Thessaloniki (Greece), Sep 13 (DPA) Tyson Gay of the US beat Jamaica’s Asafa Powell in the men’s 100 metres at the World Athletics Final here.
Gay clocked 9.88 seconds with a late surge to edge Powell (9.90) and Darvis Patton of the US (10.00) here Saturday.
Gay took advantage of the absence of Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, who was a spectator in the stadium ahead of his participation in the 200m.
Meanwhile double world and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele outsprinted Bernard Lagat of the United States with victory over 3,000 metres.
The 27-year-old Ethiopian, who won over 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the world championships in Berlin, clocked 8 minutes 3.79 seconds to beat Lagat again into second place.
Lagat, beaten by Bekele in the 5,000m final in Berlin 20 days ago, posted 8:04.00, with Kenya’s Sammy Mutahi (8:04.64) third.
“I ran pretty well but it was not an easy race after a very long season. I am very tired and so I will not run tomorrow’s 5,000 metres,” said Bekele, who since Berlin had won a share of the Golden League jackpot.
Elsewhere world champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States was supreme in winning the 400m in 44.93 seconds, ahead of Chris Brown of Bahamas (45.49).
Russia’s Elena Isinbayeva won the pole vault with a height of 4.80m, well short of her world record mark of 5.06m set at the Golden League meeting in Zurich, Aug 28.
Allyson Felix beat US compatriot Sanya Richards in a dead-heat finish in the women’s 200 metres in which both timed 22.29 seconds.
Kenya’s David Lekuta Rudisha triumped in the men’s 800m in 1:44.85, while Nancy Jebet Langat made it another Kenyan win in the women’s 1,500m in 4:13.63.
Veteran Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania produced a 67.63m throw to defeat world champion Robert Harting of Germany in the men’s discus.
Kerron Clement of the United States won the 400m hurdles in 48.11 seconds, while Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton won the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.58, edging Dawn Harper of the United States (12.61).
Brittney Reese of the US captured the long jump in 7.08 metres, world championship silver medallist Betty Heidler of Germany threw a best of 72.03m to win the hammer throw, and world champion Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia dominated the high jump with a victory at 2.34m.
Ethiopia enjoyed a one-two in the women’s 5,000m, with Meseret Defar (15:25.31) just getting the better of Tirunesh Dibaba (15:25.92) and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot (15:26.21).
Total prize money of just over $3 million is up for grabs at the two-day 36-event meeting, with $30,000 going to the winners of each competition and a bonus of $100,000 awarded for any athletes who beat a world record.
rounak