Gay runs 9.78 to set fastest 100 in 2010

LONDON (AP):

Tyson Gay ran the fastest time in the world this year to win the 100-metre final at the Diamond League meet yesterday, finishing in 9.78 seconds to blitz a field missing injured Jamaican rivals Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.

Gay, the 2007 world champion, led from start to finish on a wet track to set a record time at the Crystal Palace event.

"I wasn't expecting to go that fast in these conditions but I knew I was in good shape and was going to go fast," Gay said. "I wasn't necessarily sending a message to Asafa and Usain - I was just running my own race.

"I think there's more to come. It's great to be on top of the world, that's important to me."

Yohan Blake of Jamaica was second in 9.89, with Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago third in 10.05.

Bolt and Powell, who were both out with back injuries, had previously jointly held the world's fastest time in 2010 at 9.82 seconds.

Last Friday in Stockholm, Gay ran 9.84 for his previous fastest time in 2010 for his first victory over Bolt. It was Bolt's second-ever loss in the 100 and the world-record holder later announced he would sit out the rest of the season to be ready for next year's World Championships.

Powell pulled out of the meet on Thursday, saying he had not recovered from the nagging back problem that forced him out of the Stockholm race.

Gay had qualified in 10.02 for yesterday's final, the quickest time from the two heats, but giving no indication he was ready to run so fast on a track that was wet after a heavy downpour just before the start of the meet.

Still dealing with injuries

But in the final - the last race of the night - Gay stormed out of the blocks to comfortably lead by the 70-metre mark. He then pulled further clear at the end despite saying afterward that he was troubled by a groin complaint.

"I was hobbling a bit at the end - my groin is a little sore but I'm sure it's OK," Gay said. "This is not the best shape I've ever been in because I'm still dealing with a few little injuries. My coach said that I can run 9.7 in any conditions and I think I showed that tonight."

In the women's 100 hurdles, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada produced the world's fastest time this year to win in 12.52.

She blew away a strong field to finish well clear of Australia's Sally Pearson, who had been quickest out of the blocks before timing 12.61. Lolo Jones of the United States was third in 12.66.

"I feel that my mental strength gave me the edge. I just felt very good," Lopes-Schliep said. "My warm-up went good, I just knew it was going to be a brilliant day."

Allyson Felix maintained her superb form this season with an easy victory in the 200.

The American finished in 22.37 to claim a fifth Diamond League win this year. Three have come in the 200 and she has only lost once in any event all season.

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was second in 22.88 and Jamaica's Sherone Simpson was next in 23.04, while her countrywoman Kerron Stewart was fifth in 23.28.

"I was really focusing on executing the race and not so much on time because conditions weren't that great," said Felix, a three-time 200 world champion.