Gay cramps in 200m quarters

EUGENE – World 100- and 200-metre champion Tyson Gay will not repeat his golden double at the Beijing Olympics after cramping and falling Saturday in a 200 heat at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials.

But fears of a major injury that would keep Gay from a Beijing 100-metre showdown next month against Jamaican stars Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell were eased when Mark Wetmore, Gay’s agent, said there was no other apparent damage. Gay, starting in lane seven, sped out of the blocks in the first 200m quarter-final heat and ran about 15 steps before falling to the track with what Wetmore termed a severe left hamstring cramp, stunning 20 000 at Hayward Field.Wetmore said Gay had felt some tightness in the hamstring while warming up and that after Gay was carried off the track on a stretcher he had returned to his hotel room and was resting with his physiotherapist.Bolt set the world record of 9,72 seconds on May 31 at New York, beating Gay and breaking the old mark of 9,74 held by Powell.A showdown among the three to decide who is the world’s fastest man is expected to be among the signature moments of the Beijing Olympics.An Olympic dream also died for 1996 Olympic 110m hurdles champion Allen Johnson, who at 37 was bidding for a fourth Olympics but pulled up after the fourth hurdle of his 110m hurdles qualifying heat.Johnson said he injured a tendon in his left leg six weeks ago.Two-time women’s world champion Allyson Felix, thwarted in her bid for a 100-200 double by a fifth-place finish in the 100m final, led 200 finalists by winning her semi-final heat in 22,22, the fastest time by an American in 2008 Muna Lee, the 100m winner, and fellow 100m qualifiers Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams all advanced to the 200m finals, keeping alive Beijing double bids.Reigning Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford won his semi-final heat in 20.21 for the best wind-legal run of those advancing to Sunday’s final after Gay’s shocking ouster in the earlier round.Women’s world indoor 60m hurdles champion Lolo Jones had the fastest time in 100m hurdles quarter-finals, winning her heat in 12,59.Nampa-AFPGay, starting in lane seven, sped out of the blocks in the first 200m quarter-final heat and ran about 15 steps before falling to the track with what Wetmore termed a severe left hamstring cramp, stunning 20 000 at Hayward Field.Wetmore said Gay had felt some tightness in the hamstring while warming up and that after Gay was carried off the track on a stretcher he had returned to his hotel room and was resting with his physiotherapist.Bolt set the world record of 9,72 seconds on May 31 at New York, beating Gay and breaking the old mark of 9,74 held by Powell.A showdown among the three to decide who is the world’s fastest man is expected to be among the signature moments of the Beijing Olympics.An Olympic dream also died for 1996 Olympic 110m hurdles champion Allen Johnson, who at 37 was bidding for a fourth Olympics but pulled up after the fourth hurdle of his 110m hurdles qualifying heat.Johnson said he injured a tendon in his left leg six weeks ago.Two-time women’s world champion Allyson Felix, thwarted in her bid for a 100-200 double by a fifth-place finish in the 100m final, led 200 finalists by winning her semi-final heat in 22,22, the fastest time by an American in 2008 Muna Lee, the 100m winner, and fellow 100m qualifiers Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams all advanced to the 200m finals, keeping alive Beijing double bids.Reigning Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford won his semi-final heat in 20.21 for the best wind-legal run of those advancing to Sunday’s final after Gay’s shocking ouster in the earlier round.Women’s world indoor 60m hurdles champion Lolo Jones had the fastest time in 100m hurdles quarter-finals, winning her heat in 12,59.Nampa-AFP