Tyson Gay is spectacular in London

London (August 13, 2010)- After all the questions about Tyson Gay’s health entering the London Aviva Diamond League Series against a talented field with Richard Thompson and Walter Dix, it seemed like the he might be doomed. Um, nope.

Tyson Gay roared to a world-leading win in the men’s 100m Friday night at the Aviva London Grand Prix, part of the Samsung Diamond League.

Gay shot out of the blocks and blazed down the straight to win the sprint in 9.78 seconds, despite the slight headwind (-.04mps), clipping .04 off the previous world lead. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, the only other athlete to break 10 seconds, finished as the runner-up in a personal best 9.89.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Sally Pearson (AUS) was first out of the blocks and held the lead until the mid-way point when Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep kicked into high gear to take the lead. Reigning USA Outdoor champion Lolo Jones tried to stay with the pair but wound up third in 12.66 to Lopes-Schliep’s world-leading 12.52 and Pearson’s 12.61. 2010 NCAA 100m- and 400m hurdle champion Queen Harrison was fourth in 12.69.

Despite a sluggish start in the women’s 200m, three-time World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix stormed around the curve and into the lead, running away with the win in 22.37. Her nearest competitor, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (BAH), was over half a second back in 22.88. Felix will be looking for a repeat win tomorrow in the 400m.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, it was a battle down the final stretch between 2009 World Outdoor bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson and the World Outdoor silver medalist, Javier Culson (PUR). Running even off the final turn, Jackson used his signature kick to edge out Culson, winning the race in 48.12 to Culson’s 48.17.

Reigning World Indoor champion Bernard Lagat won the men’s 3,000m, breaking clear in the home straightaway to beat local favorite and two-time European champion Mo Farah of Britain. Lagat crossed the line in 7:40.36 to Farah’s 7:40.75. Two-time USA Outdoor 10,000m champion Galen Rupp finished fifth in a personal best 7:43.24.

In the men’s 800m, Andrew Wheating chased two-time World Indoor champion Abubaker Kaki down the final straight, but was unable to catch him, finishing as the runner-up in a personal best 1:44.56 to Kaki’s 1:44.38. Nick Symmonds finished third in 1:45.28.

In the field, American record holder Kara Patterson took second in the women’s javelin with a best effort of 63.41m/208. In the men’s pole vault, 2008 Olympic fourth-place finisher Derek Miles was the runner-up with a soggy clearance of 5.61m/18-4.75 while 2007 World Outdoor champion Brad Walker took fourth in 5.51m/18-1.

Live Results

USA Track a& Field contributed to this report.

Who is the next Usain Bolt?

In 2004 there was concern. Handwringing. Consternation.

The worldwide screaming of BOLT! BOLT! BOLT! drowned out all of that. And thoughts of the greatness? Who cares about all that with the green and gold around?

The calendar flips one year and then ten years fly by and it’s 2012.

So who is the next Usain Bolt? It would make a great round table discussion at a nice restaurant. This is the stuff of internet chat board conversations that last for days.  But in actuality no one really knows.

That’s because there will never be another Usain Bolt.  How long did we wait for the next Jesse Owens? Usain Bolt’s feats do not to alter the accomplishments of the aforementioned except to distinguish the two as well before their time.  People weren’t ready for them.

Remember “the next” great was Carl Lewis whose nine Olympic gold medals and longevity make him royalty. Michael Johnson has left him stamp on track and field. And along the way there have been a number of phenoms who have had brushes with greatness.

The real question is who is the next phenom this time around.

If another athlete of Bolt’s caliber is coming up there is a distinct likely that he/she will not be an American, however there is a high likelihood that they will train the U.S. under some of the best coaches and facilities in the world.

There will be Tyson Gay who will more than likely accomplish enough to finish a legend.  There are shooting wonders like Johnny Dutch, Jeshua Anderson and the likes of Queen Harrison who are having outstanding careers.

There have been a share that have burned out before reaching their zenith and the of course the hazardous hamstring, knee and ankle injuries that make going through the motions of a full career nearly impossible.

