All’s well that ends well and indeed it was Tyson Gay’s blitz finish that saw the American outshine world record holder Asafa Powell and win the men’s 100m title in the at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Gay was a little slow off the block, while Powell, the world record holder, was quick to grad early lead, Gay, however, more than made up for the average start with a blistering finish to clock 9.85 seconds and finish first. Derrick Atkins came second with a timing of 9.91, while Powell, faltering in the final 30m, had to be satisfied with a third place finish after he timed it 9.96.
Gay’s joy knew no bound after he won the race and the 25-year-old American said
It just feels so good and it was important for me to beat the world record holder.
I was real nervous. 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.
Powell, on the other hand, said he panicked when Gay closed in the gap and that cost him the title in the end.
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.
Gay also made it clear that his next target would be to better Powell’s world record but insisted he was not in a hurry. For the time being, the Beijing Olympic would be his focus, Gay said.
