Print

Mail

wiki links

Gay says 100m world record in his grasp

Tyson Gay served notice to Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell that he is a world-record threat, becoming the third-fastest runner in 100m history on Saturday even after slowing before the finish.

World 100 and 200 champion Gay set a US record of 9.77 seconds to win his 100 quarter-final heat at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in stunning fashion. He now trails only the Jamaican duo on the all-time performers list.

“I’m not worried about the record,” Gay said. “I eased up a little bit. I had my arms in so I wasn’t trying to exert too much energy.”

Bolt, whose world-record run of 9.72 beat Gay on May 31 in New York, and Powell, whose 9.74 had been the world record until the lightning Bolt struck, are the only faster 100 runners than Gay.

After receiving a wake-up call with an earlier qualifying blunder by slowing too soon, Gay could challenge the world record in yesterday’s final, which will decide the three US qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics.

But for all his sprint skills, Gay must reach the podium yesterday or he will not reach a 100 showdown in Beijing with Bolt and Powell, who qualified on Saturday at the Jamaican trials.

Gay surged from the starting blocks and sped to a quarter-final victory with a legal wind of 1.6m per second to break the old US mark of 9.79 set by Maurice Greene at Athens in 1999, what was then a world record.

“I thank God that I was able to run a PR, but that’s what I want to do in the finals,” Gay said.

Gay pulled ahead and eased up 20m before the finish in his qualifying heat but rivals caught him and he placed fourth, advancing but not without a wake-up call and some advice from coach Jon Drummond after a “boneheaded” move.

“After the first round, I was scared. I almost started crying as soon as I crossed the line because I thought I didn’t make it. I was pretty nervous,” Gay said. “My coach told me, ‘Champions don’t do that. Make it up in the next round.’”

Gay did and overshadowed the women’s 100 final, which went to Muna Lee in 10.85 with 2003 world champion Torri Edwards second in 10.90, the same time as 2005 world champion Lauryn Williams, who took the third and last Beijing berth.

“I’m looking forward to Beijing and probably a 1-2-3 US finish,” Williams said. “I don’t think the final there is going to be as intense as what we experienced today.”

Reigning two-time world 200 champion Allyson Felix finished fifth in 10.96, dooming her bid for a 100-200 double at Beijing.

Felix remains eligible for US relays at Beijing as a trials event finalist.

“She is really good,” Lee said. “She came into a tough race.”
This story has been viewed 881 times.