By Katie Branham

The men’s 100m had all the trappings of a five-way heavyweight title bout, with some of the greatest 100m men in history vying for the title of World’s Fastest Human at these Games.

Lanes 3-7 featured an all-star lineup of alternating Jamaicans and Americans: former world record holder Asafa Powell in 3; history’s second-fastest man, Tyson Gay in 4; 2012’s undefeated Yohan Blake in 5; 2004 gold medalist Justin Gatlin in 6; and world record holder and defending champion Usain Bolt in 7. Upstart American Ryan Bailey was in lane 8.

The marquee event drew a full house of spectators including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, London Mayor Boris Johnson and basketball players Kobe Bryant and James Harden.

When the gun sounded, Olympic fans saw something they hadn’t witnessed before: Bolt being forced to run -- and run hard -- if he wanted to win. Gatlin (Orlando, Fla.) got out very well, leaving Bolt, running to his right, slightly behind. With Blake and Gay also out strongly, the question of who would eventually win wasn’t answered until at least 60 meters in, when the long-striding, teeth-clenching Bolt pulled away to win in 9.62 seconds, an Olympic record and the second-fastest time in history.

Blake rallied to clip Gatlin for second, with Blake running a personal-best 9.75 and Gatlin third in 9.79, the fastest ever by an American at the Games and a personal best. Gay (Clermont, Fla.) was fourth in a season-best time of 9.80, and Bailey (Salem, Ore.) tied his personal best in fifth (9.88). Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles was sixth in 9.94 and Richard Thompson of Trinidad seventh in 9.98.

Only an apparent hamstring injury suffered by Asafa Powell kept the race from having eight men under 10 seconds. Powell limped home in 11.99.

First through seventh all were the best marks for place in Olympic history, and Gatlin, Gay and Bailey had the best third-, fourth, and fifth-place times in any competition.

Earlier in the night, Gatlin’s 9.82 in the first semifinal was the fastest time ever in a semifinal and the second-fastest 100m performance ever at the Games. Bailey ran 9.96 to qualify second out of heat 2, behind Bolt’s 9.87, and Gay was second in the third semi in 9.90, behind Blake’s 9.85.

 

Originally published by USA Track & Field (http://www.teamusa.org)

 

Police in London said they've arrested a man for throwing a plastic bottle before the start of Sunday night's 100M race, on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. The runners, including Usain Bolt, said the incident didn't affect them

 

 

Men's 100 for the Ages