Scott is ready to pass Gatlin

Saturday, Justin Gatlin and Leonard Scott will be back on the track together at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Scott, who made a splash this winter by winning the U.S. and world championships in the 60 meters, joins Olympic champion Gatlin in the "USA vs. The World" competition that is part of the final day of the sprawling Penn Relays meet.

Gatlin proved his 2004 Olympic gold in the 100 meters was no fluke by winning the 100 and 200 in 2005 at both the USA nationals and the World Championships in Finland.

The two were members of UT’s 4x100-meter relay team that helped the Vols win the 2001 NCAA outdoor title and finish runner-up in 2002.

Scott reiterated in a teleconference Tuesday that he has no regrets about concentrating on football in his years at Tennessee, even though it hindered his track career.

Scott won the NCAA indoor 60 title as a freshman in 1999. While their sprint careers overlapped at UT, Gatlin placed higher than Scott in four of five NCAA finals.

"I took him (Gatlin) under my wing in college,’’ Scott said, "because he was a hurdler.

"That first year, he couldn’t touch me. Then after that, they got that fall training whereas I went to football ? and he came back that next year running right with me.

"I’ve always said, ‘Let’s train full time and see what happens then.’ I truly believe the way things are going, the roles are going to turn back again.’’

The record shows that in Gatlin’s first year he was, in fact, the NCAA outdoor 100 champion, while Scott made it only to the semifinals. In the 200, Gatlin finished first, Scott sixth.

Gatlin repeated his double in 2002, turned professional and was an international star by the 2004 Olympics.

Scott lettered in football at UT 1999-2002, pursued pro football in 2003, then returned to track on a full-time basis. He moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to train with John Smith and gradually began to realize his sprint potential.

"Oh-four was basically just coming back,’’ Scott said. "In ’05, I started coming into my own. I got the weight off and now I feel like I’m actually understanding what he (Smith) wants ? Before, I was just running.’’

Gatlin, among others, didn’t compete in the 2006 indoor season when Scott emerged as a U.S. and then a world champion.

"I’m not going to lie,’’ Scott said, "it took me by surprise.’’

This outdoor season, Scott is focusing on extending his 60-meter speed to 100 meters.

"I’ve got the start,’’ he said. "I can get out of the blocks.

"Now, it’s can you hold on? I truly believe I can hold on because I can do it in practice now.’’

Vols, Lady Vols Start: The UT and women plunge into the Penn Relays action today. The meet continues through Saturday.

WBIR will televise taped highlights from the "USA vs. The World" events 5-6 p.m. Sunday.