What Is Going On In The 200?

It is utterly shocking that not one runner has cracked 20 flat this season. This after last season saw five runners broke the 20 second barrier almost at will. Last season Tyson Gay (19.62), Xavier Carter (19.63), Wallace Spearmon (19.65), Walter Dix (19.69), and Usain Bolt (19.75) all made a major impression on the 200’s all-time list.

Tyson Gay holds the world leading time this season at 20 flat from his performance at the Jamaican Invitational. The 20.08 that Gay ran at the Adidas Track Classic was run into a -1.2 headwind. Which means he could have possibly dipped under 20 seconds had it not been for the twister blowing during the race.

Usain Bolt has not run a 200 this year and who can you blame him? Meet directors have been showing him the money to run the 100 ever since running the impressive 9.76. The 21-year-old Jamaican is set to run his first 200m at the Golden League Meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 12. You can look for Bolt to be in the mix this season when it counts.

The most surprising name not on this list is that of Walter Dix, the reigning NCAA 200-meter champion. He has been sidelined most of the indoors and outdoors with injuries. So far this season Dix’s fastest time has been 20.90, which he ran in Atlanta on May 18.

This time has to be a disappointment to Dix after last season when he burned up the track with a 19.69. That time set the new NCAA outdoor record at 200-meters. But don’t count him out. Dix is a tremendous talent and has the ability to summon his entire being to beat a talented NCAA 200-meter field led by Brendan Christian of LSU, who has already run a 20.21 this season.

Top 10 World Performance List Courtesy IAAF

20.00 Tyson Gay, 5/3/2008
20.08 LaShawn Merritt, 5/09/08
20.08 Tyson Gay, 5/18/08
20.12 Brendan Christian 5/08/08
20.17 Churandy Martina 4/12/08
20.21 Brendan Christian 5/17/08
20.25 Xavier Carter 4/12/08
20.29 Gerald Phiri 5/18/08
20.30 Xavier Carter 5/18/2008

By Jay Hicks.