Tyson Gay served notice to Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell that he is a world-record threat, becoming the third-fastest runner in 100m history in Eugene, Oregon?on Saturday even after slowing before the finish.

Tyson Gay is pictured here after completing 100 meter semi-finals during day three of the US Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, on June 29, in Eugene, Oregon. Later on, he ran the fastest 100 meters in history under any conditions here Sunday, winning the final in a wind-aided 9.68 seconds.[Agencies]

World 100 and 200 champion Gay set an American record of 9.77 seconds to win his 100 quarterfinal heat at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in stunning fashion. He now trails only the Jamaican duo on the all-time performers list.

"I'm not worried about the record," Gay said. "I eased up a little bit. I had my arms in so I wasn't trying to exert too much energy."

Bolt, whose world-record run of 9.72 beat Gay on May 31 in New York, and Powell, whose 9.74 had been the world record until the lightning Bolt struck, are the only faster 100 runners than Gay.

After receiving a wake-up call with an earlier qualifying blunder by slowing too soon, Gay could challenge the world record in Sunday's final, which will decide the three US qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics.

But for all his sprint skills, Gay must reach the podium on Sunday or he will not reach a 100 showdown in Beijing with Bolt and Powell, who qualified on Saturday at the Jamaican trials.

Gay surged from the starting blocks and sped to a quarterfinal victory with a legal wind of 1.6 m/sec to break the old US mark of 9.79 set by Maurice Greene at Athens in 1999, what was then a world record.

"I thank God that I was able to run a PR, but that's what I want to do in the finals," Gay said.

Gay pulled ahead and eased up 20 meters before the finish in his qualifying heat but rivals caught him and he placed fourth, advancing but not without a wake-up call and some advice from coach Jon Drummond after a "boneheaded" move.

"After the first round, I was scared. I almost started crying as soon as I crossed the line because I thought I didn't make it. I was pretty nervous," Gay said.

"My coach told me, 'Champions don't do that. Make it up in the next round.'"

Gay did and overshadowed the women's 100 final, which went to Muna Lee in 10.85 with 2003 world champion Torri Edwards second in 10.90, the same time as 2005 world champion Lauryn Williams, who took the third and last Beijing berth.

"I'm looking forward to Beijing and probably a 1-2-3 US finish," Williams said. "I don't think the final there is going to be as intense as what we experienced today."

Reigning two-time world 200 champion Allyson Felix finished fifth in 10.96, dooming her bid for a 100-200 double at Beijing.

"I don't feel I could have done anything more," Felix said. "It just wasn't good enough to get one of the top three. I can't be too disappointed about it. I'm just looking forward to the 200."

Felix remains eligible for US relays at Beijing as a trials event finalist.

"She is really good," Lee said. "She came into a tough race. You have got to be ready to run the 100."

Lee was involved in a car crash two weeks ago but was unhurt and made the most of her Olympic opportunity with an upset victory.

"I'm really excited to win," she said. "I was coming just to make the team."

Edwards had the fastest time in the world this year, 10.78, in the semifinals, making her the eighth-fastest woman in 100 history and helping eliminate Carmelita Jeter, third at last year's world championships.

Edwards, three years older than her eldest finals rival at 31, missed the 2004 Athens Olympics while serving a two-year doping ban. She won the 2003 world title when original winner Kelli White was disqualified for doping.

Asked if reaching Beijing was vindication, Edwards said, "This is an Olympic year. I'm just concentrating on the Olympic year."

World champion Reese Hoffa won the shot put with a 22.10m effort, a 2008 world best, with world indoor champion Christian Cantwell second at 21.71 and Adam Nelson, the 2000 and 2004 Olympic shot put runner-up, third in 20.89.

"This is just the prelims. The real show starts in about six weeks," Cantwell said. "This was just a plane ticket. Now the fun begins."

World 400 hurdles champion Kerron Clement, a Trinidad native who became a US citizen in 2004 and has the 2008 world best of 47.79 seconds, was the fastest qualifier for Sunday's final, winning his semifinal heat in 48.20.

Lashinda Demus, the 2005 world 400 hurdles runner-up who has this year's top world mark at 53.99, was the fourth-fastest women's 400 hurdles finalist in 55.70. She is making a comeback after giving birth to twin boys last June.

(AFP Via China Daily June 30, 2008)