EUGENE, Ore. — A light cool-down jog, maybe a quick ice bath for her legs and then a call to her grandmother in Mississippi.
That’s pretty much the extent of Tori Bowie’s celebration plans after winning the 100-meter title at the U.S. championships on Friday night.
She needs all the rest she can get since the first round of the 200-meter race begins Saturday.
One title is nice. Two would be even better.
Legs willing, of course. She’s still debating whether or not to even run.
Same with men’s 100-meter winner, Tyson Gay. He’s entered in the 200, but if he feels the slightest bit of weariness, he’s not going to risk it.
“My body feels good. Just a little fatigued,” Gay said.
No surprise, since it pretty much took everything Gay had to hold off the kid in the lane next to him. Gay trailed moments into the race only to zoom past Baylor standout Trayvon Bromell for the win on a scorching evening.
“Man, that kid is tough,” Gay said about the 19-year-old Bromell. “He got out good and I had one of those 10-years-of-experience, dig-down moments.”
The 32-year-old Gay finished in 9.87 seconds to secure a spot at the world championships in Beijing this summer. Michael Rodgers was third to also make the world team along with Justin Gatlin, who didn’t compete because he had an automatic bye courtesy of his Diamond League title.
Gatlin will be in the field for the 200.
In the women’s 100, Bowie started off slow but quickly gained ground on leader English Gardner, taking the crown in 10.81. Oregon star Jasmine Todd wound up third. Carmelita Jeter, who’s working her way back from a quadriceps injury, was seventh.
Following the race, Bowie couldn’t wait to call her grandmother, who played a big role in her life.
“She always told me I could do whatever I set my mind to,” Bowie said.
Gay hasn’t competed at worlds since 2009. He missed the 2011 competition with a hip injury and qualified in 2013, but withdrew after failing a drug test that resulted in a one-year suspension.
He returned last summer and has been making changes ever since, switching coaches and coasts as he moved from Florida to California. He wears his hair longer and has a new sponsor in Nike.
The one thing he can’t change? His perception after his doping suspension.
“I’ve got a second chance to make up for the mistake I made,” Gay said. “I’m here to do that.”
On his victory lap, Gay received plenty of gifts. Someone gave him a teddy bear. Another fan handed him a book. Even more wished him well.
“That meant a lot to me,” Gay said.
Not as much as beating Bromell, who sensed Gay rapidly approaching, but couldn’t hold him off.
“I knew what kind of competitors I had in the race,” said Bromell, who’s putting off a decision whether he will turn pro or return to Baylor for his junior season. “I came out with second so I was happy.”
Bromell has quite a medical history. He broke one of his knees goofing around with a friend in eighth grade. Broke the other in ninth grade playing basketball. Then, in 10th grade, he fractured his hip while running the 100.
“Didn’t have breakout season until my senior year,” he explained.
He keeps getting better and better. His Baylor coach, Todd Harbour, considers him in the same class at this age as past Bears greats such as Jeremy Wariner and Michael Johnson.
“Trayvon’s perspective is amazing — how he handles success, how he handles defeat, how he handles setbacks,” Harbour said. “He keeps it all level.”
Other things to know from Friday’s competition:
BIG SURPRISE: Sanya Richards-Ross missed out on qualifying for the 400 final. She finished fifth in her heat during the semis. Richards-Ross could always make the team as part of the relay. Allyson Felix won her heat to advance.
ENGLISH LESSON: In the semis of the 100, English Gardner ran a world-leading time of 10.79 seconds. “I had an amazing day,” Gardner said. “If you had asked me two months ago if English Gardner would make the U.S. team, I’d have said, ‘Heck, no.’ The 10.79 is just a plus — the cherry on the cake.”
FAMILY AFFAIR: Skyview High grad Kara Winger won the javelin Friday after watching her husband, Russ, finish second in the discus the day before. “I was so proud of Russ,” she said.
HARDEE PERFORMANCE: Trey Hardee ran away with the decathlon title, especially with Ashton Eaton sitting the event out since he had an automatic bye to worlds. Hardee finished with 8,725 points, 461 more than Jeremy Taiwo. “I’m like a fine wine. I get better with age,” the 31-year-old Hardee said.
