Source: UA Sports Information
Date Published: 6/20/2006 1:16:00 PM
Last Modified: 6/21/2006 1:16:01 PM
PermaLink: http://haw.gs/n18234

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Three current members and one recently graduated members of the Arkansas Hogs track program will continue the 2006 season at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in Indianapolis, Ind., set to begin Wed., June 21. J-Mee Samuels, Nkosinza Balumbu, Adam Perkins and Eric Brown will look to better their marks set during the collegiate season.

The Championships is the final stop of USA Track and Field's 2006 Visa Championships Series, and take place June 21-25 at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. It is also the selection meet for the IAAF World Cup of Athletics, which will take place later that summer. The 2006 USA Outdoor Junior Championships take place concurrently with the Outdoor Championships, as the selection meet for the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China.

The 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships will be televised live on ESPN2 from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, and from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 25.

Brown, the 2006 NCAA runner-up in the javelin, will be contesting his first event as a professional after a stellar collegiate career. The three-time All-American, 2006 SEC Champion and 2005-06 Mideast Regional Champion recorded the longest throw by a collegian this year when he recorded a mark of 256-3 at the Kansas Relays. At the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Brown was also attempting to become the first thrower of any kind in school history to win an individual national championship. Brown’s mark of 256-3 is the seventh-best mark entering the event.

Adam Perkins will conclude 2006 with the running of the 1500M. Perkins, who finished sixth at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago, has a season-best time of 3:46.22 after almost having to sit out the season because of an injury. He ran the second-best time of the season, 3:45.37, in Sacramento. Perkins has the fifth-fastest time going into the event (3:38.54).

Freshman Nkosinza Balumbu has made his mark on the national track scene early in his career. The 2006 SEC Outdoor triple jump champion will be competing in the junior triple jump in Indianapolis. His season-best mark of 53-4.5 came at the SEC Championships.

Freshman J-Mee Samuels will return to the track after a five-week hiatus of competition. Samuels will be competing in the junior 100M and 200M. Samuels has season-best times of 10.65 (TCU Invitational, 4/22/06) and 21.53 (TCU Invitational, 4/22/06), respectively.

Arkansas post collegians who will be competing include Wallace Spearmon (200M – 19.89), Tyson Gay (100M – 10.04/200M – 20.12) and Daniel Lincoln (3000M Steeplechase – 8:12.65). Lincoln, a four-time NCAA Champion, is leading the 300M Steeplechase field with his time, as is Spearmon with his clocking in the 200M. Gay is seated second behind Spearmon in the 200M and is ranked eighth in the 100M standings.

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