Tyson Gay clocks third fastest 200m time ever

TYSON Gay clocked the third fastest ever 200m time at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday and issued a stark warning to Usain Bolt.

BOUNCING BACK: Tyson Gay clocks third fastest ever 200m time at Reebok Grand Prix in New York (Getty Images)

Gay, 26, crossed the line in 19.58 seconds - only Bolt and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson have gone quicker.

The American endured a nightmare 2008 and at the Beijing Olympics was eliminated from the 100m in the semi finals - hampered by the hamstring injury - suffered at the US trials last summer.

Bolt on the other hand toyed with the rest of the sprinting world last year, and eased to 100m and 200m world records in the Birds' Nest, clocking 9.69 secs and 19.30 secs respectively.

But Gay is the current 100m and 200m world champion and insists he has every intention of defending those titles at August's World Championships in Berlin.  

"It does a lot for my confidence," said Gay, who's previous 200m best was a 19.62, set in 2007. "My goal was to run 19.5, but it wasn't a goal to run it this early.

"Normally when I open up in 200, I know where my 100 will be after that.

"I was very surprised because I didn't really have a time goal for this week. It was more work on my start and work on my technique and see what comes out of the execution.

"Usain is probably excited because I'm pretty sure he knows I'm a good curve runner so he knows it's going to benefit him as well, having great competition."

Prior to his injury at the trials, Gay clocked a wind-assisted 9.68 secs in the 100m - 0.01 secs quicker than Bolt's world record, set in Beijing.

And Gay is convinced he will have to re-write the record books in Berlin if he is to stop Bolt adding the world title to his Olympic crown.

"I felt like I let my city down, my state down, my family down after Beijing," he added. "I thought that was kind of selfish of me and I had to get over it. But once I got started training I had to stay focused and redeem myself.

"I believe I I'm going to win in Berlin then it's going to mean breaking Bolt's record. He inspires me to work hard."