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Collegiate milers to compete against young gun Nick Symmonds at Tyson

Posted February 6th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports

Adam Perkins is a fighter; there is no denying that.

After almost losing his junior outdoor season because of an Achilles’ tendon injury, the Liberty, MO native has battled back for his senior campaign.

Now he’s ready to try and take on the top milers on the collegiate and professional scenes at the Tyson Invitational Friday night.

“There’s a great field this weekend and Tyson always does a good job of putting the meet together,” Perkins said. “I’m just really excited for our guys because there will be great competition.”

Perkins, in his first appearance in the mile this season, will be battling some of the best Friday night and is prepared for whatever might be thrown at him.

“This will be my first time running the mile and I’m looking forward to getting out there,” Perkins explained. “The Tyson meet is a big meet so expectations are high. I’ve worked my way up and feel like I’ve gotten to the point where I’m capable of running with the professionals.”

In this season’s invitational mile, some of the faces will be familiar to the spectators and to Perkins. Athletes scheduled to compete in the event are Mark Fountain, Christian Smith, Rob Meyers, Leonel Manzano, Nick Symmonds, Scott Overall and Tom Lancashire.

Manzano who runs for the Texas Longhorns, Overall of Butler and Lancashire of defending NCAA Outdoor Champion Florida State join Perkins as the group of collegians competing.

Manzano ran the season’s fastest collegiate mile at the New Balance Collegiate Invite at the Armory last weekend (3:59.08) while Overall broke his own Butler school record in the 3,000 meters (7:55.36). Perkins, a five-time All-American, has clocked NCAA provisional times as a member of Arkansas’ distance medley relay and individually in the 3,000 meters. Lancashire was picked by Track and Field News to take the NCAA Outdoor title in the 1,500 meters.

The Australian National record holder in the mile (3:54.77), Fountain did not run at the collegiate level. He currently trains in Fayetteville, Ark. under John McDonnell. He also holds the Australian National record in the 1,000 meters (2:20.3). He was a bronze medalist at 1500 meters at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and holds a 1,500-meter personal best at 3:33.68.

Smith, running for Nike, is in his first season as a professional after a stellar career with Kansas State. Smith won the NCAA Indoor mile title in 2006 with a clocking of 4:12.75.

Symmonds, formerly of Willamette University, is a four-time NCAA Div. III Champion and most recently won the 800 meters at the Boston Indoor Games with a clocking of 1:48.15. He was also the runner-up in the event at the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships. He currently holds the best time in the USA and the eighth-best time in the world in the 800 meters.

With a stiff field and the pressure on, Perkins is ready to perform, knowing that a successful race at Tyson will likely punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Unlike the rest of the field, Perkins has the luxury of training on his own backyard and sleeping in his own bed in preparation for the race.

“This is a huge weekend for the team to get marks so I’m excited about it,” Perkins said. “I know Coach (John McDonnell) is expecting big things because our performance in New York was sub par. I definitely think staying home will be a big advantage.”

Perkins’ high hopes stretch beyond his own performance. He is also expecting big things of his teammates as they hunt for Arkansas’ 43rd national title.

“I’m expecting the distance guys and the jumpers to put up great marks and Peter (Kosgei) to do well in the 5000 meters,” Perkins explained. “I’m also excited to see Colin (Costello) and Daniel (LaCava) run, and I know there will be a lot of great individual performances.”

Many of the Razorbacks will be fighting for their chance to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships and bolster the Hogs’ line up. The Tyson Invitational has been a successful meet in the past for the Cardinal and White and Perkins expects nothing less in 2007.

“We don’t like taking qualifying down to the wire but sometimes that’s the way it happens,” Perkins added. “Whenever Coach (McDonnell) puts the pressure on us, it drives us and we’ve been successful with it so far, but it’s something you don’t want to wait around for.”

For more information regarding the Tyson Invitational please visit www.tysoninvitational.org