Tyson Gay throws down the gaunlet at Reebok Grand Prix

NEW YORK CITY - Tyson Gay announced to the world that he is back, running the third-fastest 200 meters of all time and annihilating a world-class field Saturday at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium.

If his performance did nothing else, it reminded observers that there is more than one name in the world of men’s sprinting. And that in 2007, the top name in men’s sprinting was Tyson Gay.

In his first race on American soil since his devastating injury in the 2008 Olympic Trials 200m, the 2007 World Outdoor 100m, 200m and 4×100m relay gold medalist was ready. When the gun went off, so did he. With a first 100 meters that rivaled world-record pace, Gay dominated the Western Union men’s 200, blazing to the finish line in 19.58 seconds. Second place finisher Wallace Spearmon, Gay’s former training partner, was four tenths of a second back in 19.98. Xavier Carter was third in 20.27.

The performance in his first 200m of the season surprised even Gay, whose 2009 training has thus far included only strength work, rather than purely sprinting work.

“It made me very, very happy,” said Gay, who injured his hamstring at the Olympic Trials and wasn’t fully fit at the Olympic Games. “19.5 had been one of the goals I had, but to do that in the first race is very pleasing. I wanted to work on my reaction and my start. Then I just ran. I ran for my life. When I came toward the finish line, I got kind of tight, and I wanted to bring it on in. I tried to push all the way through, just to see where my body is at.”

Gay now holds the third and fourth fastest times ever over 200m: Saturday’s race and the 19.62 he ran to win the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships. Only USA Track & Field Hall of Famer Michael Johnson (19.32) and triple 2008 Olympic champion Usain Bolt (19.30) have run faster.

In fact, Bolt’s world-record performances in Beijing have provided motivation for Gay. “He’s probably excited,” Gay said when asked what he thought Bolt’s reaction to his race might be. “He ran 14.3 for 150 so he is very fit. His 200 (at Beijing) was a shocker, and the way he won the 100 was shocking, but I wasn’t shocked that he ran that fast.”

The race also proved a return of confidence for the unusually humble and introspective sprinter. “It was difficult,” Gay said of returning from Beijing not having met his goals. “The biggest part was getting over eth 4×100 relay. The other part was getting hurt when I was in the best shape of my life. I felt like a let my city down, my family down and my state down.” As for Saturday’s performance, “This race tells me I’m pretty fit.”

For his efforts, Gay was named Team USA Athlete of the Meet, presented by Visa. His performance was one of seven world leaders on the day at the fourth stop of the Outdoor Visa Championship Series

Anything you can do I can do better

The former American record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase, Anna Willard won the women’s 800m in a world-leading 1:59.29. Running a conservative race for the first 700m, Willard kicked into high gear over the last 100 to overtake three-time Olympian Hazel Clark and 2008 Olympic finalist Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica.

After making the Olympic Games final in the steeplechase and finishing ninth, Willard decided she needed a change and made the move to the Mammoth Track Club and Coach Terrence Mahon. Since the switch, Willard won the USA Indoor 1,500m title 4:17.37 and the BAA road mile in 4:38.6.

Double Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion over 200m, Allyson Felix ran down Olympic silver medalist Shericka Williams (JAM) in the Nutrilite women’s 400m to win in a world-leading 50.50 to Williams’ 50.58. 2007 World Outdoor bronze medalist Novlene Williams-Mills took third in 51.11.

Beijing silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski continued her domination of the women’s pole vault on American soil, winning the event with a world-leading 4.81 meters/15 feet 9.25 inches. 2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila was second with a clearance of 4.52m/14-10.

Two-time World Outdoor 100m medalist Lauryn Williams posted a world leader in winning the women’s 200m, crossing the line in 22.34. 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Shalonda Solomon was the runner-up in 22.43.

The men’s 5,000m saw an American all-comers record set as 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Micah Kogo won the race in 13.02.90. 2007 double World Outdoor champion Bernard Lagat was the runner-up in 13:03.06. One of the biggest upsets of the day came in the NYRR women’s 5,000m, when Kenya’s Linet Masai handily dispatched world record-holder Tirunesh Dibaba, 14:35.39 to 14:40.93, to run another world leader

Other winning athletes included 2008 USA Indoor champion Mike Rodgers winning the Visa men’s 100m in a windy 9.94 (+3.1mps) and 2008 Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt winning the Nutrilite men’s 400m in 44.75. 2008 Olympic bronze medalists Tasha Danvers and Bershawn Jackson won their respective races as Danvers won the Irie Jam women’s 400m hurdles in 55.19 and Jackson won the Reebok men’s 400m hurdles in 48.52.

2008 Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas won the Reebok women’s 1,500m in a meet record, personal best 4:03.96. On the men’s side, 2008 Olympian and NCAA champion Leo Manzano won the race in 3:34.14. Two-time Olympic silver medalist and Indoor Visa Champion Terrence Trammell continued on his winning ways, winning the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.12, and Carmelita Jeter won the women’s 100 in a wind-aided 10.85 (+2.8).

