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Gay suffers shock defeat in New York

Tyson Gay has posted the fastest 100m time this year © PA Photos

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Tyson Gay failed to produce the goods in front of his home fans, the American suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Steve Mullings in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in New York.

Gay, the current world No. 1 at the shorter distance following his stunning run of 9.79 in Clermont at the beginning of the month, appeared unsettled by three false starts which severely delayed the start of the race.

With Usain Bolt absent, Gay was expected to lay down another marker ahead of this year's world championships but he found himself behind at the gun. Jamaican Mullings shot past him off the start and, although Gay chased him down, Mullings held him off to win by a photo finish in 10.26 seconds.

Jessica Ennis showed her all-round strength by featuring in the women's 100m hurdles. The multi-eventer clocked 13.27 to finish in seventh but, considering the calibre of the rest of the field, the heptathlon world champion performed admirably. Danielle Carruthers pipped Kellie Wells to win in 13.04, with American-born Briton Tiffany Ofili-Porter third.

Phillips Idowu's modest third-round leap of 16.67m was enough for the Brit to get one over rival Teddy Tamgho. The world champion wasn't at his best, but didn't have to be as neither Frenchman Tamgho nor Christian Olsson could manage to jump further.

Javier Culson was the first winner of the evening, as he finished ahead of Bershawn Jackson and Dai Greene to claim the men's 400m hurdles. South Africa's LJ van Zyl was the pre-race favourite having twice run a personal best of 47.66 seconds - the fastest time in the world this year. He was nowhere in sight, however, as the unfancied Culson crossed first in 48.52, with European and Commonwealth champion Greene putting in an encouraging performance to take third place.

Former Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner prevailed in the 400m, crossing the line in 45.13. In a closely fought contest, European champion Kevin Borlee was fastest out of the blocks but he couldn't sustain his surge and Wariner took charge in the final 50m to win from Jermaine Gonzalez.

Three-time world champion Allyson Felix has not been at her best since starting the year with a season's best time of 22.38 but the American was back on form as she won the women's 200m. Shalonda Solomon was the surprise package as they entered the straight but Felix's superior strength saw her home in 22.93, with Bianca Knight taking second spot.

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