American sprint ace Tyson Gay is set to compete at this year’s Great City Games in Manchester on May 16.
Also on the card to compete at the meeting that attracted the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt of Jamaica last season, are Great Britain’s double world champion Jessica Ennis, and fellow countrywoman and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.
Gay, the world silver medallist over 100m from the Berlin World Championships last summer, and the second fastest man over the distant, is yet to decide on which event he will race in.
But the American said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Manchester for the Great CityGames. Taking athletics out of the stadium and on to the streets is an idea that has caught people’s imagination, including mine.”
Men’s races on the cards are 100m, 150m, 200m, 110m hurdles and 200m hurdles, while the women’s programme has races over 100m, 150m, 200m and 100m hurdles.
Ennis, who recently won the world indoor pentathlon title – adding to the heptathlon gold medal she won in Berlin last year, will compete over 150 metres on a specially-erected track in the city’s Deansgate. and she is looking forward to running.
“A flat-out 150m against world-class opposition will be a perfect preparation for Jessica and I know she intends giving it everything on the streets of Manchester,” said Andy Caine, elite athletes manager for the meeting.
“She is the first big name to commit herself to the 150m and I can confirm we have still to add another couple of top athletes to the field.”
Last year Bolt set a world record of 14.35 seconds over 150m despite the cold and rainy conditions.
By Gary Smith, World-Track
Alright Tyson! Excited to see what he will do in an injury free year.
yes Nathaniel, lets see just how fast Tyson Gay can really run…now that he,s soposed to be over his deverstating groin injury…which, even though was causing him great pain…still managed to run american record and lifetime best….so i think it,s fair to say, he will definetly go faster, now that he,s well….what do you think Natty?
sorry readers…i ment DEVASTATING.
Tony Roots don’t forget that “soposed” is spelled suppose. Ok, you’ll get it right next time.
lawd god thats just a typo most people make them this is an intellectual person. yes tony roots you took the words out my mouth so called groin injury well ok is suppose now that he is over this injury he will be running 9.4s then either that or we will wait & see whether a new injury will surface lol.
Well Tony, I think Tyson can truly challenge Bolt, and give him a real run for his money. I really wanted to see an actual rivalry between the two of them materialize last year, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Maybe 2010 is the year. The talk of this groin injury (which he has had to deal with since the end of 2006) is going to get mixed comments. I believe it’s plausible in the sense that a groin injury can considerably thwart your start in a sprint race, which we have seen a good share of in Tyson’s case. I think I’ve seen Gay get out well in a world class field like twice in the last 3 and a half years. Tyson Gay has never been the best starter, but he wasn’t that bad either. Matter of fact, he was the NCAA champion in 05 in the indoor 60m(6.55), meaning with the resolution of this groin issue, he SHOULD be able to break the American record or quite possibly the world record this year. If you remember the interview that Tyson gave after the 100m Berlin final, he said something to the effect of “I knew I could run that fast, but it just didn’t happen today”, which means to me that he has some 9.5s boiling in the pot for the world to see. But we will have to see……
I hope he runs the 150. And I’m still really excited about Bolt’s running of the 300
I’m telling you. He’s gonna put down a time somewhere in the ballpark of 30.7 to 30.9.!
It seems as though Tyson Gay will wait to see hat event Bolt will run at this meet, then avoid him at all cost. Lol…….. In all honesty and Fairness to Gay. I would not race against Bolt unless I hear What Type of cash meet organisers are willing to put up for such a showdown. I would have the same attitude if I were Bolt or Asafa.
thank you Rastaman, nuff pespect
Natty, i,m not doubting T Gays ability to challenge U Bolt…i would never question that…all i,m saying is…..if i should do the 100m in 10.00s with an injury that is really hampering me and if i should overcome that injury….wouldn’t my ability to perform be more eminent?
Was Usain really 100% fit last year? Remember he kept saying that he was only 85-90%.after his accident? So a not fully fit Usain runs 9:58 and an injured Tyson equals the old WR. So this year lets hope they are both 100% fit and see UB run 9:4 someting and see how much he can drag TG to run faster.
Not only was he not 100% fit, but his training kept getting interrupted by his sponsors obligations and he had to travel all over the place as well. I think a fit Usain with uninterrupted training, and if he chooses to run all the way through the line, would have no problem running 9.4 and under 19s.
I think that’s the reason the British media is fighting over broadcasting his races, because with a fit Asafa and Powell gunning for him, a fit Usain is capable of anything.
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