Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE - Former Arkansas Razorbacks NCAA Men’s long jump and sprints champion Jarrion Lawson posted quotes on the United States Track and Field website explaining his withdrawal from Sunday night’s long jump final at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. 

A sudden hamstring flare-up between Sunday afternoon’s 108-degree postponement until the night competition’s compelled his withdrawal.

“Found out it was delayed,” Lawson posted.  “Got some rest. Came back here. Maybe 2 and a half  hours from competition. My right hamstring hurt badly. I saw everyone (medically)  I could. Ultimately I couldn't go. I've never had something like this keep me out of competition. Usually I'm ready to go. Physically I'm usually ready to go but this time I just wasn't.  I was physically ready at a performance standpoint, just couldn’t go this time.”

A six-time NCAA champion from 2014-2016 for Coach Chris Bucknam’s Razorbacks including helping the 2014 Razorbacks win the NCAA Indoor championship and at the 2016  NCAA Outdoor won the 100 and 200-meter dashes and long jump, a NCAA Outdoor triple   championship in those events previously accomplished only by the great Jesse Owens winning the NCAA Outdoor 100, and 200 and long jump for Ohio State in 1935 and ’36.