by Larry Eder
Final, Men’s 100 meters, from left to right, Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt, photo by PhotoRun.net.
In the aftermath of a well run 100 meters, Tyson Gay, the silver medalist and new American record holder at 9.71, has withdrawn from the 200 meters to focus on the 4 x 100 meter relay.
Tyson Gay has been complaining of his groin muscle this summer, and the 100 meters, where he brought the US record from 9.77 to 9.71, was a hard race. The U.S. obviously wants to avenge it’s failure in 2008. Head coach Harvey Glance, at the press conference on August 13, 2009, made it abundantly clear that Tyson Gay was on the team, as he said, : “Until Tyson comes to me and says, Coach, I can not run on the relay, he is on my relay team.”
Doug Logan, CEO of USA Track & Field commented on Tyson’s selfless decision:
“Tyson Gay’s performance on and off the track is a model for athletic excellence, sportsmanship and dignity in defeat. We fully support and are humbled by his decision to put the team first and withdraw from the 200 meters so he can better prepare for a potential contribution to the 4×100 relay. I have been impressed with Tyson every step of the way leading up to Berlin, and never moreso than at these championships.”
Here is the official release, courtesy of USATF:
Gay withdraws from 200; hopes to compete on 4×100 relay
BERLIN – American record holder Tyson Gay will not compete in the 200 meters at the World Championships and instead will focus on preparing for a possible appearance in Team USA’s 4x100m relay.
Competing all season with an injured groin, Gay ran an American record 9.71 seconds in Sunday night’s final of the men’s 100 meters to win the silver medal. The effort took enough of a toll on Gay that he decided resting would better serve the interests of Team USA and himself.
“Rather than risk further injury, I’ve decided that I will not compete in tomorrow’s first round of the 200m,†Gay said Monday night. “I would like to be a part of Team USA’s 4x100m and believe this decision will give me the best chance to be ready for the relay. I want to help our relay as best I can.”
Team USA will determine its first-round relay lineup after the men’s 200m final on August 20. The first round of the relay is on Friday, August 21, with the final on Saturday, August 22.
For more information on Team USA at the World Championships, visit www.usatf.org
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