Gay storms to world 100m victory

Gay won his first major medal in Osaka and will now double up

Tyson Gay ran down early leader Asafa Powell to win the men's 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Japan.

The American's storming finish saw him win in 9.85 seconds with Derrick Atkins coming through to take second in 9.91.

Powell, the Jamaican 100m world record holder, faded in the final 30m to finish third in 9.96, with Britain's Marlon Devonish sixth in 10.14.

"It just feels so good and it was important for me to beat the world record holder," said Gay, 25.

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It was the first time Powell and Gay had met this season but the sizzling showdown between the two failed to ignite in the final.

I'm looking forward to racing Asafa again and I think there will be a great rivalry in the future Tyson Gay

Powell, who has been struggling with a groin injury this summer, led from the gun but started struggling after the 50 metre-mark.

Gay reeled in the Jamaican and passed him to take gold as Atkins also powered past for a surprise silver medal.

"I was real nervous," said Gay, who claimed his first global title on the fast Nagai stadium track.

"Powell had an excellent start but when it got to 60m, I thought I could catch him. I'm looking forward to racing him again and I think there will be a great rivalry in the future.

"I believe I can get the world record another day, but for now this is a stepping-stone and I want to stay focused on Beijing (Olympics)."

Powell, who finished fifth in the 2004 Olympic final and was forced to miss the 2005 Worlds with injury, blamed his lacklustre display in Japan on a stumble out of the blocks.

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He said: "I'm disappointed as I was the favourite to win but I lost the race.

"I felt Gay coming on my shoulder and that's when I panicked. It slowed me down.

"I made a big mistake and things like that do happen. I wouldn't say I cannot shine at the big occasions, it was just an unfortunate incident."

Devonish was also unhappy as he was not able to reproduce his season's best time of 10.06, which would have helped him finish higher than sixth.

"It was always going to be a tall order to get on the podium but I'm gutted," he told BBC Sport.

"I'm better than that. I felt comfortable in the rounds but just didn't come through at the end. I didn't panic, but maybe it was one race too many."

Britons Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis both went out in the semi-finals, Pickering finishing sixth in his semi-final and Lewis-Francis coming home fifth in the other.

Gay will now go for the sprint double when the 200m heats get under way on Tuesday.

That option is not available to Devonish, a former 200m specialist, as the British team did not select him for the longer distance so that he would be rested for the sprint relay.