Posted: June 23, 2007

Athletics: Gay blazes meet record in AT&T men's 100m at AT&T USA Outdoor champs

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay rewrote meet record books and showed why he is the hottest sprinter in the world by winning the AT&T men's 100 meters Friday at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Carroll Stadium at IUPUI. The final meet of the 2007 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships serves as the Team USA selection competition for the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. The top three finishers in each event who have achieved the IAAF "A" standard will make the team. The heavily favored Gay parlayed a solid start into a brilliant drive phase and an unrelenting finish into a meet-record winning time of 9.84. With a headwind of .5mps, the time is the fastest in the world this year and the second-fastest ever run into a headwind, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene having run 9.82 into a -0.2 headwind at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. It shattered the meet record of 9.90 held jointly by former world record holders Greene and Leroy Burrell. LSU sophomore Trindon Holliday, second at the 2007 NCAA Championships, was a distant runner-up on 10.07 seconds, with NCAA champ Walter Dix of Florida State third in 10.09. Gay's win had the largest margin of victory in the 100 since fully automatic, electric timing was instituted in 1975. 2003 world champion Torri Edwards displayed an impressive return to form in the Visa women's 100m. At age 30, the 2003 USA 100 and 200 champion led from start to finish, winning in 11.02 (0.9mps). World champion Lauryn Williams was second in 11.16, with Carmelita Jeter third in 11.17. World 200m champion Allyson Felix was fourth in 11.25 to make the 100m squad for the World Championships in Osaka, since Williams has an automatic bye as defending champion. The Nike men's 5,000 was less relatively speedy but much more suspenseful. In a large field, Matt Tegenkamp threw down a 58.7 lap with 1000 meters go to break away from Bernard Lagat, Jonathon Riley and Adam Goucher. Fresh off an American record at 2 miles at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, Tegenkamp opened a 15-meter lead over the field. Goucher moved to pass Lagat, the defending USA champion, with 200m to go as Tegenkamp still led, but Lagat turned that challenge away and then set upon reeling in a tiring Tegenkamp. Lagat sprinted away to win in 13:30.73, with Tegenkamp holding on for second in 13:31.31 and Goucher third in 13:31.50. American record holder Shalane Flanagan surprised no one by leading the Nike women's 5,000 from wire-to-wire. Her winning time of 14:51.75, however, was perhaps a bit brisker than expected and was the fourth-fastest time ever by an American. Two-time Olympian Jen Rhines was second in 15:08.53, with Michelle Sikes third in 15:09.28, just off the IAAF "A" standard of 15:08.70. Two-time defending world champion Dwight Phillips turned in a strong performance in the men's long jump with a best mark of 8.36m/27-5.25. 2005 USA champion Miguel Pate was second with 8.24m/27-00.5, with Trevell Quinley third at the same distance. Two-time Olympian Miguel Pate was fourth, also with the same distance as a farthest jump, but Quinley had the top next-best jump with 8.22m/26-11.75. A trio of vaulters all cleared 5.70m/18-8.25 to qualify for Team USA. World Outdoor silver medalist Brad Walker won the competition with all first-attempt clearances, with American record holder Jeff Hartwig second. 2001 NCAA indoor champion Jacob Pauli was third at the same height. A.G. Kruger, the only American with the IAAF "A" Standard, successfully defended his national title in the men's hammer throw with a distance of 78.10m/256-3. Kibwe Johnson was second with 75.12m/246-5. Former NCAA champion Dana Pounds of the Air Force upset American record holder Kim Kreiner in the women's javelin, throwing 59.65m/195-8 to Kreiner's 58.17m/190-10. 2003 world champion Tom Pappas led the men's decathlon after the first five events with 4,394 points, ahead of Paul Terek in second (4,234). Pappas ran 11.00 in the 100, jumped 7.50m/24-7.25 in the long jump, threw 16.43/53-11 in the shot, cleared 2.05m/6-8.75 in the high jump and ran 48.81 in the 400. Diana Pickler led the heptathlon after four events with 3,636 points. She ran 13.46 in the 100-meter hurdles, cleared 1.75m/5-8.75 in the high jump, threw 12.44m/40-9.75 and ran 24.07 in the 200. 2005 champion Hyleas Fountain was second with 3,618 points and defending champion GiGi Miller third with 3,616. In qualifying rounds, the women's 100-meter hurdles provided a glimpse into the competition to expect in Saturday's semis and final. Defending USA and NCAA champion Ginnie Powell ran a quick 12.79 in Friday's first round into a 1.7mps headwind. Reigning world champion Michelle Perry was next fastest, winning heat 3 in 12.90, with Nichole Denby taking the second heat in 12.92. 2006 world athlete of the year Sanya Richards ran a 2007 world leader in the semifinals of the women's 400, blazing the first 200 under 24 seconds and finishing in 50.02. 