Gay injured at U.S. Olympic trials

It may have looked worse at first, but former Razorback Tyson Gay crumpled to the track in Eugene, Ore., earlier this afternoon during the 200-meter quarterfinal heat in the U.S. Olympic trials.

Here’s more from ESPN.com and the Associated Press:

Running in the seventh lane, Gay was speeding to the lead in the first turn, but on his 14th stride, something went wrong. He went airborne, fell, then laid on the ground in pain, grabbing his left thigh and grimacing.

After he was taken off the track, Gay told ESPN The Magazine’s Luke Cyphers that he had a cramp in his hamstring, not a pull.

About an hour after the injury, officials from USA Track and Field also said Gay appeared to have pulled up with a severe cramp, but he was still being evaluated.

Gay set the American record in the 100 meters (9.77 seconds) last week and then set a would-be world record with a 9.68 second run in the finals but the record did not count because of wind aiding his run.

Here’s more from AP:

The injury potentially would open up another spot in the 200, where Gay, Wallace Spearmon, Xavier Carter, Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix were considered among the top runners going for only three spots.

Spearmon is a former Fayetteville High and Arkansas sprinter.

UPDATE (Sunday, 12:50 p.m.): Gay has a mild muscle sprain in the back of his leg and has been advised by doctors after an MRI to limit himself to light physical activity for the next two weeks. Gay is scheduled to run the 200 meters at the Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 15.

Spearmon advanced to the finals Saturday with a second place showing in his heat and third overall with a time of 20.05. He’s now one step away from the Olympic games.

– Brandon Marcello 

Filed under: Other U of A Sports, Uncategorized by Brandon Marcello. Posted on: July 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm