JOIN USGay eyeing big haul at Worlds
Former world sprint title holder Tyson Gay has a lofty goal in mind for August's global championships -- three trips to the podium just like six years ago.
Completely fit for the first time since winning gold in the 100M and 200M and 4x100M relay at the 2007 worlds, Gay told Reuters he will run both sprints at next week's US championships, then seek a spot on the relay team for Moscow.
"I want to do the double for sure," the 30-year-old Gay, American record holder in the short sprint, said in a telephone interview from his central Florida training base. "I feel like I am actually able to and I always loved the 200," he said. "And I feel like I am healthy enough.’’
"I feel like it will prepare me for the worlds, and if I run the 200 that will give me more success for the 100,’’ he added.
Hamstring, groin and hip injuries, along with the emergence of Jamaican double world record holder Usain Bolt, have denied Gay an individual global title since his triple at the Osaka world championships. But smart training and a more conservative running schedule have limited the injuries and made him the fastest 100 metres runner in the world this year.
No one, not even Bolt, has been quicker than the 9.86 seconds the slender American clocked at the Jamaican Invitational in Kingston in May.
His 19.79 seconds last month in the 200 also would equal Bolt's world leading time if it had not been wind assisted.
"It makes me feel good, but I am a little surprised," said Gay, noting Bolt and others have had more competitive races than his two 100 metres and one 200. "I planned on racing a normal schedule but coach (Lance) Brauman wanted to take things slow this year. After New York we decided I had done enough to go on to the nationals," added Gay, who won in 10.02 seconds in the rain and cold in the Big Apple.
The US championships in Des Moines, which serve as the trials for the Aug 10-18 worlds in Moscow, begin on Thursday and run through Sunday.