American Tyson Gay surged past Jamaica's Asafa Powell to win gold in the men's 100 meters at the world championships in Osaka on Sunday.

Gay caught world record holder Powell at the mid-point of the race and clocked a time of 9.85 seconds, with Derrick Atkins of Bahamas coming through to take silver in 9.91.

Powell trailed home in 9.96 to claim the bronze.

Neither Gay nor Powell had previously won a world title, Powell missing the 2005 championships in Helsinki through injury and Gay finishing fourth in the 200 meters.

(Reuters)