Athletics:Tyson Gay lived up to his top billing at the London Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace, winning winning in commanding fashion in a time of 9.78 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and second fastest ever recorded on British soil.
Just seven days after ending Usain Bolt’s two-year unbeaten streak in Stockholm, Gay stormed to victory despite the damp conditions, getting a flying start and powering to the line ahead of Jamaican’s Yohan Blake, who set a personal best of 9.89secs.
“It feels good,” said Gay with considerable understatement. “I just prayed to get through the race healthy because my groin was getting a little tight. I had to make sure I stayed warm so I didn’t pull anything.
“I tweaked it in the prelim (heat) but I think it’s okay. It’s been a good week. I have a great team surrounding me and it’s my third victory here.”
Jamaica's Asafa Powell, who has the fastest time of the year, pulled out of the race on Thursday due to injury.
American Bernard Lagat spoiled double European champion Mo Farah's homecoming with victory in the 3000m. Lagat, former world champion over 1500m and 5000m, pulled away from Farah and Australian Collis Birmingham on the final bend to ease to victory in seven minutes 40.36 seconds.
Farah, who won the European 5,000 and 10,000 titles last month, was roared on by a capacity crowd desperate to see him win but for once he had to settle for second.
"My plan was just to hang back a little bit because I knew I hadn't raced in three weeks," said the 35-year-old Lagat. "I wanted to see how I felt, and I felt good. Mo is a great athlete and I knew he was running strongly and I'm glad I was able to run with him really well today."