Gay finds his energy, advances to 200 final

Sunday, June 23, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa - After winning the men’s 100 meters Friday night at the U.S. Track and Field Championships, Tyson Gay admittedly didn’t get the rest he needed for Saturday’s qualifying heats in the 200.

Still, Gay (Arkansas Razorbacks) looked solid in Saturday’s qualifiers for the 200.

Gay said he tossed and turned Friday night, replaying his victory in the 100.

But he showed no signs of fatigue as he comfortably advanced out of his opening heat. He was in control the whole way as he won his heat in 20.14 seconds, the third-fastest overall time.

His surgically repaired hip was feeling good, too. Sure, it was a little sore after holding off Justin Gatlin for the 100 title, but not enough to keep him out of the 200.

“I’m healthy, that’s the key,” Gay said. “I’m not trying to be Superman, if my body is really fatigued. … When you’re injury-free, it makes a world of difference.”

Gatlin skipped the 200 because of a tweaked right hamstring, an injury he hid throughout the 100 rounds.

Isiah Young had the fastest time in the first round of the 200, finishing in 20.09. Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Razorbacks), one of the 200 favorites, also advanced.

Brianna Rollins, 21, who starred at Clemson before turning pro this month, won the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.26 to break the U.S. mark set by Gail Devers in 2000.

Seventeen-year-old Mary Cain finished second in the 1,500 meters to earn a spot at the world championships at Moscow in August. She was edged at the line by Treniere Moser. Cain is the first high-schooler to make the world team since Allyson Felix nearly a decade ago.

Sports, Pages 24 on 06/23/2013