Usain Bolt will probably be around in 2012 and and will probably take victory laps up to 2014. He is reportedly earning $250,000 a race and will have more than enough stacks to retire. 

It’s to be seen if Bolt has the business drive of Michael Johnson to become a CEO. Or the entertainment drive of Carl Lewis to take on Hollywood shine. And that is good because Bolt will be around to be the sport’s spokesperson. Which is when we may again be asking where is the next Usain Bolt.

Nearly a decade later - we may still may not have answer to the question.

PRJ Exclusive: All Hail the Queen: Harrison Ready to Rule

Photos courtesy Virginia Tech Athletic Department

She is on a roll.  Queen Harrison has run sparingly so far but the 60m hurdler has been nothing short of spectacular in each of her meets during the 2010 indoor campaign.

She is an Olympian. She is an All-American. She is one of America’s most talented hurdlers and sprinters. And Harrison is looking to continue on that success at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Champions by taking the meet by storm.

Winning an NCAA title during senior season what it is about for Harrison.  But it won’t come without it’s own set of hurdles to clear.

“That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year making the Beijing Olympics. But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it.”

She gave an exclusive interview to PreRaceJItters.

This is what she said:

PRJ: Thanks for taking time to speak with us. Congratulations on running a new indoor personal best and school record, 7.99 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the VT Elite Meet– the no. 1 time in the nation. How did you feel in the race and what were your expectations?

QH: Thanks and thank you for having me. I felt really great when I ran the 7.99, it was in the prelims so I had the ability to really focus on my race and work on the elements of my race that my coach and I have been really focusing on improving. In the finals when I ran 7.96 I felt like I put all those things together and with the help of the competition, I really pulled my best out that day. I didn’t have too many expectations but after consistently running 8.0s at the last two meets I felt like I definitely had a sub-8 race in me.

PRJ: Did you think going into the race you were capable of a sub-8 second race shape that early in the season?

QH: I wasn’t sure what I was capable of but I knew I wanted to go under 8 seconds. In practice I had been consistently running under 8 seconds but I knew that in order to do that in the race I would have to a really good start or have really great turnover at the end of the race.

PRJ: You placed third time in 2008 in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships. What are your goals for your final NCAA Indoor competition?

QH: I am usually not the type to really talk about my goals especially in huge championship situations, at least not place or time wise. I have a couple numbers in my head for prelims and finals but I like to hold on to those. However I do feel confident that I will run a very fast race. I have a couple weeks to really work on the sprinting aspect of my hurdle race and get quicker in between the hurdles so I have no doubt that NCAAs will produce some very fast times.

PRJ: What do you plan to run at the indoor NCAAs and what do you think it will take to win?

QH: To win I am sure it will take a sub-8 performance, I don’t know how far under 8 but I know that 8.0 will probably not suffice to win the championship.

PRJ: What would winning an individual NCAA title mean to you?

QH: A LOT!! That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year (Beijing Olympics). But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it.

PRJ: It’s crazy to think that the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships are less than a three weeks away. What are your goals for each week in training and competition to make sure that you are peak shape for conference and beyond?

QH: My main goal for the next couple of weeks and for the rest of my career is to stay healthy. I have had more than my share of injuries so I am mostly focusing on staying healthy and taking all the necessary steps to do so. I am also going to be working on being quicker out the blocks and in between the hurdles. In the past, I always have had to come from behind in the short hurdles but now I feel like I am right there with my competitors going into the first hurdles. So now my goal is to be a step ahead of everyone going into the first hurdle and gradually accelerate through the rest of the race.

PRJ: At the VT Elite you put on a show, lowering your school record to 53.54 in the 400 meters. What does that race say about where you are right now?

QH: It tells me that the training I’ve been doing and the mind set I have this season is really paying off. I also think that is just a stepping stone to what else I can accomplish both this indoor season and outdoor season over 400 meters.

PRJ: You’re working your way back from an injury that ended your 2009 season and kept you from running in the outdoor NCAA Regional and Championship meets. How are you feeling and is the injury been completely behind you?

QH: I am so happy to say the injury is behind me and off my mind. I am feeling great except for hurting from our difficult practices every week lol. But other than normal soreness, I feel great and ready to continue on a winning season.

