Tyson Gay overcame Olympic bronze medallist Justin Gatlin's quicker start and sped to the year's fastest 100 metres, clocking 9.75 seconds at the US trials for the world championships on Friday. Fully fit for the first time in years, Gay took control mid-race with a dominant run to equal the 10th fastest 100m of all time. Gatlin finished second in 9.89 seconds in the race at Des Moines, Iowa.
"It's been five years since I have been the US champion and it feels good to be back on the podium," said Gay, beset by injuries since winning both sprint titles at the 2007 world championships. "I'm not as sharp as I could be but I'm healthy so that's all that counts," said Gay, who ran another 9.75, this one wind-assisted, in the semi-finals.
Gatlin, who surprised Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt in Rome earlier in the month, said he was affected by a strained right hamstring. "It felt good running 9.8 with a bandage on," said the 2004 Olympic gold medallist who narrowly edged Gay for the bronze medal at last summer's London Games. Charles Silmon grabbed the third spot on the US team for the August 10-18 world championships by edging Mike Rodgers by two thousandths of a second. Silmon ran 9.972 and Rodgers 9.974.