Monday, September 14, 2009
SALONIKA, Greece: Former world champion Tyson Gay sprinted to victory in the 100m at the IAAF World Athletics final on Saturday, but was overshadowed by superstar Usain Bolt, who wasn't even competing.
Bolt, the triple Olympic and world champion, runs in the 200m on Sunday, but he made a brief appearance on the track to take the applause of the 25,000 fans, producing his trademark repertoire of comic gestures.
American Gay won the 100m in 9.88sec with former world record-holder Asafa Powell in second spot, the Jamaican clocking 9.90sec.
"I am very happy with my win," said Gay. "I tried hard to beat Asafa and I didn't quit the race, even though I was far behind him. My groin was sore but that didn't stop me chasing him and finally beating him. I had great energy inside me."
Powell said: "After 80 metres I thought, 'That's it'. I saw him coming, but I couldn't react. I thought I had it at 80 metres."
Yelena Isinbayeva, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the women's pole vault, won her fifth World Athletics Final with a 4.80m clearance, well short of her 5.06m world mark set in Zurich last month.
"This victory was revenge after my defeat in Berlin (at the world championships)," said the 27-year-old Russian. "I had my ups and downs during the season, so I am very happy with today's win. I still think that a 5.20m jump is reachable."
In the men's 3,000m, where he has been unbeaten since September 2006, Kenenisa Bekele claimed another victory after moving to the front at the bell. Bekele won in 8min 03.79sec ahead of America's Bernard Lagat.
The Ethiopian double world and Olympic champion at 5,000m and 10,000m then said he would skip Sunday's 5,000m and end his season due to to fatigue.
Among the other highlights, America's world champion Allyson Felix won the women's 200m in 22.09sec, edging out compatriot Sanya Richards, the 400m champion from Berlin.
Other world champions who tasted victory on Saturday were LaShawn Merritt (400m) and Kerron Clement (400m hurdles).
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ISSN 1563-9479 
