Yohan BlakeYohan Blake was in impressive form, narrowly missing an upset win over American Tyson Gay, at Thursday's (22 July) at the 10th Samsung Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

Blake, who ran out of lane eight, came into the straight behind Gay and Wallace Spearmon, also of the USA, but used his top end speed to get past the later close to the form on the line.   

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In the end, Blake's personal best time of 19.78 seconds, puts him ahead of Donald Quarrie's 19.86 as the second fastest Jamaican of all time. Usain Bolt leads with 19.19, which is the world record.

The time also makes Blake the 13th fastest man in the history of the event. Americans Michael Johnson (19.32), Tyson Gay (19.58), Xavier Carter (19.63) and Wallace Spearmon (19.65), Namibian Frank Fredericks (19.68), Walter Dix of USA (19.69), Italian Pietro Mennea (19.72), along with other Americans Michael Marsh (19.73), Carl Lewis (19.75) and Joe DeLoach (19.95) and Trinidad & Tobago's Ato Boldon (19.77) have ran faster with one or more times.

Gay won the event in 19.72. Spearmon was third in 19.93secs.

"The problems I had earlier this season are now behind me," said Gay, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury then bounced back with a win over Asafa Powell in the 100 at Gateshead this month.

"The new track in Monaco is super fast, this result is a combination of the track and my speed," Gay said. "I'm very tired now."

David Oliver won the 110-meter hurdles in a failed attempt at the world record, but he belives he did well. "I ran well under pressure," said Oliver while adding the pressure is casued from "every time I race now people expect the world record to be beaten."