Chicago Native Wallace Spearmon In Olympics 200 Meter Final

LONDON (WBBM) -- Wallace Spearmon advanced Wednesday to the final of the Men's 200-meter dash at the Olympics. The Chicago-native placed second in his semifinal heat.

Spearmon finished with a time of 20.02 seconds just behind Jamaica's Yohan Blake. Christophe Lemaitre of France had the third best time. Blake and countryman Usain Bolt are considered to be the favorite sfor the gold.

The medal race is scheduled for Thursday.

Spearmon, 28, was born in Chicago but now lives in Arkansas. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he finished third in the 200-meter with a time of 19.95 seconds but was disqualified for a lane violation.

Spearmon is one of the last few athletes with ties to Illinois or the Chicago-area still competing in London.

Nearly 20 members of Team USA came from the Land of Lincoln.

Wheaton-native Sean Rooney and the U.S. men's volleyball team lost to Italy Wednesday in three sets to end the team's Olympic competition.

Crystal Lake-native Amy LePeilbet is still in action at the Games on the U.S. women's soccer team which plays Japan Thursday in the medal match.