For more information and complete results, visit www.VisaChampionshipSeries.com or www.usatf.org.

Instant Analysis - Reebok Grand Prix

It was anything but boring. The 2009 Reebok Grand Prix fielded a hot group of athletes and today’s meet exceeded expectations in terms of performance and entertainment value.

The most impressive, dominant performance is that of Tyson Gay’s legal 19.58 second at 200 meters.

Watch out! The former Arkansas sprinter sent a message to Usain Bolt and all other contenders that a World Championship title will go through him. This race speaks volumes to Gay’s mental strength, training and coaching in order to bypass the pressures and naysayers in order to get back on top of the leader board. Gay ran one of the best turns in history, on his way to putting down one of the greatest all-time 200 meter performances.

Allyson Felix continues to make believers out of those thinking that she should content at the 200 and 400 meters at the World Championship, assuming the schedules allows. While it is rare to see Felix behind coming off the final turn, Felix showed the steady hand of veteran to win an incredible come from behind victory against the Olympic bronze medalist.

Is Michael Rogers running out of the shadow of big name U.S. sprinters? I think Rogers 9.93 (wind-aided) is certainly a move in the right direction after winning over Asafa Powell, Darvis Patton and Richard Thompson. But it’s all about consistency, so he certainly adds even more flavor to the U.S. men’s 100 meter field going into the U.S. Outdoor Championships.

She is establishing herself the runner to beat in the 100 meters. Carmelita Jeter is on a tear, winning the 100m in 10.85, setting another personal best time that is tops in the world. Right now, she is the hottest sprinter on the planet.

It’s a pleasure to see a world class distance race take place on U.S. Bernard Lagat and Micah Kogo dueled before Kogo setting the fastest time ever run in this country with 13:02.90. More such performances are needed take place on the Visa Championship Series.

2009 Reebok Grand Prix Meet Coverage

About the meet

Icahn Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility on Randall’s Island featuring a 400-meter Mondo track and covered seating for spectators, is the premier outdoor track-and-field venue in New York City. The 2009 Reebok Grand Prix will be broadcast on NBC from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. EST. Check out the meet’s official website.

Pre-Meet Interviews:

PreRaceJItters’ Track and Field Radio Show, Reebok Grand Prix with Lionel Larry Lionel Larry has run 20.37 so far this season and is set to compete this weekend at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix.

6 Things You Oughta Know About Lionel Larry Coming soon!

Meet Review and Results:

Instant Analysis Tyson Gay delivers top meet’s top performance and Carmelita Jeter’s 100m streak remains in tact.

Results Check out the complete results from the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix.

Videos:

Interviews Coming soon!

Coming Soon!

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PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show #26, Reebok Grand Prix Preview Show with Lionel Larry

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PreRaceJitters Reebok Grand Prix Meet Coverage

Jay Hicks and John W. Davis preview the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix, revealing their picks for the upcoming meet in New York. Former NCAA All-American Lionel Larry stops by to talk about first trip to the Reebok Grand Prix, his first season on the professional circuit, and thoughts on track and field.

• Reebok Grand Prix Official Website
• adidas Track Classic Results
• IAAF World Rankings
• Asafa Powell Ready for New York

PreRaceJitters’ Track and Field Radio Show, where the real playas comes to hang out!

Special thanks to Lionel Larry and the Global Athletics.

Instant Analysis—Reebok Grand Prix!

The big winner at the Reebok Grand Prix: Usain Bolt. A false start coupled with rain and followed by being called out of the blocks by the starter were not enough to cool off this hot 100-meter race. It was a star performance by the young Jamaican sprinter setting a new World Record of 9.72!

Bolt captured lightening in a bottle by assembling perfection in New York. He set the tone with a fab start, then he flew during the mid-race and through the final stages when he broke the world record and grabbed a piece of history. In the process Bolt silenced his critics that have doubted the authenticity of his times and his lack of competing against big stars in the 100.

We’ll say again that this is a meet that would normally take place in Europe. Reebok and the meet director really did a nice job with this one.

Heading in to Bejing, Bolt is the odds on favorite, but don’t count out Tyson Gay who can only be happy with his 9.85. He ran just .01 off his personal best a month before the Olympic Trials. Keep in mind that the Olympics are more about running the rounds.

Sanya Richards got back to handling her business, running 50.04 in the 400. The Texas Ex ran a great time considering the inclement weather.

It was good to be queen for a day. Veronica Campbell-Brown dropped a bomb at 10.91 to claim the world leading time at 100-meters.

Everyone was looking for Terrence Trammell to get with Liu Xiang. But Liu Xiang pulled out of the race citing a sore hamstring. That change did not interrupt Trammell from putting down 13.11, a splendid time for just his second outing of the season.

Click here for the full meet results.