Track & Field - News

By Earl Bailey
earlbpm@yahoo.com 

World 100 metres champion Tyson Gay is in Eugene, Oregon, at the US Olympic trials, but he is keeping an eye open on the Jamaican National Championships where his two greatest rivals, Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt are racing this weekend.

According to Gay, new World record holder Bolt is the man to beat in August. "He took a lot of pressure off me, and I appreciate that," Gay told ‘USA today’. "It kept me humble as well. I think it helped me out.
"I'm feeling nervous," Gay said. "I guess they're nervous, too."

According to another article, Gay's laptop flashes a continuous loop of photos, one of which shows Asafa Powell winning a race with Gay lagging behind by at least a stride. The photo reappears every few seconds, blinking at Gay like a taunting child.
"Keeps me humble," Gay said.

If it's not Powell providing the humility, then it’s Bolt, who beat Gay in a recent race in New York while lowering Powell's world record in the 100 meters by .02 of a second to 9.72. Set to compete in the 100 and 200 metres at the US trials, Gay has not run nearly as fast in the 100 -- his personal best is 9.84 -- and the two Jamaicans figure to be his biggest rivals in Beijing.

In yet another article, it is said that the loss pained Gay, who had been the Beijing Olympics favourite. After three weeks tinkering with his running form, he said he too was ready to dip under 9.80 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials.

The first two rounds of the men's 100 are on Saturday with the semi-finals and final on Sunday.

"A lot of people won't think I could make a dramatic change in three weeks," Gay told a news conference, "but the work I have been putting in, working on some of the things that I didn't do in that race (against Bolt), it should put me in a 9.7 (second) race."

Old habits crept back into his running style in New York, Gay said, enabling the lanky Bolt to cover more ground faster and more efficiently.

"That was the different in the whole race, especially the first 30 metres," Gay said

He knows he cannot give the taller Bolt the luxury of leading that early.

MENTAL ADVANTAGE

But even if he wins that challenge, can he overcome the mental advantage Bolt has gained with two sub 9.80-second races in recent weeks, Gay was asked.

"When someone comes to your country, kicks your butt and breaks the world record to put the cherry on top, that can put something on your mind," he said.

"But after a week or so I was able to block it out and get back to business. I realised (the record) took a lot of pressure off me."

Off the track, he has added McDonald's, SEGA, Alltel and Omega endorsements to his previous Adidas affiliation. The five deals should exceed $2 million this year, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Gay, 25, is a computer game junkie who frequents McDonald's and is regularly sending friends text messages. Omega, a watch company, is also involved with timing for the Olympics.
"The best thing about these deals is that each is a natural fit for Tyson," said Gay's agent, Mark Wetmore. "All together they really speak to who he is."