Gay Doubles at USA Championships Takes 200M Title on Final Day

Indianapolis, Ind. – Former Hogs Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon, Jr. took first and second place, respectively, in the 200-meter finals on day four of competition at the AT&T USA Championships at Indianapolis’ Michael A. Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.

With a personal best, a meet recordand the fastest time run in the world this year, Gay won the event with a clocking of 19.62 into a headwind. The clocking moves him to No. 2 on the all-time list behind Michael Johnson’s 19.32. Before today’s race he sat at No. 5 with his former PR of 19.68.

“The wind used to be my worse enemy but I think I have gotten to the point where it doesn’t bother me anymore”, Gay said. “In Osaka (at the World Championships) and the next few weeks in Europe, I’m hoping for a positive wind. I did want to run fast and I wanted the victory. Anytime I’m in a race with Wallace Spearmon, I always run as hard as I can.”

Gay posted the fastest semifinal time earlier in the day on Sunday. His clocking of 20.15 led the pack while Spearmon posted the second-fastest time at 20.33.

Spearmon finished second in the 200-meter finals with a time of 19.89 securing his spot at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Gay won the 100 meters with a clocking of 9.84, a new meet record. Gay will lead the American 100-meter charge that will possibly include LSU’s Trindon Holliday and Florida State’s Walter Dix, who finished second and third, respectively. Former Hog teammate J-Mee Samuels finished fifth in the 100-meter finals to punch his ticket to the World Championships.

All-American and three-time SEC Champion Nkosinza Balumbu finished 10th in a packed triple jump field. His best mark of the day, 51-9.75, came on his third attempt of the prelims.

American record holder Daniel Lincoln finished fifth in the steeplechase with a time of 8:28.32. Sitting in second behind Max King for most of the race, Lincoln made his big move with 1,200 meters to go. Running for 400 meters with Anthony Famiglietti chasing him for the lead, Lincoln moved into first on the bell lap.

Eventual race winner Josh McAdams passed Lincoln with 200 meters to go. McAdams crossed the line in 8:24.46 with Aaron Aguayo and Thomas Brooks closing in quickly at the line to take second and third place, respectively. Famiglietti also beat Lincoln to the line as he finished fourth with a time of 8:27.64.

Said Ahmed finished sixth in the 1,500-meter finals with a time of 3:40.80. Floating among the top three for most of the race, Ahmed was passed by Texas’ Leonel Manzano and Chris Lukezic with 300 meters to go. American high school record holder Alan Webb won the event with a time of 3:34.82, a new meet record.

For complete results, schedule and details of the AT&T USA Championships, visit www.usatf.org.