TRACK AND FIELD

Gay wins men's 100 at World Championships

Tyson Gay is the world champion.

In a 100 meters final that delivered all it promised Sunday at Osaka, Japan, Gay was slower out of the blocks. Once his legs got pumping, he caught and surged past Asafa Powell to claim his first gold medal at a major international championship in 9.85 seconds.

Powell, sensing defeat, was passed by Derrick Atkins of Bahamas at the tape in 9.91. Powell was third in 9.96, and even though he is co-holder of the world record at 9.77, admitted he ran scared.

With his first global title, Gay's surely the favorite for next year's Olympics in Beijing.

Although the 100 was tough to predict, nothing was easier than picking Carolina Kluft for an unprecedented third straight heptathlon title. And the 24-year-old Swede did it with a European record, becoming the second best heptathlete of all time after American Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

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.

BOXING

Russell Jr., Williams round out U.S. squad

Gary Russell Jr. dominated Roberto Marroquin, and Raynell Williams outlasted Hylon Williams in the final two matches of the U.S. Olympic boxing trials at Houston.

Russell beat Marroquin 18-14 to win the 119-pound (bantamweight) spot on the Olympic team, while Raynell Williams won 24-22 to take the 125-pound (featherweight) berth.

SOCCER

Hamm, Foudy head Hall of Fame inductees

Mia Hamm knows it's more than merchandise and marketing. She regards it as an honor.

"There's not a more humbling experience to walk into a stadium and to see so many girls wearing your jersey," the soccer great said. "I am so proud of that and I hope you can see that every time I took the field."

Hamm spoke before a record crowd of 4,800, many of them youngsters, at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. Hamm entered the shrine with Julie Foudy. The two were the bedrock of the U.S. team that won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals from 1991 to 2004.

The other inductees are Alan Rothenberg, who helped launch Major League Soccer and organize the 1994 World Cup as president of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1990 to 1998, and defender Bobby Smith, who played alongside Pele for the Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.

HORSE RACING

Baze suspended for whip use on horse

Russell Baze, the winningest jockey in thoroughbred racing history, was suspended for 15 days and fined for using his whip on an injured horse who later died.

Baze, who has 9,826 career victories, was headed to an easy win aboard Imperial Eyes in the first race Thursday at Bay Meadows in San Mateo when the horse took a bad step and broke down in the deep stretch. According to a Bay Meadows spokesman, Baze urged Imperial Eyes forward after the horse recovered from the initial bad step, using his whip twice.

Imperial Eyes still finished second, but had a broken bone in his left front leg. The 4-year-old gelding was euthanized after going into distress while his handlers contemplated surgery.

After Market wins $250,000 Del Mar Handicap: After Market defeated Runaway Dancer by three-quarters of a length to win the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar.