EUGENE, Ore. -- Carmelita Jeter's torn quadriceps? Much better.
Tyson Gay's blemished reputation? Still under repair.
Two of the top American sprinters have some mending to do at nationals this weekend.
For Jeter, it's about restoring confidence after an injury that has hindered her since 2013. For Gay, the former Arkansas Razorback, it's about moving on from a one-year doping ban that led to the U.S. men's team being stripped of the 2012 Olympic 4x100 relay silver medal.
John Smith, the coach of both athletes, is trying to relaunch their careers, with Jeter running the 100 and 200 at nationals while Gay concentrates on the 100.
Smith has long worked with Jeter, who hurt her quadriceps so badly in 2013 that she won a bronze medal at world championships "on one healthy leg," Smith acknowledged. She underwent surgery to fix her quadriceps muscle, and it's been a slow process getting her back up to speed.
"What she's gone through to get back is far greater than anything she's ever done," Smith said. "I could see her leave practice ready to quit, but not quitting.
"Sometimes it would hurt me just to watch her, knowing something was there, but that we had to be patient."
A few weeks ago at practice in Los Angeles, Smith saw glimpses of the form that helped Jeter become the second-fastest woman ever in the 100.
"She may get mad at me for saying this, but I'm excited because she's going to do well here," Smith said. "She knows how to go get this [title]."
Smith is just getting to know Gay, who started working with Smith in April.
Gay, the American record-holder in the 100, received a one-year ban that started June 23, 2013, for testing positive for steroid precursor DHEA. The penalty eventually was reduced because Gay provided information that led to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's case against his former coach, Jon Drummond. Gay also accepted a loss of results dating to July 15, 2012, which included the London Games.
Gay, 32, ran last season about 20 pounds over his usual weight. Down to 175 -- "his fighting weight," Smith said -- Gay already has one of the world's fastest times in the 100 this season, running 9.88 at the Prefontaine Classic last month.
"I expect Tyson to run like a freight train this week," said rival sprinter Justin Gatlin, who is competing only in the 200 after earning an automatic bye to worlds in the 100 courtesy of his 2014 Diamond League title. "Tyson's going to do whatever he has to do to make a team and make a statement."
Precisely Gay's intention.
"I kind of broke down last year. I was stressed out and overweight," Gay said. "It was more so about my character and my name. It was about the fact that people believed I was doing steroids and stuff like that, and no one really ever considered that it was a mistake.
"I want to make the [U.S.] team, man."
Sports on 06/25/2015