American Tyson Gay recovered from a slow start to capture the men's 100-metre event Sunday at the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan.

Gay caught up to and passed Asafa Powell of Jamaica to win his first gold medal at a major international championship in 9.85 seconds.

Tyson Gay celebrates after winning the gold medal in the final of the men's 100-metre event at the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan.
(Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)

"After 60 metres, I saw that I could catch him — and it worked," Gay said. "I stayed relaxed and believed in my top speed even though I had a bad start."

Powell was also passed by Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas at the line in 9.91, finishing third with a time of 9.96.

"I panicked. I felt him coming on," said Powell, who is the co-holder of the world record at 9.77. "That slowed me down.… I made a big mistake."

Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., failed to qualify for the final. 

As the gun sounded in front of 40,000 fans at the Nagai stadium, Gay got off to his usual slow start. However, as the race progressed the American maintained his stride and eventually overtook Powell.

Although the Jamaican was disappointed with his effort following the race, he envisions a different outcome at next year's Beijing Olympics.

"Next year I will get him," promised Powell. "But for now, I am very disappointed." 

In other events, New Zealand's Valerie Vili won gold in the women's shot put with a top throw of 20.54 metres. Vili defeated defending world champion Nadyesa Ostapchuk of Belarus, who settled for silver, while Germany's Nadine Kleinert earned the bronze.

Ecuador's Jefferson Perez claimed his third world title in the men's 20-kilometre walk with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 20 seconds. The former 1996 Olympic champion held off Spain's Francisco Javier Fernandez and Hatem Ghoula of Tunisia.

Sweden's Carolina Kluft won her third consecutive world heptathlon championship. Ukraine's Lyudmila Blonska took silver, with Kelly Sotherton of the United Kingdom winning bronze.

Kluft easily stretched her five-year unbeaten streak, earning 7,032 points to eclipse Russian Nikitina Larisa's 18-year-old European record by 25 points.

Mixed results for Canadians

Canada's Adam Kunkel remained in the medal hunt of the men's 400-metre hurdlers after finishing second in his semifinal heat behind American Kerron Clement. The native of Paisley, Ont., raced to a time of 48.66 seconds to advance to Tuesday's final.

Kunkel won a gold medal at the recent Pan American Games in Brazil with a Canadian record 48.24.

"For the final, I think I'll have more in the tank again and I would like to better my time from the Pan Am Games," he said. "That's definitely in the cards. I get an extra day's rest before I get to go at it."

Meanwhile, Victoria's Diane Cummins failed to qualify for the 800-metre final following a seventh-place finish during her semifinal heat.

Cummins also won gold at the Pan Am Games, but struggled with the heat and humidity on Sunday.

With files from the Associated Press and the Canadian Press