Steve Mullings of Jamica races en route to winning the Men's 100m against Tyson Gay of the USA during the adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on June 11, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Former world champion Tyson Gay stumbled out of the blocks and lost to training partner Steve Mullings of Jamaica in a slow 100 metres at New York's Diamond League grand prix on Saturday.
After three false starts cut the field from nine to six, Gay lost ground at the start and strained to catch Mullings at the tape, with the Jamaican given the victory despite clocking the same 10.26 seconds as Gay in strong headwinds of 3.4.
"I knew Tyson has got a strong finish," said Mullings, who ran 9.80 to win the Diamond League's Prefontaine meet. "I just have to get out of the blocks strong."
Gay, who surprised himself by running the season's best 9.79 in his first race at a low-key meet last week in Florida, said he was not hampered by a hip injury that has affected his training.
"I was just a little bit sluggish," Gay said about his start. "I haven't been able to really push in practice."
The race was slow to get underway with Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Americans Travis Padgett and Rae Monzavous Edwards all disqualified for false starts.
The meeting on Randall's Island in the East River across from the Manhattan skyline was held under a heavy overcast sky and light rain, and the dreary conditions held down performances in the sixth stop of the 14-event premier series.