Gay finishes second, advances to London
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Updated: June 24, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. - For the second time in his career, Tyson Gay will represent Team USA at the Summer Olympics after his performance Sunday at Hayward Field. The former Razorback finished in second place in the finals of the 100 meters, crossing the line in a season-best time of 9.86. The 100-meter competition in London will begin Saturday, August 4.
"It was pretty tough going through the rounds," Gay said after the final. "It was a bit of a mental struggle but I just had to refocus to get ready for his crowd. My goal (at the Olympics) is definitely to bring home the gold. It's my only option right now."
Gay, the 2008 Olympic Trials champion, will be joined in London by winner Justin Gatlin (9.80) and bronze finisher Ryan Bailey (9.93). He previously experienced the Olympics during the 2008 season in Beijing. Gay is entered to compete in next week's 200-meter rounds but official start lists are still pending. It was the second 100-meter race of the day coupled with the semifinal.
The semifinal of the 100 meters was contested earlier Sunday. As he did in the first round, Gay finished with the second-fastest qualifying time in the heats. Running into a headwind, he won heat three of the semifinal round with a time of 10.04. In Saturday's first round, Gay crossed the finish in a time of 10.00.
Current Razorback Andrew Irwin opens his Trials competition Monday with the qualifying round of the pole vault. He will be joined in the field by former Arkansas competitor Jeremy Scott. The pole vault qualifying is scheduled to begin Monday at 7:30 p.m. (CT) with the top 12 moving on to Thursday's final.