2006 runner-up Lashawn Merritt was the top men's 400 qualifier with 44.44. Hazel Clark led women's 800 qualifiers with 2:02.59, while Khadevis Robinson (1:46.17) was the top man. Micheal Tinsley was a surprising winner in the men's 400m hurdles semifinals, running a big personal-best of 48.02 in heat two to post the fastest time in the world this year. Steve Slattery was the fastest man in the 3,000m steeplechase rounds in 8:33.65, Tiffany Williams ran 55.18 in the women's 400m hurdles, all top contenders in the men's 1,500m advanced, including defending champion Bernard Lagat and two-time champion Alan Webb, The AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships television coverage continues Saturday from 2-3 p.m. Eastern on NBC and from 7-8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. It concludes Sunday with live coverage on NBC from 1-3. For complete results and athlete quotes, visit USATF.org. AT&T USA Outdoor Champs athlete quotes - Friday Ginnie Powell - Women's 100m hurdle prelim It was not my normal start, but it was a good first round. The field is very loaded, so it could be anybody's race at any time. You have to bring your "A" game and do have to be focused in last round. Nicole Denby - Women's 100m hurdle prelim It went well. I'm just happy with the win, just trying to get through the rounds. Michelle Perry - Women's 100m hurdle prelim It felt good. I've got to come back tomorrow to run two rounds. Tomorrow will be way more intense. Today was a little more laid back. Tiffany Williams - Women's 400m hurdle prelim I made it through. It was a clean race. I stuttered over the first hurdle but I made it through and that was the goal. I feel good. I want to win and I want to make the (World Championship) team and that is the main thing. Sheena Johnson - Women's 400m hurdle prelim I felt pretty good. The goal was just to qualify for the next round. Suzy Powell - Women's Discus This gives me some good validation that I will be competitive. I have been trying to temper my thought process around this meet but my focus is on Osaka (World Championships). Leonel Manzano - Men's 1,500m 1st round I was disappointed at NCAA's. I just wanted to come out and prove I still have it. Alan Webb - Men's 1,500m 1st round I made it harder for myself than it needed to be. I felt him coming up and I was ready to go, but I got squeezed into my position. I can't make these kind of mistakes on Sunday. Sanya Richards - Women's 400m semifinal It felt really good. Today I wanted to execute. I felt good and finished strong. I've been sick and people keep saying that if anyone is going to beat me, now is their chance. I wanted to run well today and send the message that I'm still in great shape. DeeDee Trotter - Women's 400m semifinal I'm blessed, that's all I can say. What's been working for me is just staying in my lane, doing my own race and not getting caught up in what's going on around me. A.G. Kruger - Men's Hammer Throw It was a great day - great weather, great crowd and a great atmosphere overall. My marks have kept building up all year, so hopefully I can hit it big at the World Championships. Angelo Taylor - Men's 400m semifinal It was real easy. I took it a bit farther than I expected though. I think I got a 43.6 in me. Lashawn Merrit - Men's 400m semifinal It was a good race. I didn't put it totally down though. All I did was clear the field and then I brought it home. (Saturday) is going to be fast. Alice Schmidt - Women's 800m semifinal I just wanted to stay out of trouble. I knew the top four qualify, so I wanted to be there. I've been playing it safe all along, so I'm looking forward to Sunday. Hazel Clark - Women's 800m semifinal I just wanted to get out and control it. I think it went smoothly. It's all about qualifying, and I'm excited for the final. Khadevis Robinson - Men's 800m prelim The pace was fast. It's not about leading. I train too hard for that. I want to kick. (The 800 meter final) is going to be good. The best man is going to win. Nick Symmonds - Men's 800m prelim I feel great. I'm a little nervous seeing some of these fast times but it's going to be a true battle. It makes me really excited. James Carter - Men's 400m hurdle semifinal I got out well. I wanted to run a controlled race and win my heat. Micheal Tinsley - Men's 400m hurdle semifinal I wanted to get out hard. I expected to win my heat and put myself in a position for a good lane in the finals. I want to make that team (World Championships) so bad. I just want to put myself in a position like I did today. Torri Edwards - Women's 100m I'm very excited and excited to have won a national championship. This means so much to me. What will mean more to me is winning the World Championships. Brad Walker - Men's Pole Vault champion The winds made it a struggle for sure. It was hard to be consistent today. I'm happy to be going to my second World Championships. I won the silver in Helsinki and I'm going for the gold this time. Jeff Hartwig - Men's Pole Vault runner-up It was kind of a survival game today. It was frustrating. There needs to be a way to count for the conditions. There were bad conditions all day. It makes it tough. All that really matters is that I finished in the top 3. Dwight Phillips - Men's Long Jump It feels great obviously to win. I'm looking forward to winning my third (World) Championship and representing the U.S. I'm looking forward to jumping far - I haven't jumped far yet, but it's coming. I'm hungry and eager to be back to #1. Shalane Flanagan - Women's 5,000m I love to win races. I'm very competitive. I tried to be patient at the beginning, but I wanted to see what I could do out there by myself and hopefully bring some girls to some fast times. It will take a really strong last 1,000m (to make finals at the World Championships) - I wasn't as strong as I wanted to be today. I hope to just establish myself as an aggressive American runner. Bernard Lagat - Men's 5,000m champion I was feeling really strong. I knew the race would develop toward the end and I was confident in the last 400m. I knew it would be that way. I knew I was going to have to run fast in the last lap. Matt Tegenkamp - Men's 5,000m runner-up I knew it wasn't secure (the lead). The big screen helped. I have been running awesome lately and I have a lot of confidence. My main goal is to get into the finals and mix it up with the Kenyans. Tyson Gay - Men's 100m champion I think my start was really good. It's the best my body has felt in a long time. I'm happy with my race - 9.84 with a slightly negative wind, that's a PR for me. Trindon Holliday - Men's 100m runner-up I was just being focused the whole time, saying be smart and run. It feels good competing with the big guys. I'll make a decision (about competing at the World Championships) when I get back (to LSU) after I talk to my coaches. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest