Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

After a year of recuperating from hip surgery, track star Tyson Gay will represent the United States of America this summer at the Olympic Games in London.

The former Razorback earned the slot after finishing second in the finals of the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Justin Gatlin, the gold-winner from the 2004 games, beat Gay by 0.06 seconds with a time of 9.80. Both runners will go to London where they expect to meet their chief rival, Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

Bolt currently holds the record for the 100 meters at 9.58 seconds. Gay is second on the list - and is the fastest American - with a time of 9.69. Gay beat Bolt in 2010, Bolt's first loss in two years.

Gay seemed elated after the race:

“Bittersweet. I always like to win,’’ Gay said. “I came in second. But at the end of the day, it was about making the team. I got to make sure I turn this little bit of a frown into a happy face...

“I’m on my way up. This is only my second race of the year and I only started training in March.”

While Gay is plotting his comeback from injury, Gatlin is coming back from a four-year suspension for doping that led him to him not being able to compete in the 2008 games at Beijing.

During his two-year career at Arkansas, Gay was a two-time NCAA Champion and seven-time All-American. He also managed to collect five SEC titles and was named All-SEC six times.

Another Arkansas athlete, Andrew Irwin, will compete in today's Olympic Trials for a chance at London in the pole vault.