Tyson Gay Struggles as Bolt, Powell Ease Through

With a time of 10.09 seconds in the second round of the Olympic 100m finals, Tyson Gay did not strike fear into either of his Jamaican rivals, Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt.

Gay, who came second in his second round race with a time of 10.09sec, looked like he was expending a lot of energy from the start. Only easing down in the last 15 metres, he could never get ahead of Trinidad & Tobago’s Richard Thompson, who finished ahead of him in 9.99s.

Gay never looked like he had the potential to hit the heights of the 9.68s time he ran at the American Olympic trials, and former US sprinter Michael Johnson commented that he looked "very rusty—not at all race sharp".

Having made it through the heats without creating a stir, Bolt and Powell may have been expecting their American rival to send them a distinct message, with a blistering time.

From what Gay produced, however, they may now be less worried about the threat he poses—believing his struggles with injuries have got the better of him.

It is not all over for Gay, however. With a false start hanging over his race, the American was never going to take too many chances from the outset. A busy running style at the best of times, he will certainly feel he has a lot more to offer in this event.

Still, at this stage it is Usain Bolt who looks by far the most assured of the three men. Almost walking through his first heat, in a time of 10.09s, the 6ft 5in sprinter proceeded to win his second round heat in a time of 9.92s.

An average time, you may think, but Bolt was looking round to check his position even before he had hit the halfway mark. Having, like Gay before him, opted for a conservative launch after a competitors false start, it seems highly unlikely that Bolt will not run sub-9.75s at some point in this competition.

When he asked how much he had left in the engine, he confidently replied, “A lot.” Pressed further, he only commented that, “I got a good start, and executed the race well”.

The question, however, is whether Bolt can go on and get it done in the final. Physically he looks imperious, but Bolt is a relative novice in an event where the mental aspect is so important. For evidence of this, just ask Bolt’s compatriot, Asafa Powell.

Powell, who had physio treatment after his first round heat, raised some questions about his fitness with his first performance. However, in the second round he eased to victory with a reassuring display.

Powell, who apparently avoids any contact with the extrovert Bolt, placated some of the fears as he comfortably overcame the second round opposition, in 10.02s.

Like the other Jamaican, he seems capable of running a lot faster.

But, as he and the world are all too aware, massive question marks surround his performance on the biggest stages of all. While Bolt may be unproven at this level, Powell is—as a choker.

Gay, on the other hand, knows how to get the job done. At the moment he is the least impressive of the three sprinters, but I doubt the American will be giving up any hopes of Olympic gold just yet.

The semifinals are tomorrow, with the final at 22.30h Beijing time.