Tyson Gay of the United States looks up to the scoreboard. (Photo credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)(BEIJING, August 16) — The National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, will be the scene for the biggest race of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the sprint to see who will be crowned the world’s fastest man. Tonight’s semifinals saw a massive upset with one of the pre-race favorites, Tyson Gay, failing to qualify by 0.02 seconds.
Usain Bolt will go into tonight’s final as the competitor to beat, after clocking the fastest time in the semifinal, 9.85 seconds. The time put him ahead of fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell who ran in 9.91 seconds, and Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago in 9.93 seconds.
Reigning world champion in the 100m and 200m, Gay failed to qualify after running a time of 10.05 seconds. Gay was the United States best chance for gold.
After yesterday’s heats Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago predicted a sub-9.90 semifinal, at least from himself. “I’m just trying to make it through my rounds but expect 9.80 something,” he said. He ran in 9.97 seconds.
Before competition began, three competitors were tagged as favorites going into this event.
Despite his world titles, Gay’s dominance was in doubt after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 200m at the US National Trials in Oregon, along with the emergence of the new ‘world’s fastest man’, Usain Bolt.
Bolt came from relative obscurity to worldwide attention in the 100m at a Grand Prix event on Long Island, New York, in late May, after demolishing the field and breaking the world record in a time of 9.72 seconds, a stunning result for anyone, let alone a runner who had been seen as a 200m specialist.
He was then recognized as Gay’s main rival, along with fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.
Powell was formerly Gay’s only obstacle in the way of the Olympic title, and had held the record at 9.74 seconds before Bolt’s run in New York.
The 100m is never a two horse race however. Jamaican Michael Frater ran faster than Powell in Round One.
“When you are out there, there are no favorites,” finalist Walter Dix said after round one.
The final will be held tonight, August 16, at the National Stadium in Beijing.
Men’s 100m finalists:
1. Usain Bolt – Jamaica 9.85
2. Asafa Powell – Jamaica 9.91
3. Richard Thompson – Trinidad/Tobago 9.93
4. Churandy Martina – Netherlands Antilles 9.94
5. Walter Dix – United States 9.95
6. Marc Burns – Trinidad/Tobago 9.97
7. Michael Frater – Jamaica 10.01
8. Darvis Patton – United States 10.03
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
