Gay powers past Powell

GATESHEAD, England (AP): The first big 100-metre clash of the year was won by American Tyson Gay by 0.02 seconds against Jamaica's Asafa Powell at the British Grand Prix yesterday.

Gay timed 9.94 seconds in the Diamond League meet.

"I didn't know I'd won, I wasn't sure," Gay said as he walked back across the track, nursing his right hamstring. "I'm still a bit rusty."

Powell, fastest out of the blocks, said: "I eased a bit too much."

Powell was disappointed more with being passed than his time into a healthy headwind. He'd hyped a good time in the build-up in his first return to the Gateshead track where he equalled his then-world record of 9.77 four years ago.

Last month in Rome he clocked the year's best time of 9.82, which was equalled by Jamaican countryman Usain Bolt on Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Powell and world record-holder Bolt are set to meet in Paris on Friday.

Gay was pleasantly surprised to chase down Powell in the American's first competitive 100 of the season, a week after winning the 200 at Eugene, Oregon.

"I feel good," Gay said. "He's one of my favourite competitors and I managed to get him today. I really had to stretch at the finish line and he did not see me coming so I got the victory. The hamstring is still tight and that is something I am going to have to work on.

"The wind maybe affected times slightly but not too much."

Powell in lane three got the better start and at 30 metres he had a half-metre lead on Gay in lane four. But at the 50m, Gay had drawn level and with just five metres remaining forced his body past the big Jamaican.

"I don't feel that bad," Powell said. "I think I forgot it was Tyson Gay out there. In the last 20-30 metres I should have run differently. But he's a great sprinter and I gave him a chance. I didn't see him coming, but next time I will.

"I got a great start but I need a strong finish, too. I relaxed too soon. It's no setback though because I know what shape I'm in. I know I'll be ready for Bolt next week." Overall, the day was a good one for Jamaican athletes as they posted four wins.

Shericka Williams and Ricardo Chambers took the women's and men's 400m respectively, Kaliese Spencer the 400m hurdles and Dwight Thomas won the men's 110m hurdles.

Sherica Williams held off Jamaican-born American Debbie Dunn to take the women's one-lap event in 50.44 seconds. Dunn took second in 50.66 while another Jamaican, national champion Novlene Williams, was third in 50.90.

Chambers won the men's 400m in 44.98 and Thomas, 13.38, clipped Briton Mike Turner, 13.41, in the 110m hurdles. Spencer was an impressive winner of the women's 400m hurdles in 54.10 seconds.

In the women's 200m, American Bianca Knight, 22.71, finished just ahead of the Jamaican pair of Rosemarie Whyte (22.81) and Anneisha McLaughlin, 22.95.

American Carmelita Jeter, 10.95, led home Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.00) and Jamaica's Sherone Simpson (11.02) in the women's 100m.