Gay returns to win 100-meter "B" race

NEW YORK (AFP) –

Tyson Gay of the USA (L) wins the Men’s 100 meters heat B against (L-R) Aaron Armstrong of Trinidad, Kemar Bailey Cole of Jamaica and Jason Young of Jamaica at the 2012 Adidas Grand Prix race at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York.

Former world champion Tyson Gay made a triumphant return to competition after almost a year off with a victory on Saturday in a 100-meter “B” race at the Diamond League meet in New York.

The 29-year-old American, running into a headwind of 1.5m/sec, won in 10.00 seconds with Jamaican duo Kemar Bailey Cole and Jason Young second and third in 10.30sec in a photo-finish.

Gay won the 100, 200 and 4×100 titles at the 2007 world championships in Osaka but has been nagged since then by injuries, including one that required hip surgery last year.

“For my first race in a while, that’s not a bad time,” Gay said. “I didn’t run bad times, but I was always worried about my hip. I’m running now with confidence, a new confidence, you might say.”

The race serves as Gay’s only tune-up for the US Olympic athletics trials later this month at Eugene, Oregon. Gay had not run since last year’s US world championships trials at Eugene.

“It feels good to be back,” Gay said. “I was pretty nervous. I’m satisfied with the time. I had no pain. I felt good. My fitness level is getting better. I have a couple of weeks to sharpen before the trials. My confidence is OK.”