Trinidad’s Marc Burns added the World Athletics Final title to the World relay silver he won in Helsinki earlier this summer when he won the men’s 100m by one hundredth of a second from Ghana’s Aziz Zakari and Jamaica’s Dwight Thomas.
Burns got the verdict in a photo-finish, clocking 10.00, while Zakari and Thomas were both given 10.01.
At first Thomas, in lane five, thought he had won and began to celebrate as his name appeared on the giant scoreboard. But he had been concentrating on Zakari in the lane next to him and didn’t see Burns in lane eight as the Trinidadian stuck his chest out for the victory.
In the absence of world silver medallist Michael Frater – the Jamaican was a non-starter – it was these three who dominated the race.
Zakari and Trinidad’s Darrel Brown got the best starts but Thomas made up ground in the second half of the race and appeared to have done enough to win at the close.
But late lunges from Burns and Zakari relegated him to third on the line.
MB