLICK HERE select TV Schedule by Sport and choose Track and Field
Razorbacks in London
Raymond Higgs - Long Jump
Marek Niit - 100m, 200m
Alistair Cragg - 5,000m
Tyson Gay - 100m
Jeremy Scott - Pole Vault
Wallace Spearmon, Jr. - 200m
Samuel Vazquez - 1,500m
Veronica Campbell-Brown - 100M, 200M
Regina George - 400M
Ivanique Kemp - 100M Hurdles
Kerri-Ann Mitchell - 100M
Tina Sutej - Pole Vault
Higgs and Vazquez are scheduled to begin their experiences on day one of competition at Olympic Stadium in London. Higgs will be competing in the second group of qualifying for the long jump, while Vazquez will run in the opening round of the 1,500 meters.
Making his first appearance at the Olympics, Higgs will be representing the Bahamas in the long jump. Having already secured an Olympic 'B' standard, he won the national title at the Bahamas Championships in June to qualify for the Summer Games. During the 2012 season, Higgs was the SEC outdoor champion in the long jump and finished in third place at the NCAA Championships. With his wind-aided jump of 8.36m/27-5.25 at the conference meet, Higgs has the top jump in the world under all conditions.
Niit, a native of Estonia, is also making his first appearance at the Olympics and is scheduled to compete at 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the Estonian record holder in both events with times of 10.19 and 20.43, respectively. Niit was a four-time All-American in 2012 and was part of Arkansas' NCAA indoor title in the 4x400-meter relay.
Representing Ireland for the third time at the Olympics, Cragg will be competing at 5,000 meters. He is a two-time Olympic finalist in the event with a 12th-place finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Gay is making his second appearance at the Olympics as part of Team USA. He qualified for the 100 meters with a second-place finish at the Olympic Trials in June. Gay owns the American record of 9.69 in the event.
In the pole vault, Scott is making his first appearance at the Olympics after a runner-up showing at the Olympic Trials in June. He was the 2011 Pan American Games silver medalist in the event. Spearmon is on his second Olympic Team for the United States. He won the Olympics Trials title at 200 meters and is the seventh-fastest performer in history at 200 meters with a personal-best of 19.65.
Vazquez will represent his native country Puerto Rico in his first Olympic appearance. He turned in a personal-best performance of 3:37.60 in June to qualify for the 1,500 meter event in London.
Five Lady Razorbacks are also set to compete in the Olympics. Veteran Olympian Veronica Campbell-Brown represents Jamaica. This makes her fourth appearance at the Olympics. Veronica is a Five-time Olympic Medalist and defending Olympic champion at 200m. Regina George is running for Nigeria and makes her first appearance at the Olympics. George won the Nigerian Championships at 400m and is a School-record holder at 400m (51.11).
Ivanique Kemp will compete for the Bahamas. She also makes her first appearance at the Olympics. Kemp won the Bahamas Championships in 100mH and is the Bahamian record holder in 100mH (13.13). Kerri-Ann Mitchell will run for Canada. Mitchell was third in the 100M Canadian Olympic Trials (11.34) and is a 2004 indoor All-American (4x400m). Tina Sutej
rounds out the list of Lady Razorbacks making their Olympic debut and will compete in Pole Vault for Slovenia. Tina is a two-time NCAA champion in pole vault and a NCAA record holder in pole vault (4.61m/15-1.5)
Track and Field events begin Today Friday, August 3 and conclude Sunday, August 12. Several Razorbacks are also part of the relay pool for their respective countries. Relay competition at the Olympics begins Aug. 9.
For a list of all Track and Field events CLICK HERE select TV Schedule by Sport and choose Track and Field
Razorbacks in London
Raymond Higgs - Long Jump
Marek Niit - 100m, 200m
Alistair Cragg - 5,000m
Tyson Gay - 100m
Jeremy Scott - Pole Vault
Wallace Spearmon, Jr. - 200m
Samuel Vazquez - 1,500m
Veronica Campbell-Brown - 100M, 200M
Regina George - 400M
Ivanique Kemp - 100M Hurdles
Kerri-Ann Mitchell - 100M
Tina Sutej - Pole Vault
