Tyson Gay, Carmelita Jeter Stun Sprint World

Just when we thought the outdoor Track and Field season was winding down, several brilliant performances at Sunday's Shanghai Golden Grand Prix meet gave track fans a reason to look ahead.

Typically, this late in the season, times and distances diminish as athletes are nursing nagging injuries and fatigue. It has, after all, been a long and memorable Track and Field season.

However, two American sprinters served notice that even more memorable times may be forthcoming. And for American track fans, any challenge to the surging Jamaican sprint teams is welcome news.

Tyson Gay lowered his own American record in the men's 100 meters, running the second fastest time in history, 9.69 seconds, equaling Usain Bolt's old world record set in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And this, with a painful groin injury which will require surgery in the off-season.

Gay's previous American record was a blistering 9.71, set only weeks ago in a second-place finish to Bolt at the Berlin World Championships.

It was at Berlin where Bolt set his new astonishing world record of 9.58.

Jamaica's Asafa Powell finished a distant second to Gay on Sunday in a respectable time of 9.85.

Carmelita Jeter (who has been thriving of late, as her competitors have been wilting under late-season weariness) also established herself as the second fastest woman in history with a scorching time of 10.64 in the women's 100 meters. Jeter just inched under Marion Jones' best mark of 10.65 set in 1998.

Jeter, who recently tagged a 10.67 at the World Athletic Finals in Greece, still has some work to do to approach the world record.

The late Florence Griffith-Joyner put that mark almost out of reach in 1988 with a Bolt-esque time of 10.49.

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown was distant runner-up to Jeter on Sunday, again with a respectable time of 10.89.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, who missed his much-hyped showdown with the world in Beijing, stole the crowd's favor in his hometown, Shanghai.

In his first performance since coming up lame in the Olympics, Liu came in second in a photo finish with American Terrance Trammell. The winning time was 13.15.

Liu's entrance back into the hurdles mix assures an interesting year ahead with the likes of Cuba's Dayron Robles, Barbados' Ryan Brathwaite, and Trammell all establishing themselves in Liu's absence.

Russian vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva also won in her expected duel with Poland's Anna Rogowska. After clinching the win at 15'-11", Isinbayeva failed in three attempts at her 28th world record.

The efforts of Gay, Jeter, and Liu sent positive signals to a Track and Field fan base eager for a resurgence of their sport, following years of decline due to doping scandals and poor marketing.

And now, at least a glimmer of hope exists that the untouchable marks of Flo-Jo and Bolt are within reach.

Rojofact: Carmelita Jeter is the sister of NBA point guard Pooh Jeter.