Richards tied Marita Koch's record of 36 sub-50 sec races

America's Sanya Richards feels she can go faster at the World Championships after her 400m win in Rome tied the record for runs under 50 seconds.

Richards won her third Golden League meeting in 49.46 seconds, tying Marita Koch's record of 36 sub-50 sec races.

"I was hoping to go faster than 49.2. I have one more race, then I want get some hard training in," she said.

Richards is preparing for a duel with world and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu - who ran 51.26 on Saturday.

Ohuruogu missed the Golden League meeting to take part in the UK Championships and world trials in Birmingham.

The Brit finished behind Richards in sixth place when the two met in the Bislet Golden League event last week.

Meanwhile, Tyson Gay is confident after giving notice to world record-holder Usain Bolt by running the fastest 100m of the year in 9.77 sec in Rome.

606: DEBATE Gay looked fantastic; I only think it'll serve to push Bolt on to something even more outrageous though dockofthebay

Gay swept pass previous record-holder Asafa Powell 40m from the finish in a time that would have been good enough to equal the world record less than two years ago.

Powell finished second in 9.88, and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake was third with 9.96.

"I feel that I improved on the previous races," Gay said.

"Today the race was better executed and my shape is improving."

In the women's 100, Jamaican Kerron Stewart is still in contention for a share in the $1m jackpot after three of the six Golden League legs.

Olympic silver medallist Stewart won in 10.75 ahead of Olympic champion and countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser, who crossed in 10.91.

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