DES MOINES, Iowa: Tyson Gay rocketed to the year’s fastest 200 meters, clocking 19.74 seconds at the US trials on Sunday to set up a double sprint clash with Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt at August’s world championships.
The big victory came two days after Gay ran a world-leading 9.75 seconds to win the 100 meters at the US meeting here.
“It feels good to do that,” said the 2007 triple world champion who has been beset by numerous injuries since then. “I am just happy to be healthy.”
Collegian Isiah Young took second place in the 200 at 19.86 with Curtis Mitchell third at 19.99.
The win assured Bolt and Gay, barring injury, will both be in the 100 and 200 meters at the Aug 10-18 championships in Moscow.
Bolt won the 100 at the Jamaican championships in Kingston this weekend and has a wild card bye in the 200 meters.
Both also will run the 4x100 meters relay for their nations in Moscow.
Jamaican sprinters have dominated the Americans in the past two Olympics and world championships.
Gay, who displaced Bolt as the year’s fastest 200 meters runner, would not be drawn into a war of words over whether the US sprinters were ready to end Jamaica’s streak.
“It’s no secret Usain Bolt is obviously the greatest of all time,” Gay said. “He’s definitely going to be prepared.”
Gay’s triumph overshadowed losses by Olympic champions Aries Merritt and Allyson Felix on the final day of the US trials.
World 110 meters hurdle record holder Merritt, coming back from a hamstring injury, finished third behind Ryan Wilson and David Oliver but still made the US team.
Wilson ran 13.08 followed by Oliver at 13.11 and Merritt in 13.23, with only the top three finishers in each event qualifying for the worlds.
Collegiate champion Kimberlyn Duncan upset Felix in the women’s 200, winning in a wind-assisted 21.80 seconds to Felix’s 21.85. Jeneba Tarmoh took third.
Olympian Duane Solomon took the men’s 800 meters final in a world-leading one minute 43.27 seconds, and London Olympics gold medallist Jenn Suhr dominated the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.70 meters (15 feet, 5 inches).
Fraser-Pryce, Weir win
Jamaican 200 titles
In Kingston, Jamaica, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Warren Weir, medallists at the London Olympics, ran away with the 200m titles at the final day of the Jamaica Athletics Championships on Sunday.
Fraser-Pryce, who blazed the curve and straightened long before her rivals, crossed the finish line in 22.13 seconds with training partner Sherone Simpson second in 22.55 and training partner Anneisha McLaughlin third in 22.58.
“I came out here tonight to get a good run and I am glad I finish healthy, because that is priority now,” Fraser-Pryce said.
Fraser-Pryce, the London Olympic silver medal winner and Beijing and London Olympic 100m champion, chose not to run the 100 to better focus on the longer distance in the qualifying meet for the World Championships at Moscow in August.
Weir, the 200m London bronze medallist, had time to beat his chest as he crossed the finish line in 19.79 seconds before Nickel Ashmeade took second in 20.06. Jason Livermore was third in 20.10 with a 0.9m/sec tailwind.
Without reigning world and Olympic two-time champion Usain Bolt or injured sprint star Yohan Blake entered in the 200, Weir’s title effort might seem a bit hollow, but he said his chest-thumping was meant to send a message to all.
In the men’s 400m, Javere Bell won in a career-best 45.08, with Javon Francis second in a personal-best 45.24 and Akheem Gauntlett third in 45.48.
Novlene Williams-Mills took the women’s 400 final in 50.01 ahead of Stephanie McPherson, runner-up in a personal-best 50.28, with Patricia Hall third in 51.13.
McPherson, who was the fastest Jamaican coming into the trials, felt fortunate to have even made the world squad.
“On the backstretch, I felt my spikes leaving my right leg, and the same thing at the 200m mark, so it kind of threw me off a little bit, but I did enough to make the team,” she said.
Danielle Williams won the women’s 100 hurdles title in 12.69 while Kimberly Williams took the women’s triple jump crown with a leap of 14.40m.
