Gay flies in wind-aided 100

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Tyson Gay was a blur, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has. His time of 9.68 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday doesn't count as a world record, because it was run with the help of a too-strong tailwind.

Here's what does matter: Gay qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he's someone to watch in Beijing.

"I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me," the 25-year-old Gay said.

Wearing a royal blue uniform with red and white diagonal stripes across the front, along with matching shoes, all in a tribute to 1936 Olympic star Jesse Owens, Gay dominated the competition. He started well and pulled out to a comfortable lead by the 40-meter mark.

This time, he kept pumping those legs all the way through the finish line, extending his lead. In Saturday's opening heat, Gay pulled way up, way too soon, and nearly was caught by the field, before accelerating again and lunging in for fourth place.

No such close call this time.

No one ever has covered 100 meters more quickly. The previous fastest time under any conditions was 9.69, run in 1996 by Obadele Thompson, who now is married to Marion Jones.

Gay's race came with the wind blowing at 4.1 meters per second; anything above 2.0 is not allowed for record purposes.

"I didn't really care what the wind was," Gay said.

Walter Dix, the 2007 NCAA champion from Florida State, overtook Darvis Patton in the final 20 meters for second place. Dix clocked 9.80 and Patton 9.84, as each of the first six finalists turned in times under 10 seconds.

"When I looked up and saw the numbers," Dix said, "I was like, 'Wow, that's fast."'

After the race, Gay and Dix looked at each other and slapped palms, then hugged.

Recounted Dix: "He said, 'We did it. We both did it. We made it to Beijing. We're going to Beijing."'

The official world record is 9.72 seconds, set by Jamaica's Usain Bolt on May 31 in New York — with Gay a distant second. That race sent Gay and his coach, Jon Drummond, to work, tinkering with the runner's start and style.

Drummond noticed Gay was bringing his feet too high behind his back with each stride, and they worked to correct that. Clearly, it's paying off.