Run to Win

After falling halfway back into the field in the 4^th heat of the opening round in yesterday’s 100m Olympic Trials, Tyson Gay had a lot of ground to make up. He did well for 70 meters, but then started to slow down. Only a late surge in the last 7 to 10 meters got him into the top 4 of his heat to allow him to continue on to the quarter finals.

In the quarter finals, he did not disappoint. Gay ran his second attempt in 9.77 seconds, breaking Maurice Green’s American record of 9.79 seconds and Olympic Trials record of 9.91 seconds. His performance also broke the Hayworth Field record of 9.81 seconds.

Jeff Demps followed Gay to the finish line in 10.01 seconds, breaking the American Junior record of 10.06 seconds and the American high school record of 10.08 seconds. He also tied the world junior record.

In the second heat, Travis Padgett broke the American collegiate record of 9.90 by running 9.89 seconds.

So far there have been 7 men who have run under 10 seconds. The US is going to have a formidable sprint team to send to Beijing in a month.

Update: Tyson Gay ran a wind-assisted 9.68 seconds today. He had a 4.1 meters per second tailwind. That’s a world’s fastest when disregarding wind assists.

(More Info: USATF)

Photo by Jim HarrisMaurice Green, who has won the 100 meter race in both world championship and Olympic races, has decided to hang up his spikes in order to pursue coaching and business opportunities.

“Today I’m officially announcing my retirement from the sport. I don’t think I can have that mental battle with myself coming back from injury anymore … I want other people in the sport to shine.

“It’s a little sad for me but it’s happy at the same time because I’ve had a great career. I’ve done a lot of great things,” Greene said.

Maurice Green is one of only 3 men to receive 3 gold medals at a world championship, the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter relay in 1999.

I remember watching him race when I was in high school, and I wish him luck in his post competitive-running pursuits.

(Sources: ESPN - IAAF - USATF)

The 200m Men’s Final was run earlier today in Helsinki, Finland at the world championships. The United States swept the field by taking the top four positions. Justin Gatlin (USA) is only the second man to take the 100m-200m double at the world championships, which was last done in 1999 by Maurice Green (USA). Gatlin won the event in 20.04 seconds. He was followed by teammates Wallace Spearmon (USA) in 20.20, John Capel (USA) in 20.31, and Tyson Gay (USA) in 20.34. Capel was the first off the line, followed by Tobias Unger (GER).

Gatlin is also competing in the 4×100m relay tomorrow. The final for the 4×100m relay will be on Saturday.