Report10 Jul 2010


Gay powers past Powell in last 20m in Gateshead - REPORT - Samsung Diamond League

FacebookTwitterEmail

Gay and Powell racing over 100m in Gateshead at the Aviva British GP - Samsung Diamond League (© Getty Images)

Asafa Powell is a relaxed sprinter these days. A little too relaxed as it turned out this afternoon, for the Jamaican let victory slip from his grasp by easing up in the final metres of his much anticipated 100m clash against Tyson Gay at the Aviva British Grand Prix – Samsung Diamond League – in Gateshead (10).

The first battle of the year between two of the ‘big three’ of world sprinting was the headline event of the eighth Samsung Diamond League meeting, and the principal actors didn’t disappoint as Gay fought back to erase Powell’s unbeaten season record, in 9.94.

That time might not sound special these days, but given that they were sprinting into a -1.7m/s wind it was impressive running for by a man competing in first 100m race of the year. More importantly, it was 0.02s ahead of Powell.

“I felt good,” said Gay. “Asafa’s one of my favourite competitors and I managed to get him today. I really had to stretch to the finish line and he didn’t see me coming. The wind maybe affected the time slightly, but not much.”

Gay laid down the gauntlet in his heat. With winds swirling off the River Tyne and down the home straight, it wasn’t really a day for swift times. But Gay cut through the breeze in 9.96 (-1.6) shutting down suddenly over the last three strides to protect his vulnerable hamstring. Powell responded with 10.11 (-2.0) in his heat, easing down even further out.

It was a trick he repeated, much to his downfall, in the final. Powell got out fast in lane three, with Gay chasing him hard in four. But the American appeared barely to be closing until the final 30 metres, and as Powell leaned back, assuming the victory was his, Gay lunged for the line.

“I think I forgot it was Tyson Gay out there,” admitted Powell. “In the last 20-30m I should have run differently. But he’s a great sprinter and I gave him a chance. I didn’t see him coming.”

>>Click here to read the full Gateshead meeting report on the Samsung Diamond League Website<<

>>Click here for Event reports<<

Samsung Diamond League

Pages related to this article
Competitions
Loading...