London Olympics 2012: At trials, Tyson Gay gets through 100M in 10 seconds

“These guys are not going to sit down and let me come back after a year and give it to me easy,” Gay said.

No, they’re not.

But they also respect Gay, who’s the American record holder in the event. If he’s on the track, he has their attention.

“We all know he’s a good runner,” Gatlin said. “It’s just this: Will he be able to run through the rounds, especially as each one becomes more and more competitive?”

Gay’s wondering the same thing. He’s simulated running rounds in Dallas under the direction of one of his coaches, Jon Drummond. Gay sprinted 60 meters, closely followed by another 80-meter jaunt.

Then, he repeated the process over and over.

“When I was supposed to be done, when I was tired, tired of running, Drummond was like, ‘Give me one more 60. This is the final,’” Gay recounted. “We tried to replicate complete fatigue, how you’re going to feel in the final. I want to run fast. I’m going try to do it.”

There’s another mental hurdle to clear besides his hip — Hayward Field.

It was on this track four years ago when Gay crumbled in pain during the first 40 meters of his 200-meter qualifying race. He had to be carted off with a mild muscle strain in the back of his left leg.

Last summer, Gay pulled out of the 100 at Hayward Field because of his nagging hip, which eventually led to season-ending surgery.

“I have exciting memories at this track, because it’s fast,” said Gay, who isn’t planning on competing in the 200. “I don’t really think about 2008.”

Yet he does think about catching Bolt.

Maybe not a lot yet — he has to make the team first — but he may should he earn a spot. He’s one of the few able to keep up with the world-record holder in recent years — or as much as anyone can at least.

Gay feels he missed a great opportunity in Beijing — he wasn’t at his best as he struggled with the injury from the trials. He didn’t qualify for the final against Bolt when the Jamaican broke the world mark.

“It was amazing, watching that guy put on that kind of performance,” Gay said.

Story Continues →

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.