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Start key to beating Bolt: Gay
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-27 08:17

Start key to beating Bolt: Gay

EUGENE, Oregon: American world champion Tyson Gay believes he is capable of challenging Usain Bolt's 100m world record - if he can improve his start.

"Pretty much when I become more technically sound out of the blocks," Gay said on Thursday after running a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in his first 100m of the season at the US World Championship trials.

"I have the mechanics. I have the coaching... it's there."

Only six times has the 100m been run faster than Gay's 9.75 under any conditions. Two were by Bolt, who holds the world record of 9.69. Gay was 0.01 faster with a wind-assisted 9.68 at the 2008 US Olympic trials. His best without a beneficial breeze is his American record 9.77.

The pair are unlikely to face each other until August's Worlds, where both are scheduled to run the 100 and 200.

"I'm looking forward to a fast race," Gay of their highly anticipated Berlin showdown.

"I ran a wind-aided 9.7. He ran a wind-aided 9.7. We are both showing great fitness."

Gay's execution on Thursday was anything but satisfying for the athlete, though. "I ran a horrible race," he said.

Reuters

(China Daily 06/27/2009 page12)