OSAKA, Japan - A scorching final 50 meters made Tyson Gay the world champion.

The 100-meter matchup Sunday between the newest American sprint sensation and co-world record holder Asafa Powell was the most anticipated event of the world track and field championships.

Gay made it a one-man show.

Under a full moon on another hot, sticky night at Nagai Stadium, Gay surged ahead of the Jamaican over the final 40 meters to win in 9.85 seconds. A "panicked" Powell was third, in 9.96, behind Derrick Atkins (9.91).

"I was saying to myself basically that I'm the fastest in the world," Gay said. "I was ordering my steps, running through the race. I was thanking God, win or lose, before the race even started."

Carolina Kluft of Sweden won an unprecedented third straight world heptathlon title with a personal-best 7,032 points, and Aurora resident Kevin Eastler was 27th in the men's 20-kilometer race walk.