LONDON, England – McMurry University's Tanner Wright ran his second-fastest time ever in the 200 meters – 22.22 seconds - and earned a fourth place finish in the T47 division for Team U.S.A. at the World Para Athletics Championships at Olympic Stadium. Wright's time was his personal best in para athletics competition and second only to the 21.99 he ran in the preliminaries of the American Southwest Conference championships in April.
 
Wright looked to be in position for the bronze medal coming down the stretch of the rain-dampened track.  But Wright was passed in the final 20 yards by Poland's Michal Derus.  Brazil's dynamic duo of Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos and Yohansson Nascimento went 1-2 in the race, with Ferreira dos Santos setting a world record (21.21) in the process.
 
""We are watching a young man race at the highest level for the very first time," McM head track and field coach Brad Parris reminded. "You can see – and even feel – his effort.
 
"Each race gives Tanner more experience and more confidence. Fourth place on the world stage is a great accomplishment. I can't wait for him to team up with his USA teammates and run for a 4x100 meter relay medal (on Sunday)."
 
Wright was also fourth in the 100-meter dash earlier in the competition, giving him a pair of top-four placements, in his first-ever venture into international athletics competition.
 
Wright is expected to run the lead leg for Team U.S.A. in that 4x100 event on Sunday. The 4x100 is slated to begin at 1:33 p.m. Central Time.