Powell, Gay fail to beat Gatlin in Lausanne

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Justin Gatlin powered past Jamaican Asafa Powell and fellow American Tyson Gay here on Thursday to remain unbeaten since 2013.

Tyson Gay of the US, Justin Gatlin of the US and Asafa Powell of Jamaica compete in the 100 meters men event at the IAAF Diamond League Athletissima athletics meeting at the Pontaise Stadium in Lausanne, Switzerland, July 9, 2015.??[Photo/Agencies]

The 33-year-old veteran, the fastest man so far this season, clocked 9.75 seconds to win the men's 100 meters sprint, which is not a Diamond Race event here at the Athletissima.

Gatlin's time is just 0.01s off pace from the season's world leading result of himself, set in May at the IAAF elite races' opening event, the Doha Diamond League meeting.

Powell finished second in 9.92 seconds and Gay in third on the same time Thursday night at the ninth of the 14 stops Diamond League series.

"I've been wanting to go faster," said Gatlin, who has served two doping bans. "During the race I was in my zone and it felt really great."

With Jamaica's 100m world record holder Usain Bolt pulling out of a 200m in Lausanne as pre-caution to a leg injury, the 2004 Olympic champion restated his form as the August 22-30 world championships is just around the corner.

"It's not a message to anybody," said Gatlin. "Usain is a great opponent, so it's on me to go out and give him the best challenge I can. Hopefully he will be healthy and ready to go for the world championships."

He went on to comment on his arch-rivals at the 14,000-packed Stade de la Pontaise.

"I love this track! Last year I ran 9.79sec, this year there was more competition with Gay and Powell," commented Gatlin.

"It's always good to face the best. It's like a heavyweight boxing match. That's what I want to do.

"I'm happy for Tyson as well since one of my big objectives is the American record," he added.

Gay has been deprived all achievements since 2012, including an Olympic silver medal, after tested positive for doping and banned for one year.

Asked his chance of beating Gatlin in Lausanne, the former world champion told a pre-race press conference that "Justin can be beaten anytime but we must admit that he has been running great this season."

The 33-year-old, whose season best is 9.87 at last month's US trials, said he's satisfied with Thursday's run considering certain circumstance.

"I'm happy with my race," said Gay. "I have a sore hip and I've been doing my best to get better but I have no excuses."

"I've really been trying my best to get the cobweb loose. Now I have to get back to training and world hard to get better," he added.

Powell, however, refused to settle after finishing the runner-up.

"This wasn't my best race. Actually one of my slowest times for the season," said the 32-year-old Jamaican who ran the third fastest 100 meters of the year to win on 9.81 seconds at the Paris Diamond League meeting just five days ago.

"But I'm still confident. My start want's so good today but I know its something I can work on," added the former world record holder, setting his sight further to next month's worlds in Beijing.

Lausanne Athletissima is just the second Diamond League meeting of Powell after walking out of the shades of a doping suspension and having missed the whole season of 2014.