Bolt sets world record in 100 meter dash

BEIJING, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Usain Bolt of Jamaica confirmed Saturday he is the fastest man on the planet, winning the Olympic 100-meter dash in world record time.

One of the most-anticipated showdowns of the Olympics failed to materialize when American Tyson Gay, who had run a wind-aided 9.68 to capture the U.S. trials this summer, failed to reach the final.

Gay, who strained a hamstring at those trials, never appeared to be a threat the Games and was eliminated when he ran fifth in his semifinal heat.

It would likely have made no difference, since Bolt blew away the field in the final.

He ran a 9.69, which eclipsed the world mark he set in New York last June. Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago finished second in 9.89 and Walter Dix of the United States was third in 9.91.

On the second day of Olympic track and field, Vili Valerie of New Zealand won the women's shot put, Valeriy Borchin of Russia took the men's 20-kilometer walk and Nataliia Dobrynska of Ukraine won the heptathlon.

All three American entrants made it safely to the women's 100 semifinals, which will be run Sunday. Muna Lee and Torri Edwards won their second-round qualifiers and favorite Lauryn Williams was second in her heat.

The fastest time in the second round was turned in by Kerron Stewart of Jamaica in 10.98. Defending Olympic champion Yuliya Nestsiarenka survived to run in the semifinals despite finishing fourth in her heat.