Spencer advances to 400m semifinals at IAAF World Championships

Full Schedule/Results | Official Meet Website | USATF World Championships information

MOSCOW -- Texas newcomer Ashley Spencer got off to a strong start on the opening day of the 14th IAAF World Track and Field Championships.

Spencer, who transferred from Illinois last month, clocked a time of 51.48 to finish second in heat one of Saturday's 400 meters to claim one of the automatic qualifiers for the semifinals which will be held Sunday.

Former Longhorn Trey Hardee, the two-time defending World Champion in the decathlon, was forced out of the competition due to injury. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist suffered cramps during the high jump, the fourth event of the competition, and was not able to clear a height.

"It was just one of those things, landed on the pit after my second attempt, my hamstring was grabbing," Hardee said, according to The Associated Press. "I laid there and tried to keep it from cramping up. The third (attempt) came around way too quick.

"I could jog fine, thought, this will be OK. I was trying to summon some energy, trotted down and it wasn't letting me run. The more open my gait became, the more I used it, the more it wanted to stop and cramp up."

Hardee was in fifth place after three events with a total of 2,634. After not clearing on three attempts at 6 feet, 2 3/4 inches (1.90m) in the high jump, he did not compete in the 400 meters, the final event of the day.

Chantel Malone was another former Longhorn in action Saturday. She posted a mark of 21 feet (6.40m) in the qualifying round of the long jump, but did not advance to Sunday's final.

The NBC family of networks will carry coverage throughout the IAAF World Championships. A full broadcast schedule is listed below.

TEXAS SCHEDULE/RESULTS | IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS
AUG. 10-18 | MOSCOW, RUSSIA | ALL TIMES CENTRAL

Saturday, Aug. 10
Decathlon - Trey Hardee, DNF
400m - Women (First Round): 12. Ashley Spencer, 51.48
Long jump - Women (Qualifying): 21. Chantel Malone, 21-0 (6.40m)

Sunday, Aug. 11
Shot Put - Women (1:45 a.m. - qualification): Michelle Carter
100m - Women (2:55 a.m. - first-round heats): Alexandria Anderson
400m - Women (11:05 a.m. - semifinals):

Monday, Aug. 12
400m Hurdles - Women (2:50 a.m. - first-round heats): Danielle Dowie
100m - Women (10:35 a.m. - semifinals):
Shot Put - Women (11:25 a.m. - final):
400m - Women (12:15 p.m. - final):
100m - Women (12:50 p.m. - final):

Tuesday, Aug. 13
400m Hurdles - Women (10:05 a.m. - semifinals):

Wednesday, Aug. 14
1500m - Men (1:35 a.m. - first-round heats): Leo Manzano

Thursday, Aug. 15
400m Hurdles - Women (11:45 a.m. - final):
Shot Put - Men (1:20 p.m. - qualification): Dylan Armstrong

Friday, Aug. 16
Triple Jump - Men (1 a.m. - qualification): Samyr Laine
4x400m Relay - Women (2:30 a.m. - round 1): Ashley Spencer
1500m - Men (10:05 a.m. - semifinals):
Shot Put - Men (11:10 a.m. - final):

Saturday, Aug. 17
4x400m Relay - Women (10:45 a.m. - final):

Sunday, Aug. 18
4x100m Relay - Women (7:15 a.m. - first-round heats): Alexandria Anderson
Triple Jump - Men (7:45 a.m. - final):
1500m - Men (8:25 a.m. - final):
4x100m Relay - Women (9:10 a.m. - final):

BROADCAST SCHEDULE (All times Central. Check local listings.)
Saturday, Aug. 10
12:30-4:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
2:30-4 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
6-7:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Sunday, Aug. 11
Midnight-4 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m Evening Session on NBC
6-7:30 p.m. Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Monday, Aug. 12
12:30-3:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
11 a.m.-1 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Tuesday, Aug. 13
12:30-4:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
11 a.m.-1 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Wednesday, Aug. 14
11:30 p.m. (Aug. 13) - 3 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports

Thursday, Aug 15
12:30-3 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Friday, Aug 16
12:30-3:00 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Saturday, Aug. 17
11-11:30 a.m. LIVE, Evening Session on NBC
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Men's Marathon on Universal Sports
1:30-3 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
8:00-9:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Sunday, Aug. 18
1:30-3 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
6-7:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Spencer advances to 400m semifinals at IAAF World Championships