Gay Tops 100m Record-Holder to Claim Gold

Powell hears footsteps, takes 3rd behind new Olympic favorite
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 26, 2007 1:03 PM CDT
Gay Tops 100m Record-Holder to Claim Gold
USA's Tyson Gay, left, reacts after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the final of the Men's 100m dash at the World Athletics Championships Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007 in Osaka, Japan. At right is Jamaica's Asafa Powell who finished third in the race. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)   (Associated Press)

American Tyson Gay blazed past the world co-record holder in the last 20 meters of the 100m dash to take gold in the World Championships today in Tokyo. Jamaican Asafa Powell was faster out of the blocks, but "I panicked," he said. "I felt him coming on." Gay broke the tape in 9.85 seconds; Powell's 9.96 left him in third.

Bahamanian Derrick Atkins overtook the Jamaican at the finish line to nab second place in 9.91. With the victory, Gay automatically becomes the favorite for the 2008 Olympics. "After 60 meters I saw that I could catch him—and it worked," he said. Powell is already looking toward Beijing: "Next year, I will get him." (More running stories.)

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