For Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, it will still be a dream matchup. For Tyson Gay, a bitter disappointment. The American record-holder and defending world champion failed to make the finals of the Olympic 100-meter dash Saturday, finishing .02 second out of fourth place in his semifinal heat and making an early exit from one of the most highly anticipated events of the Beijing Olympics. Starting in the outside lane, Gay got a decent jump from the blocks and was in the mix early in the race, but Powell and Richard Thompson overtook him and Gay was outleaned at the line by American Darvis Patton, who finished in 10.03 seconds.

"I did my best," Gay said. "I don't have any excuses."

It means Gay's only chance at Olympic medals will come in the relays. He didn't qualify for the 200, in which he was also the 2007 world champ, because he pulled up lame in prelims with a strained left hamstring at the Olympic trials six weeks ago.

Gay, who set the American 100 record at 9.77 earlier at the trials, also ran a wind-aided 9.68 - the fastest time in any conditions - in the trials' 100 final.

In Beijing, he insisted the hamstring was fine and he was ready to go, and he did make it through the first two rounds Friday without a problem.

But on Day 2, in front of a packed house at the Bird's Nest, he did not run like a champion. The photo at the finish showed a sliver of daylight between him and Patton.

Written By EDDIE PELLS

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