Gay sets American record in 100 meters

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Reigning world sprint champion Tyson Gay made a rookie mistake that nearly cost him a chance at a U.S. Olympic team spot in the 100 meters.

‘My coach [Jon Drummond] told me, ‘Champions don’t do that. Make it up in the next round,’ ‘ Gay said.

Gay did that -- and more.

He set a U.S. record with a time of 9.77 seconds in his quarterfinal heat Saturday at the U.S. Olympic trials, breaking the mark of 9.79 Maurice Greene set in 1999.

The time was also 7/100ths faster than Gay’s previous personal best.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica holds the world record at 9.72 from an early June race in New York.

‘I just wanted to run as easy as possible and let it out in the (Sunday) final,’ Gay said.

In his first-round heat Saturday, Gay had a substantial lead but began easing up too much too soon, about 25 meters from the finish, then needed to start running hard again.

He wound up fourth with a time of 10.14 seconds in a race where only the top four were guaranteed advancement to the quarterfinals later Saturday. Had he not restarted the engine, Gay might have finished last.

‘I misjudged the white line,’ Gay said.

He was referring to the two curved white lines near the finish, each used for the start of distance races. Gay undoubtedly meant to slow down at the second line, about seven meters from the finish, rather than the first line.

-- Philip Hersh