BY MARTY COOK
Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008
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FAYETTEVILLE — Wallace Spearmon was helping Arkansas sprints coach Kyle White at a recent practice when he began to harangue the Razorbacks sprinters for not working hard.
Spearmon recalled telling them, “You guys think it comes so easy like you’re not supposed to work.”
Spearmon felt a nudge from White, who had a big smirk on his face. Spearmon, a three-time national champion at Arkansas, could have been describing his college work ethic.
“Going out there made me realize a lot of things about myself,” Spearmon said. “Maybe everything doesn’t come easy, and I have to work some.” Running on pure talent alone has worked well for Spearmon, who was third in the 200 meters at the 2007 World Championships in Japan. He’s ranked No. 2 in the USA in both the 100 and 200, behind former teammate Tyson Gay, who won both events at the World Championships.
With a new workout regimen — working out being the new part — Spearmon hopes to have a big Olympic year. Spearmon gets started at the Tyson Invitational on Friday night at the Tyson Track Center.
The goal is to break his indoor American record of 20. 10 seconds that he set while winning the 2005 NCAA championship. Spearmon thinks if he can run that fast this early in the year, he could also make a run at Frankie Fredericks’ indoor world record of 19. 92.
“I know a lot of people put big goals out, try to pump themselves up to get media attention,” Spearmon said.
“I really feel like I’m capable of at least breaking my American record. I might as well shoot for the world record if I’m breaking records.”
Spearmon said he usually begins indoor season with times in the 20. 30 range and anything better than that would make him confident that his workout sessions are working.
Spearmon said he has dropped fat and added muscle, enough that even his mother, Nina Mullinga, noticed.
“My mother told me, ‘I can tell you’ve been in the weight room. You had the body of a 12-yearold,’” Spearmon said. “I was like, ‘You weren’t going to tell me ?’ [She said ], ‘Now you have the body of a 13-year-old.’”
The Summer Olympics in Beijing provides plenty of motivation for Spearmon. Losing to Gay in the 100 and 200 at the World Championships last year also spurs Spearmon to work.
“This year, I’m not doing anything the same,” Spearmon said. “I’m actually eating right. I’m in the weight room for the first time. I’m not skipping practice, I’m not missing practice.
“ I lost weight and I’m stronger. That always equals something great.” Spearmon hopes something great begins Friday night.
Tyson Invitational WHEN Friday-Saturday WHERE Tyson Track Complex, Fayetteville WHAT College meet will be Friday morning and afternoon and Saturday. The professional portion — with some college competitors — will be 8-10 p.m. Friday. TV The pro portion is scheduled to be shown on ESPN at 5 p.m. Sunday. TICKETS Reserved seating is $ 20. General admission is $ 10. For tickets, call 1-800-766-4626.
