Making a ‘happy face’

EUGENE, Ore. — Tyson Gay took a giant swig of water and then another before crouching into the starting blocks.

The American record holder breathed deeply and cleared his mind - forgetting all about the surgically repaired right hip or that he really hasn’t tested it out at top-end speed in more than a year.

All that mattered was this race before him, the 100-meter final in the U.S. Olympics trials Sunday night.

And after racing down the track, this much was clear: Tyson Gay is returning the Olympics.

Gay (Arkansas Razorbacks) finished second to 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin, who crossed the line in 9.80 seconds. Gay was 0.06 seconds behind, but the time hardly mattered. He was headed to the London Games when a year ago that very notion looked improbable.

“Bittersweet. I always like to win,” Gay said. “I came in second. But at the end of the day, it was about making the team. I got to make sure I turn this little bit of a frown into a happy face. For me to start training in March and make the team is a beautiful accomplishment.”

Also joining Gatlin and Gay in London will be Ryan Bailey, 23, who edged 2009 U.S. champion Mike Rodgers, Doc Patton and Walter Dix, the Olympic bronze medalist in Beijing.

Dix pulled up in the semifinals with a left hamstring injury and wasn’t the same in the final. He’s hoping to be ready for the 200 later this week.

“Things like this happen. I really can’t say much about it,” Dix said.

For Gatlin, his comeback is nearly complete.

The last time he was at the Olympics trials - eight years ago - he was about ready to become the next big thing in sprinting. He won gold in Athens and a world title the following year, before his fall from grace. He tested positive for excessive testosterone in 2006, leading to a four-year ban that prevented him from defending his title in Beijing.

Now, he’s attempting to repair his image.

“Usually, I have a lot of words. I’m almost speechless,” said Gatlin, 30, who attended the University of Tennessee. “Everything just feels so surreal. I just let the heart really go out and do what it had to do.

“I wasn’t too hyped, wasn’t too calm. It felt just right and went out there and gave it my all. I have a lot more left in the tank.”

How much faster can he go?

“Enough to win another gold,” he said.

LaShawn Merritt cruised to the 400 title. So did Sanya Richards-Ross moments later in the women’s race.

Both looked sharp with London right around the corner.

Merritt, the reigning Olympic champion, finished in a world-leading time of 44.12 seconds. Joining him on the squad were Tony McQuay and Southern Cal standout Bryshon Nellum, who is making the team after being shot in the legs as he left a restaurant near campus following a Halloween party in 2008.

Noticeably missing from the 400 team was Jeremy Wariner, the silver medalist in Beijing and 2004 Olympic gold medal winner. He finished a distant sixth and won’t be going to London, unless it’s as a member of the relay team.

In other finals:

Olympic silver medalist and American record holder Jenn Suhr won the pole vault. She beat Becky Holliday.

Reigning Olympic discus champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton easily earned a spot.

Marquise Goodwin, a receiver at the University of Texas, won the long jump with a leap of 27 feet, 4 inches.

Reese Hoffa led a solid cast of shot putters, winning the event with Ryan Whiting and Christian Cantwell also making the team. Cantwell captured silver in 2008.

“I think we have three really strong throwers. We always send a strong team,”Hoffa said. “We have to get it done this time.”

U.S. track and field officials say they have a procedure in place to break the third-place tie between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympic trials.

The scenarios involve either a coin toss or a runoff to decide which athlete will earn the third and final spot on the team for the London Games.

If both athletes choose the same option, it will determine the tiebreaker. If the athletes disagree, the tiebreaker will be a runoff. If both athletes decline a preference, the tiebreaker will be a coin toss.

Bobby Kersee, the coach for both athletes, said the sprinters won’t make any kind of decision until after they complete the 200 later this week. Kersee wants them to fully focus on the task at hand and not worry about a possible runoff - or a coin flip.

“Nine times out of 10, most athletes aren’t going to want to flip a coin,” Kersee said. “Would you go to the Super Bowl and after two overtimes or what have you, have the referees take both coaches to the middle of the field and say, ‘We’re going to flip to see who wins the Super Bowl?’ I don’t see that.”

Felix and Tarmoh finished in a dead heat in the 100 on Sunday, each leaning across the finish line in 11.068 seconds. Originally, Tarmoh was declared the third-place finisher and the official scoring said she had edged training partner Felix by 0.0001 seconds. But the results were reviewed, and after a lengthy delay, the dead heat was announced. They’re looking to join Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison on the team.

Eye on Arkansans

How athletes with Arkansas ties are doing at the U.S. Olympic trials for track and field: SUNDAY’S RESULTS MEN TYSON GAY (UA) Finished second in the 100 meters finals in 9.86 seconds. Qualified for the London Olympics.

WOMEN APRIL BENNETT (UA) tied for fourth with Mary Saxer and Kathleen Majester in the pole vault by clearing 14 feet, 5 1/4 inches. Did not qualify for the London Olympics.

JANICE KEPPLER (UA) cleared 13 feet, 11 1/4 inches in the pole vault and finished tied for ninth with Brysun Statley, Leslie Brost and Katherine Viuf. Did not qualify for the London Olympics.

KATIE STRIPLING (UA) failed to clear a height in the pole vault. Did not qualify for the London Olympics.

ON TAP TODAY MEN JEREMY SCOTT (UA) pole vault qual.

ANDREW IRWIN (UA) pole vault qual.