Sport
Americans Gatlin, Gay ready to face Jamaican sprinters, Bolt, Blake in London
Justin Gatlin beats Tyson Gay. PHOTO/Simon Bruty/SI
Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay served notice they will be ready to challenge Usain Bolt at the London Olympics in the 100 meters after qualifying for the Games with impressive times.
Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who could not defend his crown in Beijing while serving a four-year doping ban, won the 100 final at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in 9.80 seconds, the third-best time in the world this year.
“I think there’s a lot left in the tank,” Gatlin warned. “I was pleased with my time and the effort I left on the track.”
Gatlin, who won the world 60m indoor crown earlier this year, lowered his own season best from the 9.87 he ran to win last month in Doha and served notice he was aiming at reigning Olympic champion and world record-holder Bolt.
“I don’t think I would come back to a sport where I’m OK getting second or third,” Gatlin said.
Bolt owns the year’s best two 100s, having gone 9.76 to win at Rome last month and 9.79 to win on June 7 at Oslo, and his Jamaican compatriots Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell were also ahead of Gatlin on the 2012 list until Sunday.
“We all have our eyes on that prize we want to get at the end,” Gatlin said. “If there are three Jamaicans we have to get out of the way, that will be our goal.”
