News03 May 2009


Fast times in Austin, Gay impresses in 400m

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Tyson Gay wins the US Olympic Trials in 9.68 sec WINDY (© Getty Images)

Austin, Texas, USAThere was speed aplenty at the windy Texas Invitational meet on Saturday (2), as international stars and university athletes showed fitness – if not always sharpness - on the fast University of Texas oval.

Panama’s Alonso Edward won a hot 100 in 9.97 (+2.3) from Jamaican Steve Mullings, whose 10.00 was inches ahead of indoor star Michael Rodgers (10.01) and Brendan Christian (ANT), who ran 10.02. Christian came back to blaze a barely windy 19.98 (+2.1), with Mullings again second, in 20.14, and Trey Harts third in 20.33. Kelly Willie won another section in a wind-OK 20.45, holding off the late challenge of Wallace Spearmon’s 20.60.

Gay clocks solid 45.57 in the 400m

In the 400, Tabarie Henry (ISV) won convincingly from U.S. Olympian Lionel Larry, 45.09 to 45.27. Finishing third in his second outing since the Beijing Olympic Games was US 100m record holder and reigning 100/200m World champion Tyson Gay, who looked good running 45.57, just three ticks away from Usain Bolt’s 400m opener in February.

Ryan Braithwaite (BAR) continues to impress in the high hurdles. Four weeks ago he won his Texas Relays race in 13.35. Today, pushed by a 3.6 m/s tailwind (not necessarily a big help for a hurdler), he won by two metres from a good field in 13.05.

Tevan Everett ran an unusual, almost fartlek-style race to win the men’s 800 metres. He built a 15-metre lead with a 50.3 first 400, then slowed to a 30.2 third 200, was passed by two runners in the final turn, and then flew past them both in the last 50m to win in a PB 1:47.39. Second and third were Ali Al-Deraan (KSA), in 1:47.45, and Chris Gowell (GBR), in 1:47.73. A surprising fourth, in 1:48.42, was Lopez Lomong, now living and training in Austin, who said, “I was just running today to see where I am in my training,” adding that he intends to concentrate on the 1500/mile this year.

The best women’s performances were by LaShaunte Moore, who won the 100m in a good 11.21 (+1.9), edging Simone Facey (JAM – 11.23), and Clora Williams (JAM) who had a similarly close margin over her fellow Jamaican Patricia Hall, 52.61 to 52.63.

There were two noteworthy field event performances. Julian Reid, of Jamaica and Texas A&M, produced the Triple Jump PB everyone has been waiting for with a sixth-round jump of 16.72m (+1.5); he also had a wind-aided 16.64. And pole vaulter Jason Colwick confirmed his 5.72m of four weeks ago by clearing 5.70m and having a couple of good looks at 5.80m.

James Dunaway for the IAAF

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