BEIJING (AP) - American sprinter Wallace Spearmon Jr. missed his start in the 200-meter preliminary heats because of a slight tear in his left calf.
His withdrawal was part of an overall disappointing evening for the Americans at the world championships.
Long jumper Jeff Henderson, the world leader this year, didn't make the finals. Discus throwers Whitney Ashley and Gia Lewis-Smallwood finished ninth and 11th. And Jenny Simpson finished 11th in the 1,500 meters.
Medal hopeful Natasha Hastings, the runner-up at nationals in the 400, finished fifth in her semifinal and did not advance. And Nick Symmonds, the 2013 silver medalist in the 800 meters, boycotted the worlds because of a dispute with USA Track and Field.