Justin Gatlin (right) competes against Tyson Gay (second from left) during the men’s 100m dash final. Photo: IC

Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay served notice they will be ready to challenge Usain Bolt at the London Olympic Games in the 100m after qualifying for the Games with impressive times on Sunday.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who could not defend his crown in Beijing while serving a four-year doping ban, won the 100 final at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in 9.80 seconds, the third-best time in the world this year.

"I think there's a lot left in the tank," Gatlin warned. "I was pleased with my time and the effort I left on the track."

Gatlin, who won the world 60m indoor crown earlier this year, lowered his own season best from the 9.87 he ran to win last month in Doha and served notice he was aiming at reigning Olympic champion and world record-holder Bolt.

Bolt owns the year's best two 100m records, having gone 9.76 to win at Rome last month and 9.79 to win on June 7 at Oslo, and his Jamaican compatriots Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell were also ahead of Gatlin on the 2012 list until Sunday.

"We all have our eyes on that prize we want to get at the end," Gatlin said. "If there are three Jamaicans we have to get out of the way, that will be our goal."

Gay, the former world champion who underwent hip surgery in 2011 and only ran two weeks ago after 50 weeks off, was second in 9.86 with Ryan Bailey third in 9.93 for the last London berth.

"I just wanted to make the team," Gay said. "That's probably all I could ask for right now. I feel like I'm on the way up."

Gay's time ranks seventh on this year's world list and puts him fifth among performers behind Bolt, Gatlin, Blake and Powell.

"I'm just going to continue to take care of my body and stay healthy. That is the big thing," Gay said. "A lot of these guys are already sharp and running great times. I believe it's going to be tough. I'm just going to go fight them."

Walter Dix, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and 2011 world runner-up, was eighth in the final in 10.95 after straining a left leg muscle in the earlier semi-finals, an injury that could hinder his hopes in next week's 200m.

Former world champion Sanya Richards-Ross, aiming for a 200m and 400m double at London, secured the first part of her bid by winning the 400m in 49.28.

Reigning 400m Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, who served a 21-month doping ban but won a legal fight for his chance to compete at London, qualified to defend his crown by winning in 44.12 seconds, lowering his own 2012 world best.

AFP - Global Times