By Miranda Mitchell and Gary Smith, World-Track
EUGENE — Sprinter Tyson Gay proved that he is healthy and ready to go with wind-assisted 9.75 seconds 100metres run on the opening day of the U.S. Championships here at Hayward Field Thursday.
The world champion’s performance was done in 3.4m/sec following wind, and he immediately dismissed his performance as a message sent to his challengers.
"The (performance) was not necessarily to anybody in particular, but more for myself," Gay said.
"I knew it was wind-aided, so of course it doesn’t go into the books. But at the same time, it still lets me know that my legs are ready to turn over faster. They’re a lot faster when I execute the beginning part."
It was his first and last race at the trials for Gay, as his coach confirmed he would take no further part in the championships.
However, Gay, who already has two wild cards for the Berlin World Championships wants to race again, as he still believes there is some fixing to be done.
"I want to race again," he said. "Because I ran a horrible race. Technically it was horrible. The false start threw me off.
"I had too much going through my mind, instead of worrying about execution. When I got out of the blocks, I felt sloppy, felt someone beside me.
"I think it was Leroy Dixon, who was winning until about 60. Then I caught up with the field and tried to run relaxed through the finish line."
As expected his time is the fastest of the starters in the opening round.
Other heat winners on the breezing evening were Darvis Patton (9.92), Mike Rogers (9.92), Travis Padgett (9.93) and Shawn Crawford (10.06), all accomplished in wind-aid times.
Other sprinters faster than 10-seconds in the wind were Monzavous Edwards (9.98) Ivory Williams (9.98) and Trindon Holliday (9.98).
Earlier on the women’s side, favourite Carmelita Jeter bolted 10.88 seconds wind a 3.1m/sec wind in her back.
NCAA champion Alexandria Anderson of Texas also looked impressive when winning her heat in 10.92 (3.2mps), while Muna Lee won her race in 11.01 (3.3).
Also advancing to Friday’s semis were Allyson Felix, Lauryn Williams, Marshevet Hooker, Shalonda Solomon and Torri Edwards.
Sanya Richards cruised into the semi-finals of the women’s 400m with the day’s fastest time of 51.38.
“I always say that the first round is kind of the hardest one. I just wanted to do enough to win so I was happy,” Richards, who leads the world with a time of 49.57secs.
LaShawn Merritt (45.23), Lionel (45.82) and Jamaal Torrence (45.94) where the top qualifiers on the men’s side.
“This was the first round, 45 seconds,” a sharp looking Merritt said. “That was the plan, to run the first one easy.
“I had to judge the wind on the backstretch, it was a bit windy. But, it felt good.”
Also making it through were Kerron Clement, Xavier Carter, David Neville and Calvin Smith.
Leonel Manzano led all qualifiers in the men’s 1500m, which will also include Lopez Lomong and Alan Webb.
Meanwhile, there were six finals were completed on the opening day of competion.
Stephanie Brown-Trafton continued her good run this season with a win in the women’s Discus.
After opening with a foul, the leader heaved 64.25m in the third to beat Aretha Thurmond, whose best mark was 62.51m.
Chris Hill became the best American male Javelin Thrower this season when he won the men’s event with a personal best mark of 83.86m.
“This was surreal. I knew I had to come up and hit something big. I got the adrenaline, got the crowd into it, and went for it,” the champion said.
Chaunte Howard stole the women’s high jump on count-backs after finishing with the same 1.95m clearance as Amy Acuff, Sharon Day.
“I prayed. I told God I have had a rocky year, it has been so hard, and that I really needed him today,” Howard said.
“This year has been rough for everybody. We don’t have any indoor facilities and we had snow through April in Atlanta. As things warm up, I can have more confidence to move forward.”
In a low standard men’s triple jump Brandon Roulhac land the title with a 16.67m jump that bettered Walter Davis 16.37m.
Elsewhere, Amy Begley won the first finals on the track when she beat a strong field to win the women’s 1000metres in 31:22.69. Shalane Flanagan finished second with 31:23.43 and Katie McGregor, who ran 32:08.04 for third.
Oregon senior Galen Rupp claimed the men’s title with 27:52.53.
