Tyson Gay surged ahead in the last half of the race to win the 100m in 9.88 seconds and Sanya Richards broke the 22-year-old US 400m record at the World Cup on Saturday.
Taking advantage of the absence of the world record co-holder Asafa Powell, who chose to run only in the relay, Gay ran very close to his personal best of 9.85. The world record is 9.77.
Gay's run made him the second-fastest 100 winner in the history of the competition, now in its 10th edition. Obadele Thompson of Barbados won the 1998 race in Johannesburg in 9.87.
PHOTO: EPA
"I didn't expect to run that fast so I am excited," Gay said. "It was hard being in the outside lane."
The American was never threatened and crossed the line well ahead of European champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, who clocked 10.09. Americas' Marc Burns of Trinidad was third in 10.14.
The US team went two-for-two in the 400m when Richards breezed home in 48.70, the fastest time of the year and a US record. Richards, world silver medalist last year, was the first woman to break 49 seconds this year and became the seventh fastest 400m runner of all time. She is undefeated this year in the 400m.
"Before the race I talked to my dad and he said, `you in lane 7, you can't see anybody.' So I just ran my race," Richards said.
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