EUGENE, Oregon—World champion Tyson Gay equaled the fourth fastest 100 meters of all time when he clocked an American record 9.77 seconds in the quarter-finals at the U.S. Olympic trials on Saturday.
The sizzling run followed an embarrassing mistake by Gay in the opening round in which he said he misjudged the finish line and needed a late surge to qualify.
Only world record holder Usain Bolt and Jamaican countryman Asafa Powell, the former record holder, have run faster.
"I thank God that I was able to run a (personal record), but that's what I want to do in the finals," said Gay, whose previous best was 9.84 seconds.
"After the first round, I was scared," Gay said. "I almost started crying as soon as I crossed the line because I thought I didn't make it."
His time broke former world record holder Maurice Greene's 1999 national record of 9.79 seconds and overshadowed Muna Lee's surprising win in the women's 100 meters final.
Lee clocked 10.85 seconds to upset former world champions Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams.
Edwards finished second and Williams third to make the U.S. team for Beijing. Both clocked 10.90 seconds.
Edwards had equaled the eighth fastest women's 100 ever with a time of 10.78 seconds in the semi-finals.
Marshevet Hooker, who had a wind-assisted 10.76 seconds on Friday, was a non-qualifying fourth and world 200 meters champion Allyson Felix took fifth.
"I was coming in here just trying to make the team," said the 26-year-old Lee, who was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team in the 200.
"I felt really well blasting at the beginning and feeling relaxed at the end," she said.
America's top shot putters also earned berths for Beijing.
World champion Reese Hoffa won the event in 22.10 meters with world indoor champion Christian Cantwell second at 21.71m. Two-time Olympic silver medallist Adam Nelson was third at 20.89m.
Hyleas Fountain dominated the heptathlon, winning with 6,667 points, the best score in the world this year.
Gay went from a frightful opening run to America's best in less than three hours.
He had a comfortable four-meter lead by midway the opening race, but slowed down after about 70 meters. The field closed rapidly and Gay, now behind, had to surge for the finish.
He made it, qualifying fourth in his heat in 10.14 seconds to advance.
"(Had I not advanced) it would have been on (television) as one of the most bonehead plays," Gay added.
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