Tyson Gay won his much anticipated 100m showdown with Asafa Powell at the Diamond League meeting in Gateshead on Saturday, edging the Jamaican on the line in a time of 9.94 seconds.
Powell, who has the fastest time in the world this year along with world record holder Usain Bolt, finished 0.02 seconds behind the American.
Gay, the second-fastest man this season, showed no signs of the hamstring injury that has hampered his season in his first competitive outings over 100m.
He had comfortably won his heat, running 9.96 seconds into a headwind on a warm, overcast day.
“I feel good. He’s [Powell] one of my favorite competitors and I managed to get him today,” Gay told reporters. “I really had to stretch to the finish line and he didn’t see me coming today, so I got the victory. The hamstring is still tight and that is something I am going to have to work on.”
Powell, who has fond memories of Gateshead after equaling his then world record of 9.77 seconds on the track in 2006, blamed his loss on the fact he had eased off after a blistering start.
“I don’t feel that bad. I was pushing through to the line and started to ease up a bit too much,” the 27-year-old Jamaican said. “I relaxed too soon and he got me on the tape. It’s no set back though, because I know what shape I’m in.”
Walter Dix continued his strong showing over 200m after beating Gay at the Prefontaine Classic, holding off Wallace Spearmon on the line for his fourth Diamond League victory of the season in 20.26 seconds.
World heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, back in action after a virus, finished a disappointing last in the 200m, but was happier with her throw of 46.15 in the javelin as she continued her build-up to the European championships in Barcelona this month.
World leader Lolo Jones of the US was a class above the rest of the field in the 100m hurdles, taking the lead after the first couple of barriers and remaining untroubled for victory in 12.79 seconds.
Czech world record holder Barbora Spotakova struggled to get over 60m in the javelin, finally finishing third with a best of 62.02m on her final throw. South African Sunette Viljoen won the event with a throw of 64.32m.
World champion Phillips Idowu enjoyed a better time in the triple jump, winning with a leap of 17.38m to give himself a confidence boost ahead of the European championships.
Kenya’s Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop pulled away on the home straight to beat compatriot Augustine Choge in the men’s 1,500m in 3 minutes, 33.34 seconds.
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