London 2012: 5 Things Adidas Grand Prix Reveals About Track at Olympics

While it was no 9.69 seconds, American Tyson Gay posted a 10.0 in his 100-meter dash victory Saturday. The Adidas Grand Prix was held by the Samsung Diamond League over the weekend. It provided a stage for numerous high profile athletes to kick-start their 2012 London Olympic campaigns. 

Almost a full year removed from his acetabular labrum surgery last July, Gay hit the ground running in his preparation for the upcoming Olympic trials. He won the first 100-meter race of the day by a full .3 seconds.

Gay's result was not the only intriguing story to come out of the Grand Prix. Here are five important developments we learned Saturday and how they could affect the London games this summer.

America Will Once Again Be a Force in the 400-Meter Races

In 2008, Team USA swept the podium in the men's 400-meter with LaShawn Merritt taking home gold. The team that ran the 4x400-meter relay also set an Olympic record in their gold medal run. It appears that four years later, the results have not changed.

American Jordan Boase was victorious in the first 400-meter race Saturday. He was followed closely behind by teammate David Neville in third. 

In the second 400 of the day, Jeremy Wariner finished second while running a better time than both Boase and Neville. Wariner finished with a silver medal in the event at the 2008 games. Right behind Wariner at the Grand Prix was fellow American Calvin Smith in fourth place. 

With all these high finishers at the Adidas Grand Prix, coupled with Merritt's return from a 21-month ban, it would appear Team USA will once again be the favorite in the 400 and 4x400.

Team USA May Do Damage in the Men's 1,500-Meter

At the Beijing Games, no Americans were able to qualify for the men's 1,500-meter final. It was a disappointing showing for Team USA, who performed admirably and successfully in many other events. 

What made the 1,500 at the Adidas Grand Prix meaningful was the performances of Bernard Lagat and David Torrence. The duo finished in first and third place, respectively. Lagat was Team USA's best in Beijing, but was able to shave more than three seconds off his Olympic time Saturday in New York.

Lagat's three minutes, 34.63 seconds would have placed him in sixth place in Beijing, while Torrence's 3:35.48 would put him 10th.

This means the two runners have improved in the event and should manage to battle their way into the finals, where anything is possible. 

Allyson Felix Has Some Local Competition in the 200-Meter

American athletes swept the top-three spots in the women's 200-meter race on Saturday. The Adidas Grand Prix saw Sonya Richards take first place with a time of 22.09 seconds. 

Richards was trailed by teammates Bianca Knight (22.46) and Mikele Barber (22.96). None of these women competed in the 200 at the 2008 Olympic games. Los Angeles native Allyson Felix has earned the silver medal at each of the past two games, but she could have some company this summer.

Richards owns three medals already, being a member of the back-to-back gold winning 4x400 relay team. She also took an individual bronze in Beijing's 400. Should she choose to compete in the event this year, her Grand Prix time would have placed her inside the top five of the 2008 results. 

Jesse Williams Is USA's Best High Jump Hope Since 2004

Team USA had a poor showing in the high jump event in Beijing. However, Jesse Williams' performance Saturday could mean that a America will have a successful event in London. 

The Modesto, CA native leaped over the 2.36-meter bar at the Adidas Grand Prix. That height ties his indoor personal best. It also would have tied him with the gold medalist at the 2008 Games. Williams is the current world champion in high jumping after his gold medal performance in 2011 in South Korea.  

If Williams can repeat what he accomplished this past weekend in London, America could be looking at its first Olympic high jump medal since 2004.

Tyson Gay Will Resume His Olympic Medal Quest

What we learned from Tyson Gay's performance at the Adidas Grand Prix was that he is on his way back. While he didn't blow the competition away—in fact, he was only the fourth-fastest time in the combined results of the two races—he is working his way back and presumably will contend at the Olympics. 

It was a sad story in Beijing for the Kentucky native. After winning three gold medals at the World Championships in 2007, Gay was a favorite at the 2008 Games. A hamstring injury during a 200-meter race late in the season put Gay on the shelf leading up to the Beijing Games. 

He made an effort there, but had lost his rhythm and the opportunity for multiple golds went out the window. On top of missing the podium, he saw his star dwarfed by Usain Bolt, who grabbed the world's attention in Gay's race. 

The 10.0 second finish in New York doesn't mean Gay will have enough to win a medal in London, but it does mean he is on the right track to earn that opportunity.