Gay sprints to fastest time of the year to defeat Gatlin, Bolt wins 100m at Jamaican trials.. Asafa Powell OUT!

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.

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 Aug. 10-18 world championships by edging Mike Rodgers by two thousandths of a second. Silmon ran 9.972 and Rodgers 9.974.



World record holder and Olympic champion Usain Bolt put in a workmanlike display to win the 100 metres at the Jamaican trials for the world championships.

Bolt recovered from a slow start to catch Nickel Ashmeade at the 50-metre mark and clocked a time of 9.94 seconds after easing off over the last 10 metres.

The sub-10 second run was the 35th of his career.

"It was good to win ... I'm not too worried about the time as I have one solid month to work on getting ready for Russia," Bolt said

"The start wasn't perfect, but the drive phase was better than it was when I lost to (Justin) Gatlin and then the turbo chipped in," the 2009 world champion added, noting that coach Glen Mills advised him to do just enough to win.

Kemar Bailey-Cole sneaked up to take second in 9.98, while Ashmeade, who made the 200m final at the 2011 world championships, placed third in 9.99.

In the surprise of the trials, former world record holder Asafa Powell failed to fire in his third straight race in two nights, finishing seventh in 10.22.

Bolt expressed sympathy for Powell, who has struggled with hamstring troubles this season. 

"Asafa has been through a lot this season and I was surprised he ran at these trials," the six-time Olympic gold medallist said.

"He will just have come again on the European circuit."

Olympic double sprint silver medallist Yohan Blake will be the fourth Jamaican in the men's 100m in Russia by virtue of being the defending world champion.