Gray ran the world's second fastest 800 meters in 1995, 1:43.36, in winning the B race at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich. Only world champion Wilson Kipketer ran faster last year, 1:42.87.
At 35 Gray is going strong and is looking forward to his 5th U.S. Olympic Trials and 4th Olympic 800 final in Atlanta. He was 7th in 1984 in L.A., 5th in 1988 in Seoul, and 3rd in Barcelona.
Gray's 15-year long dominance of the U.S. scene is amazing. He was ranked among the top 3 Americans in the half-mile for 12 consecutive years, from 1984 to 1995, including 7 times at the top of the list. He made the U.S. top 10 list in 15 of the last 16 seasons. The streak was broken in 1981, when he was injured and did not compete.
From 1984 to 1995, the Crenshaw High and Santa Monica CC graduate was ranked 10 times among the world's top 10 half-milers, twice at number 2, in 1985-when he set the 1:42.60 American record which still stands-and in 1993. World record holder Seb Coe is the only other 800 runner in history with 10 appearances on the world list.
Gray broke 1:43.0 four times and is still the only American under this limit. He has the 9 fastest times ever by a U.S. runner, 10 of the 11 fastest, and 15 of the fastest 20.
Though one of the tallest runners on the international circuit at 6-3, Gray has fared very well indoors. He holds the U.S. undercover records in the 800 meters (1:45.00), 880 yards(1:46.8; the mark, set at the 1986 L.A. Invitational, is still a world best) and 1000 yards (2:04.39), and has 5 of the world's 10 fastest 800 times ever run indoors.
At the L.A. Invitational Gray will be representing the Santa Monica Track Club and Olympic sponsor The Home Depot. Gray is part of The Home Depot's Olympic Job Opportunity Program which employs over 100 Olympic hopefuls throughout the country.
High school events start at 10 a.m., the Invitational at 5 p.m. Reserved tickets are on sale at the Sports Arena Box Office (213) 748-6131, and Ticketmaster outlets. For additional information about the meet including entry information, schedule of events, group sales, etc.) call 310-535-9230 or dial in to L.A. Invitational web site at http://home.earthlink.net/~worldsports/