Gay is world's fastest
Monday, August 27, 2007
TYSON GAY edged Asafa Powell to win the 100m world title in 9.85 seconds yesterday as invincible Swedish glamour girl Carolina Kluft retained her heptathlon crown.
US star Gay was red hot and never looked like being beaten as Jamaican world record holder Powell (9.96s) faded to third behind Derrick Atkins (9.91s) from the Bahamas.
It was a long anticipated meeting between two men at the height of their game, but despite Gay's pre-championship predications, Powell's world mark of 9.77 remains intact.
"I was screaming for joy when I crossed the line," said Gay.
"All I did was focus on reacting. My coach helped me a lot, he told me I was going to be world champion. At 70 metres, that's when I started reacting and kicking.
"I started to run like crazy, that's when I knew I really had a great chance to win the race."
Powell said he panicked when he saw Gay on his shoulder and it cost him the race. "I felt him (Gay) coming on my shoulder and that's when I panicked. It slowed me down."
Kluft, unbeaten since 2002 in the seven-sport spectacle, posted a new European record of 7,032 points to shut out arch-rival Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine who scored 6,832 and Britain's Kelly Sotherton on 6,510.
The 24-year-old racked up personal bests in the high jump and 100m hurdles which got her off to a flying start on Saturday and she never looked back.AFP
US star Gay was red hot and never looked like being beaten as Jamaican world record holder Powell (9.96s) faded to third behind Derrick Atkins (9.91s) from the Bahamas.
It was a long anticipated meeting between two men at the height of their game, but despite Gay's pre-championship predications, Powell's world mark of 9.77 remains intact.
"I was screaming for joy when I crossed the line," said Gay.
"All I did was focus on reacting. My coach helped me a lot, he told me I was going to be world champion. At 70 metres, that's when I started reacting and kicking.
"I started to run like crazy, that's when I knew I really had a great chance to win the race."
Powell said he panicked when he saw Gay on his shoulder and it cost him the race. "I felt him (Gay) coming on my shoulder and that's when I panicked. It slowed me down."
Kluft, unbeaten since 2002 in the seven-sport spectacle, posted a new European record of 7,032 points to shut out arch-rival Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine who scored 6,832 and Britain's Kelly Sotherton on 6,510.
The 24-year-old racked up personal bests in the high jump and 100m hurdles which got her off to a flying start on Saturday and she never looked back.AFP
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