Gay sprints to 19.41 world best on 200m straight
INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay set a new world best in winning the 200 meters on a straight track Sunday at the Powerade Great City Games in Manchester, U.K.
A triple gold medalist at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships, Gay ran 19.41 seconds into a slight headwind on a specially constructed 200m straight track on the streets of Manchester. The previous world best of 19.5 was set by the legendary Tommie Smith back in 1966 on a cinder track in San Jose, Calif. Smith was trackside for Gay's race and told BBC Sports "It was a great race."
Gay came into the race having run 44.89 over 400m on April 17 in Gainesville, Fla. His impressive time over 400m made him the first man to run under 10 seconds for the 100m, 20 seconds for the 200m and 45 seconds over 400m.
For more information on the Powerade Great City Games, visit www.iaaf.org.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
3 comments:
My recollection is that Tommie Smith's race was 220 yards, not 200meters. Can anyone confirm? --michigander
On May 7, 1966, Smith set a world best of 19.5 seconds in the 200 meters and 220 yards in 1966, running on a straight cinder track at San Jose State.[3] That "world best" for 200 metres was finally beaten by Tyson Gay on May 16, 2010, just over 44 years later.[4], though Smith still holds the best for the slightly longer 220 yard event. Since the IAAF has abandoned ratifying records for the event, Smith will retain the official record for the straightaway 200 metres/220 yards in perpetuity.[5] wikipedia.com
I'm concluding that the race was indeed a 220-yarder, and assume that the 19.5 stood additionally for the 200 meters only because Smith was not clocked at the shorter distance. Given the 1-1/4 yard difference, Smith's performance may still be the better one, and given 44 years of elapsed time, all the more so. I hereby cast my vote for Tommie Smith as the greatest 200-meter runner of all time.
Post a Comment