PRJ: What percentage of meets were you 100 percent healthy last season?

QH: During indoor ACCs last year when I was preparing for the 60m hurdles is when I originally injured myself and with the urgency to get back healthy I am not sure how many races I was actually 100 percent healthy after that. But I am looking to the present and future now and am hoping and praying for a much healthier career than I’ve had in the past.

PRJ: You competed in the 2008 Olympic Games as a collegiate sophomore – how has that experienced prepared you for this season?

QH: It really allowed me to not get stressed or overwhelmed in large stressful championship situations. When you’ve been on perhaps the biggest stage possible for track and field, I am better able to calm myself before meet situations and enjoy the large demanding atmosphere rather than be nervous from it.

PRJ: Who are some of the hurdlers that you look up to and strive to compare your self to? What have you learned from their techniques as you’ve watched them over the years?

QH: Honestly, there aren’t really any hurdles I would say I strive to compare myself to or really look up to. There are so many talented hurdles both in the US and other countries but I am looking to establish myself as a hurdler not short or long, just a hurdler and most of the hurdlers on the professional level are one or the other. Not to name names but I have seen a lot of passion in our hurdlers over the years and while some events are usually dominated by one select individual, the hurdles are pretty wide open to anyone so I am just looking to make my way right into that open space.

PRJ: With all puns intended, what has been the most difficult hurdle that you have had to overcome?

QH: I would say the changing of our coaching situation for the past two years. When you are really used to one coaching style and have seen the results from it, it is hard not to be skeptical of alternative workouts and coaching staff. So I would say that the large amount of changes, especially coming off of such a successful year as my sophomore one, and a couple injuries would have to be the most difficult hurdles to overcome.

PRJ: What is like to practice every day with Kristi Castlin, one of the NCAA’s top hurdlers?

QH: I think that practicing with someone else that not only has a similar level of talent as myself but also wants success as bad as I do, creates a great training situation for both of us. We do not practice going over hurdles together all the time because all of our coaches think we get way to competitive and end up working harder than they intended, but when we do work together it is very beneficial because she can execute certain aspects of the race better than I can and vice versa, so we are able to push each other to our full potential in that way.

PRJ: It’s six or seven months away but have you thought much about transitioning into the professional ranks and where you might want to be to do that?

QH: I have thought about it and I am both nervous and excited to transition into post collegiate track and field because it is like a whole new world out there. I think I will really have to adapt to not having that team comradery you have with your collegiate team but I am willing to take on the challenge. I am not sure where I want to do it yet because I am just focusing on the immediate future right now, but ask me the same question in a couple months and I’m sure I’ll have an answer.

PRJ: What skills do you feel you need to improve or work on at the next level?

QH: Definitely work on my speed and coming out of the blocks more powerful. A lot of short hurdlers have very powerful starts which give them an advantage going into the first hurdle and beyond, so I want to make sure that is something I work on and get better at by the end of my senior season.

PRJ: What are a few things people need to know about you personally and what you bring to the sport?

QH: Know about me personally? Hmm I am a really fun person to be around, in my opinion. LOL. I dance a lot at practice to the music in my headphones and really try to create a productive but fun training environment for myself and teammates. I love to dance, sing, and travel to new exciting places (minus the actual plane/car ride). I am sure I can transfer some of my fun and outgoing personality to the sport of track and field. Also, Flo Jo has been one of my track heroes not only in her running but with her unique uniforms and appearance. I think a lot of times people mistake women who play sports to be rough or tomboyish in nature but I am very much a girl so I want to definitely bring the beauty and fashion side to the sport of track and field with me also.

PRJ: You are from Virgina– which has been produced the likes of LaShawn Merritt and Charles Clark – just to name a few. Is Virginia underrated as a track and field powerhouse?

QH: Yes, I feel like Virginia is underrated as a powerhouse mostly because unlike some other states, most people are not looking to our state to produce track stars instead they are looking to what we offer in football or other sports so our facilities we have to run in or at are not up to par with other fields of play. But I think that in the near future I definitely believe Virginia will transition into being one of the powerhouse states in the country.