Tyson Gay runs 9.94 seconds to beat Asafa Powell at South Korea meet

Gay edges Powell to win South Korea meet

DAEGU, South Korea — American sprinter Tyson Gay won the 100 meters, edging Jamaican Asafa Powell at the Daegu Pre-Championships Meet.

Gay finished in 9.94 seconds on Friday, while Powell was second in 10.00 at Daegu Stadium.

“I’m happy to have ended my season here in Korea with a win and sub 10-second result,” Gay said. “I have a long flight home tomorrow but can’t wait to get there.”

In the women’s race, Carmelita Jeter of the United States won in 10.83 seconds.

It was Gay’s third competition in less than a week. On Sunday, he clocked 9.69 — equaling the second-fastest time ever — at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

On Wednesday, he posted a slower 10.13 at the Super Track and Field meet in Japan.

Gay’s time in Shanghai matched Usain Bolt’s then-world record at the Beijing Olympics. But the Jamaican has since beaten that mark, running 9.58 at last month’s world championships in Berlin. Gay took silver in 9.71.

Bolt had originally planned to take part in Friday’s one-day meet in the southeastern South Korean city of Daegu, but pulled out citing fatigue.

In Shanghai, Jeter became the second fastest woman of all time, winning the 100 in 10.64. Only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner ran faster a total of three times, including her world record of 10.49 set in 1988.

In other events Friday, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the pole vault in 4.60 meters. She then failed to clear 4.85, far off her world record of 5.06. Monika Pyrek of Poland was second with 4.50.

In the men’s 200, Wallace Spearmon of the United States won in 20.29. Jeffrey Lawal Balogun of Britain placed second in 20.98, and Kim Collins was third in 21.19.

Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain won the 800 in 1:45.09. Ali Belal Mansoor placed second in 1:45.29.

Joseph Kiplimo of Kenya won the 5,000 in 13:24.92, with Sammy Alex Mutahi of Kenya finishing second in 13:25.14.