The reigning world sprint double champion from Osaka, Japan in 2007 had hinted that he was prepared to defend his titles in Berlin in August, and backed his statements with the third-fastest ever time over the 200m.
Gay Surprised Even Himself
Only Bolt’s Beijing Olympic world record of 19.30sec and American legend Michael Johnson’s Atlanta performance of 19.32sec in 1996 are quicker than Gay’s time.
“I was very surprised. My goal for the 200m this summer was to run 19.5sec but I wasn't expecting to run it so early,” Gay said after he improved the 19.62secs PB he ran to win the US trials in Indianapolis in 2007.
“It shows I'm pretty fit. I haven't done any speed-work yet, but the 400s I did earlier showed my fitness,” he added.
Sending a Message to Usain Bolt
The performance by the 26-year-old in the Icahn Stadium would have made even the usually laid back Bolt rise and take some note.
“(Bolt) is probably excited" about this fast 200m, Gay conjectured. “I'm pretty sure he knows I'm a good curve runner, and he knows that will benefit him and he'll have good competition.
“He knows where his fitness is, because he ran 14.3 for 150m. He knows where my fitness is, now. I'm pretty sure he's looking forward to it.”
Gay and Jamaicans to Battle This Summer
And that’s no joke.
Bolt, the Jamaican sprint phenomenon resurrected the sprinting world in Beijing last summer when he sped to two individual world records on his way to winning the coveted Olympic 100m and 200m sprint double.
He was also a member of the Jamaican team that broke the 4x100m relay world record – improving the previous mark from 37.40sec to 37.10sec.
Bolt won all but one race in his breakthrough season in 2008, losing only to fellow countryman Asafa Powell in Stockholm, prior to getting sweet revenge when it matters inside the Bird’s Nest.
The Caribbean sprint marvel showed that his performances a-year-ago were no mistakes, after he destroyed a strong field to set a world record of 14.35sec in the 150m in Manchester in May.
Making his performance even more remarkable was the fact that he said he was only 70-percent fit, this after returning from a car accident in Jamaica.
Same Predictions As Last Year
So here we have it again, we are in the middle of another thrilling campaign and the predictions are identical to that a season ago.
As it was last term, the top track and field experts have once again short listed three men -- Bolt, Gay and Powell to battle hard for the sprinting supremacy in Berlin.
Powell Behind Gay and Bolt
But while two of the three – Bolt in Manchester and Gay in New York – have already made their marks, the third, Powell is yet to show his full potentials this season.
The former world record holder was expected to easily brush aside a useful 100m field at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday, but ended up fading to seventh place in 10.10sec.
Powell’s appearance was a little surprising to many, as although he declared himself fit to compete, his coach Stephen Francis had hinted he may skip the meeting to recover fully for the next assignment.
As can be seen that did not materialized.
Now after taking a breather and having some time to take a look back at his wayward display from the Reebok, Powell, the man many regard as Bolt’s biggest rival for the 100m title in Berlin, must be kicking himself for not taking his coach’s hint.
