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Tyson Gay becomes third-best 200m athlete of all time

Tyson Gay became the third-best performer of all time in the 200m yesterday, winning the World Athletics Final in 19.68 seconds.

After finishing third in Saturday's 100, Gay rode a blistering start through the turn and kept on accelerating over the final straight to set his personal best and join Frank Fredericks of Namibia as the third best racer ever.

Michael Johnson holds the world record with 19.32 seconds and another American, Xavier Carter, ran 19.63 earlier this season.

"That was kind of crazy -- I never heard a crowd scream that loud," Gay said of the reaction of the 30,000 fans which he thought had meant compatriot Wallace Spearmon was closing in on him.

Spearmon set a personal best of 19.88. Jamaica's Usain Bolt took third in 20.10.

Gay credits an injury-free season as the main reason for his recent fast times.

"I haven't been injured and I've been training consistently," Gay said.

The competition is heating up in the 200, especially after Carter's 19.63 in Lausanne earlier this season.

"All the guys are motivated now," Gay said.

Meanwhile, Yelena Isinbayeva won the pole vault but could not even get close to her world record of 5.01m, clearing 4.75m but failing at 4.85m. Poland's Monika Pyrek was second with 4.65m.

Isinbayeva, who complained of fatigue Sunday, still has three competitions to win her 20th overall world record.

"I just felt too tired to clear 4.85," she said. "With one week's rest, I won't feel tired ... in Athens."
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